1948 was an interesting election. Of course the big yuk was the
Chicago Sun(?) with the headline, "Dewey Wins!"
But to my folks, Strom Thurmon was the real story. He polled third,
well ahead of Henry Wallace.
The voters stayed home almost two to one. I think about 53% of the
registered voters turned out. The Dixiecrat's had been courted by
FDR, but felt ignored by the Democrats. Even a good old Missourian
like Harry S. Truman could not pull them into the fold again. Harry
was a machine politician, at least until he won the presidency.
Dewey was a rigid, vain man with visions of grandeur. In 1955 I
studied professional photography under a fellow who had been a staff
photographer for one of the New York City papers. He said that Dewey
was so stiff and aloof that he did not mix well even with his
supporters. My instructor said he coaxed Dewey out from behind his
huge polished desk and sat him on the front corner. He then loosened
his tie a bit and unbuttoned his collar. Even so, Dewey sat like a
ramrod.
Of course the poor turnout was an indication that the Negro population
continued to be intimidated by their White Overseers. The 50's were
still strewn with Black bodies hanging like strange fruit from the
Poplar trees.
But hey! Donald Trump is going to take us back to those "Good old Days".
Carl Jarvis
Carl Jarvis
On 8/28/18, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Did you notice in the film, the description of the conditions under which
the Progressive Party, with Henry Wallace as its Presidential candidate, was
formed? Listen to the rhetoric. It is the same as that of Chris Hedges
today. And what happened? It received less than 12% of the vote. The right
wing party, (its name escapes me), received a higher percentage than the
Progressives. My parents voted for Wallace. They were, no doubt, influenced
by their good friends, neighbors in our apartment building, who were former
Communist party members. And Harry Truman, whom some folks saw as a really
good man, an honest man, not a member of the elite, Harry Truman refused to
take action against lynching when Robeson and the other members of the
anti-lynching committee demanded action. And if you listened to Democracy
Now today, you got a refresher course on what the Democratic party was like
in 1968. My God, it's like all these people who consider themselves Liberals
today, have lost their memories and never read history. Why did anyone ever
think that the Democratic party was on our side? Because for a brief time,
FDR constructed the New Deal. But even then, at the same time, there was the
southern wing of the party, the people who moved over to the Republicans
were all once Democrats. And it was Truman who instituted the loyalty oath,
not a Republican president. This is why Obama can speak at John McCain's
funeral. McCain, most of whose public actions supported war. Obama always
talked about, "who we are". Well, that's , "who we are"!
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2018 11:03 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: [blind-democracy]
And of course, the closest "sound alike" is James Earl Jones. Jones played
Robeson, but I did not see the film...maybe it was a stage performance?
We Humans are a funny bunch. We cuddle up to those in power, but secretly
root for the underdog. From little David and his sling, to Robin Hood and
his Band of Merry Men, and on to the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and
Paul Robeson.
Over and over the Ruling Class of the day makes the same mistake, determing
to crush the pesky upstarts. And over and over again the outcome is the
same. The Ruling Class consumes itself from within while trying to crush
its enemies, and it crumbles.
There is an old saying: "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword". So
far, in recorded history, there have been no exceptions.
The American Colonies were founded on land violently seized from the people
living there. The United States of America was created from the ashes of a
hard fought revolution, and built upon expansion into occupied lands.
Our violent interference into the nations of Central and South America,
along with our war with Mexico and later with Spain, expanded our control in
the Western Hemisphere. With our mighty sword we became the American
Empire. The American Empire has use violence to expand its world control.
But it has come at a terrible cost, both to the Ruling Class, but also to
the American People. In order to maintain its power position, the Empire
has hollowed out its own resources, both Human and Natural.
Emboldened by its own propaganda, the American Corporate Empire(ACE) has
redoubled its efforts to become "Master of the Universe". Where in past
times the American Ruling Class would raid the treasury, then retire to
allow the People to restore it to a point where it could be robbed again,
the Ruling Class now behaves as if there is no end to those resources.
Unrestrained, the ACE has gone mad. Crazed by its own image in its own make
believe mirror.
For Empires there can never be Peace. Empires need opponents. If this
final World Empire crushes all opposition, then it will need to create an
enemy. It will turn upon part of its own People, declaring them enemies of
the Empire, and crushing them again...and again...
"We have met the enemy, and they are us". Pogo
Carl Jarvis
On 8/28/18, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Did you know that there was a Broadway show about him in the 90's? We
went to see it. His voice was wonderful. I've heard that 1939 Ballad
to America on the radio, probably on one of the folk music programs
that I used to listen to. But the thing about him was that he had so
many talents: music, acting, and intellectual capabilities. He had
that law degree. His expression of anger and pride remind me of Glenn Ford
from Black Agenda.
Glenn has a beautiful speaking voice and he is, like Robeson,
uncompromising.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2018 11:30 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: [blind-democracy]
You're welcome Miriam. My friend and fellow Paul Robeson respecter
tells me that she enters Paul Robeson in the YouTube search box and
gets a pile of links, including his concert at the Peace Arch at
Blaine, Washington. This was during the years the government was
"punishing" Robeson for his outspoken views, and had taken his Passport
away.
I remember my dad putting on his only suit, and mother in her one fine
dress, and the two of them heading off to see Paul Robeson as Othello.
I begged to go. Of course I had no idea of how they had scrimped to
get enough for the two seats. And I look back and chuckle about a
small boy sitting through that entire performance.
I did mention before my dad and I attending a Union Rally in Seattle,
and listening to Paul Robeson speak. What a voice! And he must have
been in his 50's, but looked physically magnificent.
I found a number of titles but haven't tried linking to any of them.
Carl
Paul Robeson
Here I Stand
No Way But This: In Search of Paul Robeson Paul Robeson: A Watched Man
Paul
Robeson: The Artist as Revolutionary Paul Robeson Speaks: Writings,
Speeches, Interviews, 1918-1974 The Undiscovered Paul Robeson , An
Artist's Journey, 1898-1939 The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: Quest for
Freedom, 1939 -
1976 The whole world in his hands Paul Robeson: A Life of Activism and
Art The Young Paul Robeson: On My Journey Now Paul Robeson: Artist and
Citizen Paul Robeson Paul Robeson, Negro Paul Robeson: The Life and
Times of a Free Black Man Paul Robeson, All-American Paul Robeson Paul
Robeson, the Great Forerunner Paul Robeson's Last Days in Philadelphia
The Life of Paul
Robeson: Actor, Singer, Political Activist Paul Robeson: A Voice to
Remember Paul Robeson: A Voice of Struggle Paul Robeson Paul Robeson,
hero before his time The Politics of Paul Robeson's Othello The
professor and the pupil Paul
Robeson: Artist and Activist : on Records, Radio and Television
On 8/27/18, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
Thanks so much for this. I've just watched the whole thing and
learned some things I hadn't known, and cried a bit too, for him, for
what people were fighting, for the similarities between 1948 and now,
and for us. I wish there'd been audio description so I'd have known
who all those people were, but I did recognize Harry Belafonte and
Pete Seeger, and I could tell when Paul's son was talking. For anyone
who hasn't watched and wishes to, this video takes about two and a
quarter hours.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2018 3:27 PM
To: blind-democracy <blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-democracy]
Here I Stand: Paul Robeson film
https://youtu.be/BUki-v-NvoE
