Is That Legal?

Ahh history...

Sometimes it's a good thing to know, sometimes it sucks. The bottom line is - we learn it, we study it, we disect it and figure out the who's when's why's how's and what for's of it, and after it has been completely digested by our brians, we pass it on to the next generation to begin anew.

After having been introduced to this most recent revelation of a past event, I must say I was intrigued enough to do research to find out more on the subject of 1898 Wilmington. I will say first and foremost that with my knowledge of Reconstruction and that whole nasty ugly period after the war, I find that there is some ommissions, glaring enough in this report, to force me to scream from the tallest building in North Carolina "WAIT A MINUTE HERE!"

More study needs to be done. Not a word is mentioned about the laws that were passed, nor a quoted text of said laws, nor other than a brief generalization that 'the laws helped secure black voting rights"

Certainly, because of the presence of the Reconstruction Republicans there was antagonism and political paybacks made moreso by appointing Carpetbaggers and Scalawags into office and electing others, which was a subject not broached, nor was no explaination given as to why - all of a sudden one bright sunshiny day did the white democrats wake up and began slaughtering and plotting.

This is a great investigative story, but so far one that has just 1 side. Research is very much incomplete. No fair mind can accurately assess this event in the context provided.

Even the people who signed the Wilmington Declaration stated " We are prepared to treat the negroes with justice and consideration in all matters " and " We deprecate lynching " and most telling " That we propose in the future to give the white men a large part of the employment heretofore given to negroes, because we realize that white families cannot thrive here unless there are more opportunities for the different members of said family." plus " That the negro has demonstrated, by antagonizing our interest in every way, and especially by his ballot, that he is incapable of realizing that his interests are and should be identical with those of the community. "

It is a fact that Reconstruction Republicans, Carpetbaggers and Scalawags took over the south, appointed their friends and cronies to office, and ran corrupt candidates favorable to Reconstruction. So is it any wonder that the indigenous white Wilmington population was a little upset by being forced out of work, or not being able to secure work to support their families?

By today's standards their methods seem out of touch and violent, but given the context of time, and that is what should be considered here, what else were they supposed to do? Take it? Hardly. And they struck out the only way they knew and had left to them.

Sure this is yet another drum added to the music of the Reparations Crowd, but that music is off key and only 4% of America's 300,000,000 citizens will dance to it.

Finish telling the story. Let us come together in peace and harmony to tell the WHOLE bitter ugly TRUTH! Stopping the investigation here does nobody any good, and only seeks to further antagonize an already strained racial divide.

Confederate hold-outs never accepted the fact that blacks during Reconstruction were intelligent enough to navigate the political process on their own. Condescending attitudes prevail, as noted in the previous comment.

The coup was illegal and immoral, and cannot be justified by the whites' frustration at being excluded or outvoted. That's what happens in a democracy. If we were to all follow that logic, then present-day blacks would be well justified in taking over the government today. There would then be no need for a government report or reparations. But would that make it right?

They've had 100 years to think about this and to do something about it. So why did they wait until this time now, to do something about it?

Don't you find it a bit odd, that as we approach a hotly contested re-election, in which Republicans, who are very much responsible for this current fascist mess that we are in; that suddenly they find reasons/excuses to make the Democrats look bad while diverting attention away from what the Republicans are doing in this country right now?

Of course, given the level of widespread vote rigging in the last election, I'm not sure why they even bother with the pretense of running an election campaign.

Always look for the hidden agenda, it is rare indeed for things to exist as a singularity.

Now that they have performed this mea culpa exercise, what do they intend to do with the result? Perhaps to use it as an excuse to justify passing ever more draconian "patriot" laws?

And when is this country going to take an honest look at what it did -- and continues to do!!! -- to the American Indians??? The endless murder and theft and oppression and deliberate destruction of a once great people, who now struggle just to be allowed to survive?

Sister J:

Confederate hold-outs? What is that? Who are they? Someone who poses an opposing viewpoint to yours? WOW!

As I stated before, let us all get ALL the facts and TRUTH. You and Eric have yet to inform your readers here that the the Reconstruction Mayor APPOINTED more than half of the Carpetbaggers and Scalawags - same as the Reconstruction Governor!

How is that fair, legal or moral? It is not in any century Ma'am.

Also, we do not live in a 'Democracy' We live in a Republic.

I sense your hand wandering over to my wallet for my money to pay you for slavery to your GGGGrandparents. Sorry Ma'am, if you do not withdraw it forthwith, you shall draw back a nub.

The truth is there. Why just tell half the story? LET'S GET IT ALL OUT THERE ASAP!!! Not just the stuff to make SisterJ happy.

Confederate Hold out? hahahahahahahaha :-O

Slavery reparations? More $$$$ and race based benefits? It hasn't worked in the past 50 years, but somehow more will work now?

Busing, welfare, foodstamps, affirmative action, quotas, lower standards on tests, subsidized housing and many other race based special preferences. All that stuff plus your wanting more only keeps y'all on the Plantation. Get off the Govt dole and take your place in modern society.

The naacp has won the war on civil rights, ever wonder why the only issues left to attack is decades/centuries old racial issues? Where is the great outcry for the Wilmington's of the 21st century? There are none.