Precision and truth are the lodestars of any nonfiction author, but, sensitive to the toxic legacy of this language, I have no interest in tearing at old wounds or inflicting fresh ones. In presenting this account, I wrestled with how to treat the incendiary words that appeared routinely in documentary footage, print coverage and my own interviews with many of the individuals behind this campaign. I have subjected each instance in the book to a test of essentiality, (“Why is this important to include?”), in the belief that you don’t need to be subjected to the fortieth time the Grand Dragon of the Klan or his supporters used the N-word or G-word.
This month I read The Fishermen and the Dragon, written by Kirk Wallace Johnson. ( I have not finished the Controligarchs yet.) The preceding excerpt is copied from Johnson’s Author’s Note. I am struck by Johnson’s apparent sensitivity of his thoughtful consideration about whether or not to include hateful, racist labels used so often by too many. His story highlights many harsh hateful dark traumatic events in the recent past where the Ku Klux Klan and their allies used racist and vile language to scare and drive newly resettled Vietnamese refugees out of the fishing industry along the Texas Gulf Coast! Rest assured their racist language was only their opening hymn as they marched against the resettled Vietnamese immigrants, the latest minority perceived to be taking something away from a white majority! The racist chants only too well heard, not muffled by the uniformed white hoods and robes affording anonymity to their neighbors’ identities.
This month I also finished the memoir, BLACKkKLANMAN, written by Ron Stalworth. He ended his Author’s Note with the sentiment that sooner rather than later we would, in fact , overcome those who tried to define minorities by their own personal failings of racial, ethnic bias, bigotry, religious preference, and the false belief that people of color and others who did not fit their definition of pure Aryan white were not deserving of respect, much less of being classified as people. I believe Mr Stalworth wrote that note around 2013, in any case before 2018. Sadly I have to conclude that we have not overcome those who continue to sing their racist battle hymns railing against new minorities and and other cultures here and around the world. Just last week a presidential candidate blew his dog whistle by stating immigrants (are) poisoning the blood of America. These words first used by a racist fascist dictator, Adolph Hitler. No, Mr. Stalworth, I am afraid the negative sentiments and energy darkly circulating around our nation and our world are not being overcome sooner. I pray that positive energy from more and more of us will, at least, over come all the hatred, bigotry, antisemitism and ethnic bias, may be in our grandchildren’s life time.
Before I arrive at my metaphorical lighthouse this month, I want to share an excerpt I found in one of the thirteen volumes of testimony from Congress published in 1872. The volume referenced; Joint Select Committee to inquire into The Condition of Affairs in the Late Insurrectionary States, Georgia, Volume 1, pages 73 & 74.( Also titled The Ku-Klux Conspiracy.) My purpose here is to highlight the aphorism attributed to Mark Twain: History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes. ( Thank you Google search!). The following is the scene of this interrogation. Z.B.Hargrove is sworn in and examined by the Chairman of the Joint Select Committee on July 12, 1871. Mr. Hargrove resides in Rome, Georgia, located in Floyd County. He is an attorney. Hargrove states that he has resided in Rome nearly twenty years. During the war he was an officer in the Confederate army. He commanded a battalion of cavalry for over two years. While I was a rebel I tried to be a conscientious one; I did not feel disposed to perpetuate acts of violence on Union citizens. There is in the country now as there was before the war a class of men who are bitterly opposed to the colored people, and to whom the colored people are bitterly opposed. Since the war, that feeling of the non-slaveholder toward the negroes has been worse, mostly confined to that element, for most of the negroes were republicans. Hargrove continues his testimony with the following; I had no complaint to allege against the Ku Klux if they will not commit acts of violence. If it is a political organization……
Mr. Hargrove goes on to say that he didn’t witness acts of violence but violent acts came to his attention; severe whippings, two for being too smart. They were beat after voting. He testified about women being ravaged, raped. He appears to be walking a fine line. He knew he was under personal pressure as he had to go back to Rome and live after his testimony. He made the point that the violence and threats were perpetuated by white poor men who were afraid of the immigrants of their time, newly freed Negroes.
