See ya there.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Remembering Nathan Bedford Forrest: White Supremacy and the Memphis Monument
I'm finally getting around to sharing my recently completed master's final project. I figure that if I put months of work into it, then someone needs to read it.
The paper is Remembering Nathan Bedford Forrest: White Supremacy and the Memphis Monument.
Many people are not familiar with Nathan Bedford Forrest, so a quick introduction is in order. Forrest was from my home state of Tennessee, which is one reason I became interested in this topic. Before the Civil War, Forrest was the leading slave trader in Memphis. When the war started, he enlisted as a private but was soon authorized to start his own cavalry command and rose to the rank of brigadier general.
Many southerners remember Forrest as a brilliant military tactician who was able to defeat larger, stronger Union forces in numerous battles. But Forrest was also in command of Confederate forces at the battle of Fort Pillow where Union soldiers, mostly African American troops, were massacred.
Following the Civil War, Forrest became the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and fought to end Reconstruction, not only in Tennessee, but throughout the South.
In 1905, a monument to Forrest was dedicated in Memphis, TN. This monument still stands today and, like the Confederate flag, is a source of conflict in a city that is majority African American.
The paper is presented in three major sections. In the first, Memphis and the Monument, I argue that the monument, even when dedicated in 1905, was a symbol of white supremacy. Its primary purpose at the time - and even now - was to remind the citizens of Memphis that whites were a superior race.
In second chapter, The Contentious Nathan Bedford Forrest, I address the continued support of Forrest by examination of historical fact. Forrest's modern supporters rely on a handful of claims to defend his image, but these are based on misrepresentations and distortions of the facts. Some of these claims are that a massacre didn't really take place at Fort Pillow, that Forrest - while a slave trader - was a "kind and gentle" master, or that Forrest's only involvement with the Klan was to disband it after it became violent. Some even credit Forrest for becoming a civil rights leader near the end of his life. The facts used to support this, when taken out of the context of nineteenth century politics, can easily be distorted by Forrest's supporters. But the reality is that Forrest continued to believe in, and promote, a vision of white supremacy until his death in 1877.
The final chapter, The Never-Ending Controversy, takes a look at recent events in Memphis that reveal the true nature of Forrest's modern supporters in the Neo-Confederate movement. Those who honor Forrest today are just as guilty of promoting the white supremacist agenda as the men who originally built the monument over 100 years ago.
The paper is Remembering Nathan Bedford Forrest: White Supremacy and the Memphis Monument.
Many people are not familiar with Nathan Bedford Forrest, so a quick introduction is in order. Forrest was from my home state of Tennessee, which is one reason I became interested in this topic. Before the Civil War, Forrest was the leading slave trader in Memphis. When the war started, he enlisted as a private but was soon authorized to start his own cavalry command and rose to the rank of brigadier general.
Many southerners remember Forrest as a brilliant military tactician who was able to defeat larger, stronger Union forces in numerous battles. But Forrest was also in command of Confederate forces at the battle of Fort Pillow where Union soldiers, mostly African American troops, were massacred.
Following the Civil War, Forrest became the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and fought to end Reconstruction, not only in Tennessee, but throughout the South.
In 1905, a monument to Forrest was dedicated in Memphis, TN. This monument still stands today and, like the Confederate flag, is a source of conflict in a city that is majority African American.
The paper is presented in three major sections. In the first, Memphis and the Monument, I argue that the monument, even when dedicated in 1905, was a symbol of white supremacy. Its primary purpose at the time - and even now - was to remind the citizens of Memphis that whites were a superior race.
In second chapter, The Contentious Nathan Bedford Forrest, I address the continued support of Forrest by examination of historical fact. Forrest's modern supporters rely on a handful of claims to defend his image, but these are based on misrepresentations and distortions of the facts. Some of these claims are that a massacre didn't really take place at Fort Pillow, that Forrest - while a slave trader - was a "kind and gentle" master, or that Forrest's only involvement with the Klan was to disband it after it became violent. Some even credit Forrest for becoming a civil rights leader near the end of his life. The facts used to support this, when taken out of the context of nineteenth century politics, can easily be distorted by Forrest's supporters. But the reality is that Forrest continued to believe in, and promote, a vision of white supremacy until his death in 1877.
The final chapter, The Never-Ending Controversy, takes a look at recent events in Memphis that reveal the true nature of Forrest's modern supporters in the Neo-Confederate movement. Those who honor Forrest today are just as guilty of promoting the white supremacist agenda as the men who originally built the monument over 100 years ago.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Maybe the Kids Have It Right?
Ever wonder why adults get so upset when kids - mainly teens - do things that the adults don't agree with? I mean, we were all teens at one point but seem to have forgotten a lot of good stuff as we grew up.
