On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Think about it, even though after 69 years, it may be difficult to imagine. It’s important, but I’m going to offer a little comment on it, except again, I hope you read the column linked.
It was written in
2018 by Will Alexander. Well, one short paragraph from the author who lived it follows reads as follows, “Back then, racial oppression was real. Today, it’s pure fiction – used as a tactic for political power; as nostalgia for blacks and whites who missed out on the glory days of the Civil Rights Movement; as a cover for envy; and as an ax over the heads of whites who dread the high costs of being labeled as racists.”
Alexander is not saying racism doesn’t exist today; it does, but not close to the magnitude it did. He gives an example of the horrors of oppression. If he saw something similar today, it would be rare, likely attached to isolated hate crimes. By the way, I hate the term “hate crime.” To me, all violent crimes emanate from hate without race playing a role.
Racism seems to be overused today. But you can read the document contributed by Mr. Alexander, which is linked. One final note: don’t confuse it with prejudice. All of us have prejudices, and those may or may not have to do with race.
As for the trial, it was four days later. On December 5, Parks was found guilty of violating segregation laws, given a suspended sentence, and fined $10 plus $4 in court costs.
Appeals and related lawsuits went through the courts, reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. On November 13, 1956, the Supreme Court ruled the bus segregation law was unconstitutional.
Today’s Microscopic Racism Is Light Years From Real Oppression