I believe slavery was our nation’s original sin! I also believe that our actions of pushing Native Americans off their lands with force, lies, broken treaty’s and so much more, is also a horrific national sin. Having said that I live here. I can follow my family tree back beyond the American Revolution. I too am an ancestor of immigrants. I can’t say for sure what misdeeds some of my ancestors may have been part of, ( if any at all). To this day wave after wave of generational immigrants from all over the world have faced the energy of evil that grows from many peoples’ fear of losing something. A fearful lot that can walk under the cover of hoods, hurling threats, and worse. Institutions such as the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacists and their political leaders march thru time with the mission to strike back at the latest perceived immigrant threat. Their actions rhyme with the hate and fear the Irish faced in the 1800’s. Other Europeans, the Jews, the Latinos and Asian immigrants have been a focus of that hate. That fear spawned hate still can be felt by Afro Americans. Women of course have felt the yoke of oppression, exclusion and segregation. ( I would be remiss if I failed to mention them too. ) (Let me know in the comments if I missed any group of people. I assure you, if I did, it is just ignorance on my part.) Does the Statue of Liberty stand in the right harbor of the right city, in the right nation of people? Are we really the land of the free?
Finally I can reflect here at my metaphorical lighthouse and answer that question. Positively yes! I believe we are still the land of the free! However to remain free we need to understand our history so we can learn from our mistakes. We also need to project forgiveness, the first step to living with unconditional love. Like energy attracts like energy. I strongly believe that positive energy attracts positive energy and negative energy attracts negative. An old children’s admonishment; Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. That may be true taken out of context. But certain words, gestures and even uniforms can usher in evil negative energy. I know the opposite is true too.
A few days ago a family member was kind enough to share with me an opinion piece written by one Tony Cignoli. The article is titled. The power of the red suit: a great responsibility. Here, I share part of his second paragraph. The Red Suit of Santa. Worn correctly, with proper reverence, the suit can transform the wearer. All cares diminish. The suit makes you something greater, perhaps helps one realize that the magic of a child’s belief is one of the greatest powers on this earth. Over a decade I had the honor of ushering in the holidays in Amherst as Santa Claus. The first Friday in December, weather permitting, I would perch on the top of the town’s red ladder truck. Decked out in The Red Suit, (in earlier years padded by a pillow or two; unfortunately no pillows needed in my later years!) As Santa, along with a fireman for support, we would begin the parade from The University of Massachusetts to the center of Amherst preceded by the world class U Mass Marching Band! Along the way, waving to the people while saying these words! Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas! ending at the Tree, all lit up! (A Merry Maple Tree! Only in Amherst.) My uniform was red, my head was adorned with a red cap over my white curls and the mandatory beard. Those years., that parade, that moment, in that uniform I was always awash with so much joy, glee and smiles. It was egotistically feeling like a rock star must feel! But a decade later as I attempt to traverse my old age with a modicum of grace and dignity, it isn’t the parade I reflect on it is the wonderful children that followed me,(Santa), to the historic Strong House to finally sit on my lap, or stand in front of Santa and share their dreams and desires. Many a child demonstrated a fervor of humility as they explained some action during the year that might have landed them on Santa’s naughty list! So relieved when Santa did not find their name on that list. Many I met over multiple years and they never lost the magic! I was blessed to visit the elderly too in local skilled nursing centers and read Santa’s favorite poem, The Night Before Christmas. The adults and elderly reflected back to the Red Suit happiness and love, almost as much as the children had. I always hoped the children could see the twinkle in my eye as easily as I could see their love and glee for being so close to what they believed in. I learned first hand that Santa’s Red Suit is much healthier than a white robed suit with a white hood worn to only sow fear and hatred.
Thank you to all the people who wear the Red Suit each holiday here and around the world. Your positive love and cheer always reminds me I can still do better! I need to be as positive as I can be! That is my New Years resolution.
Thank you for reading.
Be in peace and joy!
Mark
Great writing Mark. Thank you.