In this country we have a two-party system that completely fails the democratic ideal. It makes the capitalistic system the law of the land, even though socialist ideas and even communist ideas are worth looking at to improve the overall state of the nation. If you are a socialist, you are close to being an insurrectionist and being a communist will probably get you jailed or killed. Both parties are fully in line with that thinking. Now we have a Republican Party and a Democratic party, and the two parties should be actually called Racist and kind of Racist. The Racist party is our new MAGA party that has always been racist, but now they are blatantly so. When Johnson acted humanely towards black people, the Kind of Racist party switched sides and became the fully racist party. The Fully racist party became the Kind of Racist party. So now we have the FRP competing against the KoRP. The KoRP (Democrats) are supporting genocide in Israel, and they have really not stood up against the inequity that exists in this nation because they are firmly capitalist and the idea of equity for black and brown people is not a big part of their agenda. That is why I call them the KoRP party. If we are going to be a nation of equality, we have to look at both political parties as enemies of equality.
As always, you've written a concise and tragic history of Texas and the south. I've never experienced racism but I have experienced misogyny and these are life-long systemic harms. While not an excuse, I would like to add that Texas legislators are only paid a small sum to be a legislator ($7,200 plus a per diem). By fleeing the state they did draw national attention to the problem, but they had to flee the paid jobs that they do when not in session, many may have had to use up vacation and/or personal days, and they all had to be away from family and friends. Add to that the $500/day fine they were all subjected to ($7,000 assuming 14 days) and while this may not have been a financial burden for all, I'm certain that it was for some. Beto O'Rourke was stopped by a court for trying to raise money for these Democrats. It's so very frustrating not be able to immediately stop hatred and I have to believe that one day Republicans will face the consequences of their actions.
She is Texas Representative Annette Elizabeth Johnson (born August 13, 1974) is an American attorney and politician. She has represented the 134th District in the Texas House of Representatives since 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Johnson is also an adjunct professor of law at South Texas College of Law Houston.
It seems Blacks and Hispanics never learn Trump and his regime don’t give a damn about them. This is Apartheid in America. These voters keep voting against their own self interest. Democrats may not have much money to donate to the Democratic Party but money doesn’t vote. Proper and you can be assured we will vote a straight ticket for DEMOCRATS ONLU. Republicans can gerrymander but Democrats need to put forth a candidate in every republican district. Republicans will not stop us in 2026 and 2028. We will REGISTER and VOTE.
I think it should also be noted that it was a REPUBLICAN-dominated Supreme Court which decided, in 1883, that the 13th and 14th Amendments did NOT outlaw racial discrimination and segregation directed against Black Americans by private individuals. Of the 8 Justices who voted to support such racial discrimination and segregation, 7 were Republicans. Only 1 Republican dissented.
Be careful when you hold one party or the other accountable for actions over 100 years ago. What matters most is what these parties have done recently and are likely to do in the future. This is not to criticize historical perspective, but rather to look at history in context and see how things evolve and change over time. And I am continually grateful to Joy for shining light on historical context and exposing what was left out of most of our official history lessons.
"Yes, Democrats Supported Slavery, But That Misses the Point"
To your point, I have wanted to answer the claim that "Democrats supported slavery". Actually, there was a regional split among Democrats over slavery. Some supported slavery, but Northern Democrats were commonly ANTI-slavery. Therefore, the claim that "Democrats supported slavery" is erroneous. Some did, some did not.
I also investigated the post-Civil-War betrayal of Blacks by Republican officials, because it was a mystery to me: Why did the party's posture toward Blacks change? What I discovered was a split within the Republican Party. There were "radical" Republicans who wanted to continue to support Black civil rights, but they were eventually overpowered by "moderate" Republicans, for whom it was enough that slavery had ended and Blacks were recognized as citizens and had the right (technically) to vote. As the Republican-dominated Supreme Court of 1883 decided, the Amendments which Republicans had championed did NOT protect Black Americans from second-class citizenship. I can't recall the sources now, but if memory serves, the Republican justices who were on the Court during this period were "moderate" Republicans. Even the lone dissenter in the Civil Rights Cases, Justice Harlan, had previously opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
In this country we have a two-party system that completely fails the democratic ideal. It makes the capitalistic system the law of the land, even though socialist ideas and even communist ideas are worth looking at to improve the overall state of the nation. If you are a socialist, you are close to being an insurrectionist and being a communist will probably get you jailed or killed. Both parties are fully in line with that thinking. Now we have a Republican Party and a Democratic party, and the two parties should be actually called Racist and kind of Racist. The Racist party is our new MAGA party that has always been racist, but now they are blatantly so. When Johnson acted humanely towards black people, the Kind of Racist party switched sides and became the fully racist party. The Fully racist party became the Kind of Racist party. So now we have the FRP competing against the KoRP. The KoRP (Democrats) are supporting genocide in Israel, and they have really not stood up against the inequity that exists in this nation because they are firmly capitalist and the idea of equity for black and brown people is not a big part of their agenda. That is why I call them the KoRP party. If we are going to be a nation of equality, we have to look at both political parties as enemies of equality.
