Lynchings in the US in 19th & 20th centurys (1 Viewer)

[Spitfrnd]

Yo Troopers, watched Glory again last night enjoyed it, but got to thinking what Jay had posted on this, that during the second World War coloured American GIs were still not allowed to eat with the white boys. This is really shocking when you think 80 years previous they fought and died in the ACW. I saw the difference from the other side of the track about 10 years back, went to Graceland's to pay homage to the King, so booked the Howard Johnson on line because it was only a mile from Graceland's. Arrived late at night but did notice a lot on African Americans in the hotel, all the staff were coloured but did not give it a second thought being from the UK we don't have a problem with the ex African people, other races maybe which I wont mention. Anyway gets up early for breakfast and goes to the restaurant, walks in and it was like a scene from a Western everyone stopped eating and looked at us, we were the only whites in the hotel Ooops, so I just says morning everyone, Just total silence not one person replied. The five days we were there never got a word out of any coloured person even in their shops in Memphis. It did spoil the visit somewhat but thought boy have they got a large chip on their shoulders. But when you read this thread you can maybe understand why they had this attitude towards the whites, very sad really when you think about it.
Bernard.

Yes Bernard, sad indeed as are all such examples worldwide; Northern Ireland comes immediately to mind for one.

 

[Cardigan600]

Yes Bernard, sad indeed as are all such examples worldwide; Northern Ireland comes immediately to mind for one.

Yo Spit lol, yeh this is a real weird one. I was up the north shopping last week and its a strange feeling to see all the British flags flying, and you think to yourself I am still in Ireland. But its the legacy left by the British Empire but its about religion not colour, which is another very very sad case for this world to deal with. I suppose being human we will always have to fight and kill other people because of religion and colour. Only way out I can see is an Alien intervention one day, something like the in the old movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and the reason he brought Gort to police Planet Earth to stop all this childish carrying on with humans.
Bernard.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Yo Spit lol, yeh this is a real weird one. I was up the north shopping last week and its a strange feeling to see all the British flags flying, and you think to yourself I am still in Ireland. But its the legacy left by the British Empire but its about religion not colour, which is another very very sad case for this world to deal with. I suppose being human we will always have to fight and kill other people because of religion and colour. Only way out I can see is an Alien intervention one day, something like the in the old movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and the reason he brought Gort to police Planet Earth to stop all this childish carrying on with humans.
Bernard.

Indeed and ole Gort would have his hands full at that.

 

[Currahee Chris]

What I wanted to ask my American friends is this, did you learn about these Lynchings as you grew up, were they discussed openly or was it a taboo subject swept under the carpet so to speak.

Would appreciate an American view on this.

Rob

Can't imagine anyone more "American" than moi to comment on this

Interesting question and I am clearly late to the dance. It wasn't discussed openly at any point at my home- perhaps it sounds like it was a bit more common than perhaps it really was- not sure quite honestly. I think the South has been sterotyped as being backwoods hicks who engaged in this sort of thing when really, yeah, it happened there but it probably did elsewhere up North as well.

It would be good to see a monument in recognition for these unfortunate individuals who suffered this injustice. We have a lot of other ones around here that recognize far less notable actions- as infamous and nefarious as they were.

 

[Mitch]

currahee chris...
That would be a great idea a monument and cannot understand why it has not been done before
Mitch

 

[Currahee Chris]

currahee chris...
That would be a great idea a monument and cannot understand why it has not been done before
Mitch

Thanks- though I gotta think it would open up a political slippery slope here in the US. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised to see something in perhaps mine or my children's lifetime.

 

[Mitch]

Currahee Chris...

