Black Americans are no more united than are Women, or White Southern
Farmers. The Working Class, just like the Ruling Class, consists of
many factions...special interest groups. Donald Trump uses these
factions to his own purposes. Divide and conquer.
As far as the ACLU goes, it has also had a mixed history.
Here are some interesting excerps from around the late 30's and early
40's during the turbulent times around the beginning of WW II.
In Defense of American Liberties: A History of the ACLU, 1990
Jan. 1931 - Congressional Committee Report Finds ACLU "Closely
Affiliated" with Communism
In Jan. 1931, the Special Committee to Investigate Communist
Activities in the United States, headed by Congressman Hamilton Fish
(R-NY), issued the Fish
Committee report. The report found the ACLU to be "closely affiliated
with the communist movement in the United States, and fully 90% of its
efforts on
behalf of communists who have come into conflict with the law... Roger
N. Baldwin, its guiding spirit, makes no attempt to hide his
friendship for the
communists and their principles."
Robert C. Cottrell, PhD, JD
Roger Nash Baldwin and the American Civil Liberties Union, 2000
Oct. 23, 1939 - HUAC Chairman Declares No ACLU-Communist Connection
Congressional Representative Martin Dies, Jr. (D-TX), Chairman of the
House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), "clears" the ACLU of
Communist
connections. Congressman Dies stated: "This Committee found last
year... there was no evidence that the American Civil Liberties Union
was a Communist
organization."
Jeffrey E. Fuller
"40th Anniversary Issue," Civil Liberties, Jan. 1960
1940-1959
Feb. 5, 1940 - 1940 Resolution: ACLU Bars Totalitarian Supporters from
Leadership Positions
"On February 5, 1940, the [ACLU] board and the National Committee
adopted a resolution barring from ACLU leadership positions anyone
supporting totalitarianism.
The 1940 Resolution, as it came to be known, declared that...
[s]upport for civil liberties 'is inevitably compromised by persons
who champion civil liberties
in the United States and yet who justify or tolerate the denial of
civil liberties by dictatorships abroad' [and that] it was
'inappropriate for any person
to serve on the governing committees of the Union or on its staff, who
is a member of any political organization which supports totalitarian
dictatorship
in any country... And, within this category we include organizations
in the United States supporting totalitarian governments of the Soviet
Union and of
the Fascist and Nazi countries'...
The 1940 Resolution provoked an immediate upheaval. [ACLU Chair and
Marxist] Harry Ward resigned and was replaced as chair by the
fervently anti-Communist
John Haynes Holmes... The two California affiliates, along with
Chicago and Massachusetts, led a move to rescind the resolution...
When the ACLU board asked [Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, ACLU Co-founder and
Communist party leader, and Stalin supporter,] to resign, she
refused... [and] asserted
that the ACLU board had no right to bar her for her 'political beliefs
and affiliations'... [On May 8, 1940, the ACLU board voted 10-9 to
remove Flynn
from the board.] The antitotalitarian resolution was abolished in
1968, and her supporters... won her posthumous reinstatement to the
board in 1976."
***
Feb. 19 - June 22, 1942
- ACLU Split Over Executive Order 9066 - Japanese Internment
In response to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued
Executive Order 9066
(73 KB) ,dated Feb. 19, 1942. The order directed the Secretary of War
"to prescribe military areas in such places... from which any or all
persons may
be excluded."
Although the order makes no reference to Japanese-Americans, by late
spring of 1942 over 100,000 Japanese-Americans were evacuated to 10
relocation centers
throughout the south and west.
The ACLU was "very much divided over the executive order... There were
essentially two factions. The first, which included Roger Baldwin,
Norman Thomas,
John Haynes Homes, and Arthur Garfield Hays, questioned the
constitutionality of the executive order. The second faction, which
included Morris Ernst,
did not want the ACLU to come out against the executive order... There
were also a few board members who favored the internment program. One
board member
compared the Japanese-American detention to a public health quarantine
for measles."
***
Dec. 18, 1944
- ACLU Aids Japanese-American in Korematsu v. United States
Fred Korematsu as a young man, undated photo
Fred Korematsu as a young man, undated photo
Source: "Excerpts from a Brief Biography," Asian American Bar
Association website (accessed May 12, 2011)
"Fred Korematsu was sentenced to jail after refusing to participate in
the forced relocation of more than 100,000 Japanese Americans to
internment camps
as dictated by an executive order [
Executive Order 9066
(73 KB) ] from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Korematsu, aided by
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), unsuccessfully sued the
government for violating
his constitutional rights. And after losing a petition in the U.S.
Court of Appeals, the ACLU took Korematsu's case to the Supreme Court,
where Justices
sided with the government in a 6-to-3 vote [
Toyosaburo Korematsu v. United States,
Dec. 18, 1944]. In his opinion, Justice Hugo Black argued that the
government's decision did not violate their constitutional authority,
nor the 14th Amendment.
Nearly four decades later, California professor Peter Irons uncovered
documents revealing the government hid information that showed that
Japanese Americans
were not actually security threats, prompting a San Francisco federal
judge to overturn Korematsu's conviction. The Supreme Court's
controversial decision,
however, remains [as of June 8, 2011]."
On 8/29/18, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
So there you go. There was a Progressive party with a candidate who had
actually been a vice president, and they did less will than the Dixiecrats.
And another thing that the film reminded me of, The NAACP disavowed every
position that Robeson took because they were so afraid of losing favor with
the white establishment, just like they and the Black Caucus today. The
"black misleadership", as Glenn Ford calls them, were afraid of backing
Obama when he first ran against Clinton, and they fawned on, and continue to
fawn on the Clintons today. And in case anyone has forgotten, the head of
the ACLU helped FDR right the policy that imprisoned Japanese Americans
during World War 2. It's really terrifying, who are traditional allies have
been.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2018 9:57 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: [blind-democracy]
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
