Opinion - JAMES HULL: Reversing discrimination and racism requires courage
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” – Anonymous
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JAMES HULL
Each time I’ve heard former governor William Winter speak in recent years, he has emotionally begun his remarks by apologizing for not doing as much as he could to fight segregation and racial hatred in the late 1950s and 60s. In fact, Gov. Winter, a strong and clear contemporary voice for racial reconciliation, ran for governor in 1967 as a “separate but equal” moderate.
By the time Winter was elected governor in 1979, he was considered one of Mississippi’s most enlightened political leaders, to the point that his following of young turks – among them Andy Mullins, Dick Molphus, Ray Mabus, Mike Moore and Marshall Bennett – were collectively referred to – affectionately by some, derisively by others – as the “Boys of Spring.” Under Gov. Winter’s leadership, and two terms later a young Winter acolyte, Ray Mabus, Mississippi began to be referred to as “The New Mississippi,” where public education reform took hold, minority appointments to state positions began to rise, and Mississippi eventually led the nation in the highest number of black elected officials. Diversity in Mississippi was definitely on the rise.
As a young organizational development consultant, I personally participated in those sweeping winds of change, working with the state Department of Education, Institutions of Higher Learning, municipalities, local school districts, and even the Jackson Airport Authority, providing diversity and sensitivity training.
This commitment to inclusion wasn’t political party-specific. Progressive Republicans like Gil Carmichael and Tupelo’s own Jack Reed and Luther Milsaps refused to play the politics of racial division and separation.
Carmichael was one of the first modern-day Mississippians to call for removal of the Confederate battle flag from the state emblem, and rewriting Mississippi’s constitution. He even spearheaded a nonpartisan, biracial committee to study the question of a new constitution.
Such entities as the William Winter Center for Racial Reconciliation and Mission Mississippi stand as testaments, today, that 30 years ago, Mississippians were serious about furthering diversity and racial sensitivity. But the voices – and spirits – of such venerable progressives as Winter, Reed and Carmichael have been drowned out by the extreme roar of conservatism.
So, 30 years from now, what former Mississippi leaders will apologize for not doing enough to further diversity today? Certainly not those Democrats who do more finger-pointing, self-aggrandizing and in-fighting than fighting for racial equality and justice. Certainly not the conservative Republicans who have planted their flags firmly in the ideological turf of dismantling government, and pushing a narrow “up-by-your bootstraps” agenda. Nor, it seems, will it be the few remaining “Gil Carmichael-Jack Reed” Republicans who seem to have lost the courage to publicly stand up against the ever-growing brand of regressive conservatism in our state.
Make no mistake, the issues of racial marginalization, discrimination and animus continue to be real in Mississippi, perpetrated by a strong and powerful Conservative movement, while Moderates and Progressives – black and white, Republican and Democrat – remain silent.
Mississippi’s growing black middle class remains silent in the face of racial hostilities and slights they experience every day in their own organizations, fearing they will jeopardize the individual gains achieved in salaries, promotions and position. Middle class whites, Moderates and Progressives, remain silent on the issues of race, afraid to risk their social standing and class privilege by taking principled stands against racially offensive jokes told behind closed doors or by rebuking prejudicial stereotypes among their own relatives and friends.
We cannot expect the purveyors and perpetrators of racism, prejudice and exclusion to stand against the very things in which they so fervently believe. But we can expect those with open minds and open hearts to use their access and influence to fight against prejudice in all forms regardless of the cost.
The truth is as long as racial intolerance and hatred are threads running through our societal fabric, only those who exercise the courage to do so will have the power and voice to change prejudice and discrimination.
Contact the Rev. James Hull at JAMESHULL3@aol.com. Hull is a journalist, minister and writes a monthly diversity column.