First, it seems that teens are using cell phones to send nude photos to each other. So this may be a questionable activity, I'm really interested in the reaction from the adults. "I just don't understand why kids would do a stupid thing like that," says one adult. Another says "It used to be that kids would make mistakes, and it was local and singular and everyone knew it was part of growing up." Well, just maybe, the kids know what they are doing and it's the adults who are way off here. No teens were quoted in this story and I'm wondering why. Are they just completely "stupid" and therefore not worth quoting, or even interviewing. Maybe the teens don't see this as such a big deal. Maybe the thought of sexuality and nudity is something to be embraced and not condemned. (I know there are people who will abuse this, but I'm not talking about that right now.) I would really like to know what these kids think of what they are doing. I'd like to give them a bit more credit that what comes across in this article.
And second, a group of students walked out of class to protest the Iraq war. Again, let's give these teens some credit for their intelligence and their desire to make some positive change in the world. Watch the video and definitely read the comments at the end of the article.
Give the kids more credit for what they are doing - they are most likely smarter than you think. And some of them are probably smarter than you are.
First, it seems that teens are using cell phones to send nude photos to each other. So this may be a questionable activity, I'm really interested in the reaction from the adults. "I just don't understand why kids would do a stupid thing like that," says one adult. Another says "It used to be that kids would make mistakes, and it was local and singular and everyone knew it was part of growing up." Well, just maybe, the kids know what they are doing and it's the adults who are way off here. No teens were quoted in this story and I'm wondering why. Are they just completely "stupid" and therefore not worth quoting, or even interviewing. Maybe the teens don't see this as such a big deal. Maybe the thought of sexuality and nudity is something to be embraced and not condemned. (I know there are people who will abuse this, but I'm not talking about that right now.) I would really like to know what these kids think of what they are doing. I'd like to give them a bit more credit that what comes across in this article.
And second, a group of students walked out of class to protest the Iraq war. Again, let's give these teens some credit for their intelligence and their desire to make some positive change in the world. Watch the video and definitely read the comments at the end of the article.
Give the kids more credit for what they are doing - they are most likely smarter than you think. And some of them are probably smarter than you are.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Police State - Coming Soon to Your Neighborhood
The Washington Post reports that D.C. police are setting up checkpoints in the Trinidad neighborhood and will only allow people past who have valid reasons to enter the neighborhood.
The police will be checking identification and screening people. According to the article "Those lacking identification or a reason to be in the neighborhood will be forced to leave." Where's that freedom now? Y0u remember, the freedom that "they" hate us for.
Since when, in America, do you need to provide your government issued papers to the police in order to move around? Since when do you need a "legitimate purpose" to be anywhere in this country? Freedom.
Just Brilliant
Just one more example of how the troops are supported - just as long as they are still capable of killing and dying that is. You just can't make this up.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Increase in Racism?
The Southern Poverty Law Center has documented 888 hate groups in the United States. If you would like to know what these groups are and which ones are near you, take a look at their Hate Groups Map.
While the number of active groups has increased, I'm not sure that this indicates an increase in racism or hate in the US. This hate has always been around, but with an increased focus on immigrants to the country and with Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, the racists of the country are speaking out and becoming more organized. And this will only get worse as Obama wraps up the Democratic nomination and moves on to the general election. This could get really ugly, but at least one person thinks that its a good idea to bring all this out into the open. (Read this, then come back).
But the hate doesn't need to be open and violent, as seen in the Klan. Symbols of the past also remind us of the strict race-based society that existed until recently. Those who display these symbols also seem to want to return to "the good old days," where everyone "knew their place." So it is no surprise that a giant Confederate flag is being prepared for display in the South. What better way to remind everyone, black and white, that the ways of the past should not be forgotten.
While the number of active groups has increased, I'm not sure that this indicates an increase in racism or hate in the US. This hate has always been around, but with an increased focus on immigrants to the country and with Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, the racists of the country are speaking out and becoming more organized. And this will only get worse as Obama wraps up the Democratic nomination and moves on to the general election. This could get really ugly, but at least one person thinks that its a good idea to bring all this out into the open. (Read this, then come back).
But the hate doesn't need to be open and violent, as seen in the Klan. Symbols of the past also remind us of the strict race-based society that existed until recently. Those who display these symbols also seem to want to return to "the good old days," where everyone "knew their place." So it is no surprise that a giant Confederate flag is being prepared for display in the South. What better way to remind everyone, black and white, that the ways of the past should not be forgotten.
Monday, June 2, 2008
It's Everywhere
Yesterday, I was trying to find a wall mounted bottle opener to put on my deck. Mostly, because I'm lazy and I don't need to be tracking down my bottle opener when I'm sitting out drinking beer. But while searching the internets for an interesting looking opener, I ran across these two items.
First the sexism
Then the racism
All I want is a simple bottle opener for my beer, but now I'm confused. Until now, I really though we had made some progress in this country. But now I see that there is no way that many of us could ever seriously consider a woman or a black man as president. I need another beer, but just can't find my opener right now.
First the sexism
Then the racism
All I want is a simple bottle opener for my beer, but now I'm confused. Until now, I really though we had made some progress in this country. But now I see that there is no way that many of us could ever seriously consider a woman or a black man as president. I need another beer, but just can't find my opener right now.
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