As always, you've written a concise and tragic history of Texas and the south. I've never experienced racism but I have experienced misogyny and these are life-long systemic harms. While not an excuse, I would like to add that Texas legislators are only paid a small sum to be a legislator ($7,200 plus a per diem). By fleeing the state they did draw national attention to the problem, but they had to flee the paid jobs that they do when not in session, many may have had to use up vacation and/or personal days, and they all had to be away from family and friends. Add to that the $500/day fine they were all subjected to ($7,000 assuming 14 days) and while this may not have been a financial burden for all, I'm certain that it was for some. Beto O'Rourke was stopped by a court for trying to raise money for these Democrats. It's so very frustrating not be able to immediately stop hatred and I have to believe that one day Republicans will face the consequences of their actions.
I despair
Who is the white woman democrat speaking? Why didn't the democrats' plan work? Did they have a strategy beyond that walkout?
She is Texas Representative Annette Elizabeth Johnson (born August 13, 1974) is an American attorney and politician. She has represented the 134th District in the Texas House of Representatives since 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Johnson is also an adjunct professor of law at South Texas College of Law Houston.
Joy-Ann, You'll want to straighten out the dates for Lincoln's elections. Pazzzz tom
It seems Blacks and Hispanics never learn Trump and his regime don’t give a damn about them. This is Apartheid in America. These voters keep voting against their own self interest. Democrats may not have much money to donate to the Democratic Party but money doesn’t vote. Proper and you can be assured we will vote a straight ticket for DEMOCRATS ONLU. Republicans can gerrymander but Democrats need to put forth a candidate in every republican district. Republicans will not stop us in 2026 and 2028. We will REGISTER and VOTE.
I think it should also be noted that it was a REPUBLICAN-dominated Supreme Court which decided, in 1883, that the 13th and 14th Amendments did NOT outlaw racial discrimination and segregation directed against Black Americans by private individuals. Of the 8 Justices who voted to support such racial discrimination and segregation, 7 were Republicans. Only 1 Republican dissented.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Cases
Be careful when you hold one party or the other accountable for actions over 100 years ago. What matters most is what these parties have done recently and are likely to do in the future. This is not to criticize historical perspective, but rather to look at history in context and see how things evolve and change over time. And I am continually grateful to Joy for shining light on historical context and exposing what was left out of most of our official history lessons.
"Yes, Democrats Supported Slavery, But That Misses the Point"
https://www.mediaite.com/online/yes-democrats-supported-slavery-but-that-misses-the-point/
To your point, I have wanted to answer the claim that "Democrats supported slavery". Actually, there was a regional split among Democrats over slavery. Some supported slavery, but Northern Democrats were commonly ANTI-slavery. Therefore, the claim that "Democrats supported slavery" is erroneous. Some did, some did not.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)
I also investigated the post-Civil-War betrayal of Blacks by Republican officials, because it was a mystery to me: Why did the party's posture toward Blacks change? What I discovered was a split within the Republican Party. There were "radical" Republicans who wanted to continue to support Black civil rights, but they were eventually overpowered by "moderate" Republicans, for whom it was enough that slavery had ended and Blacks were recognized as citizens and had the right (technically) to vote. As the Republican-dominated Supreme Court of 1883 decided, the Amendments which Republicans had championed did NOT protect Black Americans from second-class citizenship. I can't recall the sources now, but if memory serves, the Republican justices who were on the Court during this period were "moderate" Republicans. Even the lone dissenter in the Civil Rights Cases, Justice Harlan, had previously opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Marshall_Harlan