Inauguration Day! I will not be watching any television as I am in mourning. I started with meditation and prayer to bring myself and, hopefully, others a sense of peace and hope. Depending on the weather I will go kayaking or take a walk on the west side of the island. The beach seems to stretch for miles over there. This is a sad, sad day for our country and I need some quiet time.

On a related topic, I have been reading about the history of Alabama (bama). I am familiar with the historical stories out of Selma, Birmingham, Rosa Parks, 6th Street Baptist Church, KKK, Martin Luther King, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I did not know some of the back story, other than in general terms: prejudice, segregation, lynchings, marginalization.

I found this important in terms of the Tr— movement (Wikipedia) because I believe it describes the same kind of white people governing today:

“For 35 years after the Civil War, Alabama was a rich, heavily rural state, with an economy based on cotton and sharecropping. Its legislature failed to invest in infrastructure, so many of its farmers were isolated from more lucrative markets. At Reconstruction’s end, whites known as “Redeemer” Democrats regained control of the state legislature by both legal and extralegal means (including violence and harassment) to re-establish political and social dominance over African Americans. In 1901, Democrats passed a state Constitution that effectively disfranchised most African Americans (who in 1900 comprised more than 45 percent of the state’s population), as well as tens of thousands of poor whites.^[2][3] By 1941, a total 600,000 poor whites and 520,000 African Americans had been disfranchised.^[2] In addition, despite massive population changes in the state that accompanied urbanization and industrialization, the rural-dominated legislature refused to redistrict from 1901 to the 1960s, leading to massive malapportionment in Congressional and state representation. For decades, a rural minority dominated the state, and the needs of urban, middle class and industrial interests were not addressed.

African Americans living in Alabama experienced the inequities of disfranchisement, segregation, violence, and underfunded schools. Tens of thousands of African Americans from Alabama joined the Great Migration out of the South from 1915 to 1930^[4] and moved to better opportunities in industrial cities, mostly in the North, especially the Midwest. The black exodus escalated steadily in the first three decades of the 20th century; 22,100 emigrated from 1900 to 1910; 70,800 between 1910 and 1920; and 80,700 between 1920 and 1930.^[5][6]“

In my own words: while the Civil War lead to the end of slavery as a practice, the attitude towards African-Americans never changed. REDEEMER Democrats brought back political and social dominance over them. Many left for northern states for better jobs and a freer life. A Great Migration, something I knew nothing about.

Now we have the Redeemer Republicans. I interpret their slogan “Make America Great Again” as a reflection of the same thing: an attempt to bring back political, social, and economic dominance over everyone who is not a white privilege heterosexual. Does that make me paranoid? Am I being reactionary? The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was only 52 years ago. Mankind has not changed much during that time, and I believe the forces at work today are a backlash that goes all the way back the 1964. This country is infected with serious bigotry and hate.

In my opinion, also in play is that fact that in a few decades, white follks will be in the minority. Sieze the power now before non-whites are governing this country! Grab everything, including all our precious resources, pollute everything that is left, consolidate wealth! What a sad development for those who embraced the notion of a democracy. Was it just an ideal? What a sad commentary on Christianity (which these folks claim to follow). Was it just an ideal?

I am so happy to be in bama at the moment and marching in solidarity with women of the south. Digging deeper into the history here makes me more aware and more determined to fight racist policy. We are in for some rocky years. The drama of the election season will pale as new drama unfolds. Americans are acting in the worst, most embarrassing way. I am worked up and ready for the Pensacola Women’ March on Saturday. I am very happy to be marching locally instead of going to DC, even though DC weather will be a bit more pleasant that our expected thunderstorms.