Only way to sort this stuff out is head on and, your suggestion goes some way to addressing some of the wrongs and, similar to over here anything which seems controversial, racial etc politicians give the widest bearth possible.
Mitch

 

[ROUGH RIDER]

This will be a short reply to the above posts, the debate on this subject and others could go on for decades. No man or country is without sin. This country is not perfect, never has been, and never will be. Atrocities have taken place in and by every country in the world. You can choose any period of time in history, and find instances of horror, bigotry and intolerance. Ignorance is the main cause of these acts. Let me tell you about myself. I’m originally from New Jersey – in the North, I now live in Georgia – in the South. I’m of Irish/German descent and yes, Roman Catholic. To my British friends, they just need to look to the West and how the Catholics were treated in Northern Ireland in the past and continue to be. And, for the record, my wife is British, born in York. A quote I just heard today is perfect for this discussion… ‘Don’t let the past steal your present’. Thank you, and God Bless America.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Being through the South recently, it's amazing the integration in restaurants and hotels.

I have lived in the South all my life...

what do you mean...

"It's Amazing"...

how recent was your visit and what were you expecting...

some good old boys on every corner with tar and feathers?????

Jay how old are you and where were you raised in the US?

you were amazed at our integration in the South huh???

WOW!!!!

 

[mikemiller1955]

there's a whisper of a rumor about indoor plumbing and electricty in the near future...

down here...we can only hope...

 

[Njja]

Every country has its dark side and the US is certainly no exception.

The US is a melting pot from every other country on the planet so it is important for us to make certain today everyone is treated equally and not

live in the past. No one person should be given an advantage over another For Any Reason and we should all respect the rights of others.

To this point, I am not and have never been a smoker, however I respect another mans right to smoke if he cares to. I do not believe anyone's

rights should be infringed upon, we tend to get carried away with the issues of controlling eveyones lifestyle.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Every country has its dark side and the US is certainly no exception.

The US is a melting pot from every other country on the planet so it is important for us to make certain today everyone is treated equally and not

live in the past. No one person should be given an advantage over another For Any Reason and we should all respect the rights of others.

To this point, I am not and have never been a smoker, however I respect another mans right to smoke if he cares to. I do not believe anyone's

rights should be infringed upon, we tend to get carried away with the issues of controlling eveyones lifestyle.

Indeed, and you say we never agree mate.

 

[Combat]

You sort of lost me there contrasting the right to smoke with lynching. But it did remind me of the old exchange: “Oscar Wilde: 'Do you mind if I smoke?' Sarah Bernhardt: 'I don't care if you burn'”

 

[Jay]

Every country has its dark side and the US is certainly no exception.

The US is a melting pot from every other country on the planet so it is important for us to make certain today everyone is treated equally and not

live in the past. No one person should be given an advantage over another For Any Reason and we should all respect the rights of others.

To this point, I am not and have never been a smoker, however I respect another mans right to smoke if he cares to. I do not believe anyone's

rights should be infringed upon, we tend to get carried away with the issues of controlling eveyones lifestyle.

I'm sorry, I don't get the connection with smoking? I'm sure you aren't saying that it was just a matter of opinion on whether on was murdered or not. But what are you saying?

 

[Jay]

I have lived in the South all my life...

what do you mean...

"It's Amazing"...

how recent was your visit and what were you expecting...

some good old boys on every corner with tar and feathers?????

Jay how old are you and where were you raised in the US?

you were amazed at our integration in the South huh???

WOW!!!!

No, I'm amazed how far you've come in 40 years. I remember well the marches and sit ins, and freedom riders and the bombings and water hoses. If you are over 40 you remember them also, and the "separate but equal" schools and water fountains and bathrooms and every other part of that. This was all in my lifetime.
No I wasn't expecting good old boys on every corner. But, I've been through the South enough to know they are still there. And again, if you've been down there for a while, you know that too. Don't forget the Jena 6 case a few years ago. My point was that its amazing, given the history in at least my lifetime, and maybe yours, the changes that have occurred in less than a generation. You have to admit that's true.

 

[marco55]

Every country has its dark side and the US is certainly no exception.

