Depth of racism
On Thursday, April 6, 2023, Republican legislators in my home state of Tennessee demonstrated live to the entire world the depth of the racism issue in this country.
On that day, two young black men and one white woman were subjected to separate votes to expel them from the state Assembly for the “crime” of violating House rules to join students in protest for sensible gun reform in the wake of the recent Nashville school shooting. This was the first time in that body’s history that a resolution to expel members for violating a House rule was ever done — previous resolutions have been for people who have committed actual crimes.
If you had asked pretty much any African American in this country what the outcome of those votes would be, you would have gotten very near universal agreement that what actually happened would happen. Candace Owen would be a notable, ignoble exception.
The two young black men were expelled. They had been in the body only three months. They report that they were not afforded the ability to speak in the course of carrying out legislative work, often having their microphones cut off. They dealt with frequent condescension from other members and related how one member actually “joked” that lynchings should be re-instituted.
The speaker of the House referred to the protests, which were completely peaceful, as an “insurrection,” further demonstrating that they don’t care about the gravity of what happened on January 6.
Tennessee Republicans have now taken the hoods and robes off, and they don’t care who sees them for what they are. What they fail to understand is that they have unleashed a monster that is going to consume them. The youths of that state, as well as across the country and the world, got a front-row seat to and direct experience with the depravity of current American conservatism. Two historical figures were born in the process.
Perhaps Republicans believe their attempts to remove the racial history of this country from textbooks will prevent the coming storm. I am hoping that the young people of this country make it clear just how wrong that is.
Michael Mann, Lihu‘e