The US is a melting pot from every other country on the planet so it is important for us to make certain today everyone is treated equally and not

live in the past. No one person should be given an advantage over another For Any Reason and we should all respect the rights of others.

To this point, I am not and have never been a smoker, however I respect another mans right to smoke if he cares to. I do not believe anyone's

rights should be infringed upon, we tend to get carried away with the issues of controlling eveyones lifestyle.

I smoke and I also respect the rights of others if it bothers them.
Mark

 

[Jay]

I smoke and I also respect the rights of others if it bothers them.
Mark

Again, what does smoking have to do with murder?

 

[Njja]

You sort of lost me there contrasting the right to smoke with lynching. But it did remind me of the old exchange: “Oscar Wilde: 'Do you mind if I smoke?' Sarah Bernhardt: 'I don't care if you burn'”

................................................................................................................

My point was that we should respect each other and be tolerant.

I do not smoke or drink, but I fully support others right to do so in a responsible manor.

 

[Njja]

I'm sorry, I don't get the connection with smoking? I'm sure you aren't saying that it was just a matter of opinion on whether on was murdered or not. But what are you saying?

............................................................................................................

My point about smoking was to be tolerant of others rights as long as they are done in a responsible manor.

America has things in it's past that were certainly horrible, as does every nation. We cannot change the past, we can only control the present.

 

[mikemiller1955]

No, I'm amazed how far you've come in 40 years. I remember well the marches and sit ins, and freedom riders and the bombings and water hoses. If you are over 40 you remember them also, and the "separate but equal" schools and water fountains and bathrooms and every other part of that. This was all in my lifetime.
No I wasn't expecting good old boys on every corner. But, I've been through the South enough to know they are still there. And again, if you've been down there for a while, you know that too. Don't forget the Jena 6 case a few years ago. My point was that its amazing, given the history in at least my lifetime, and maybe yours, the changes that have occurred in less than a generation. You have to admit that's true.

Jay......

I think your opinion of the South's progress to keep up with national social betterment is a little biased, slanted and inflamatory...

I really believe that as a whole...we are just a little more civilized than you might think...

racial prejudice is not accepted or welcome where I live..

I don't condone it...I abhor it...my friends don't tolerate it...they wouldn't be my friends if they did...my current girlfriend is black...I'm caucasion...

Jay...the old South is dead or dying...with it's demise...racism here...is slowly disappearing more and more...I think with each new generation comes a little change...

racism does still exist in the South...I won't deny it...but it exists everywhere in the USA...

if anything I think you can make the statement...

"You are amazed at this countries integration"...

instead of when you say...

"Being through the South recently, it's amazing the integration in restaurants and hotels."

I don't understand why you single out the South...

I don't want our non American friends on the forum to get the impression that the is South lagging in social progress...we are not...

in your original post...where you were amazed in our progress...you give the impression that we are "the child" that is finally growing up...catching up with our "big brother"...

it's insulting...

your post feels like a pat on the back because we didn't lynch anybody last month...

I'm guessing your from a Northern state...I asked you along with two other questions in my first post...but you ignored them....

I'm aware of what is going on in my area...I hope you don't think racism only exists still in the South...

I'm 55...I have never seen a "black/white" fountain in my area...no freedom riders...bombings...marches or water houses...I have never seen these...but I know they existed in some parts of the South once...

please don't stereotype the South...especially if you don't live here...

here's a fun fact about progress for you...in the "not so" southern locale of Cleveland, Ohio...

it's an annual event called................."Beat Up A White Kid Day".....

http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/Beat_Up_a_White_Kid_Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_Up_a_White_Kid_Day

for you non Americans unfamiliar with our geography of states...Ohio is a Northern state...not a Southern state...

I think there are pockets of groups of people everywhere that are still very racially segregated...

the only point I'm trying to make here is that your post was a little offensive and I don't want anyone unfamiliar with the USA...or the South...to get the wrong impression about the South...