Justice Harlans Descending Opinion in Plessy v Ferguson

 During what turned out to be one of the most influential and important court cases of all time where the court approved the principle of separate but equal, the vote came to 7-1 with one justice not participating. Justice John Marshall Harlan or "the lone dissenter" once said, "The white race deems itself to be the dominant race in this country, and so it is, in prestige, and achievements, in education and wealth and in power. So I doubt not it will continue to be for all time if it remains true to its great heritage and holds fast to the principles of constitutional liberty. But in the view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior dominant ruling class of citizens. Our constitution is colorblind and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law. The humblest is the peer of the most powerful. The law regards man as man and takes no account of his color when his civil rights are guaranteed by the supreme law of the land."

 As a former slave owner and someone who was born in a slave state (Kentucky) he disagreed with president Lincoln on emancipation and actually opposed his reelection so some may ask: how does he go from that to becoming this champion of equal rights for freed slaves? Harlan's family was a prominent slaveholding family Harlan loved to preach about how our constitution is "colorblind." 

Judge Harlan did not believe in the "separate but equal" principle. He believed that every person in this country is equal. In respect to the law, Judge Harlan knew the amendments and constitution very well as well as the meaning behind them. He would not only look at the words of the amendments, but he would find deeper meaning between the lines and interpret them correctly. One thing that really stood out to me after reading his dissent and overviews of it was how he harshly insists that everyone is equal under the law. This sticks out to me because he was once a slave owner. To be speaking in the tone that he did in his dissent toward African Americans means that he has come a long way from the person he used to be and he has educated himself more reasonably.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a sensitive, nuanced romance film that is still relevant today. 50 years later, its perspectives on race relations in America are still applicable. When Joanna Katharine Houghton returns home early from a vacation in Hawaii, her parents are shocked to learn that her new fiancé named Dr. John Prentiss Sidney Poitier is a man of color, yet is madly in love with their daughter. This movie highlights the differences that can be manifested between ideals and actions. Joanna’s upper-class parents' approval is extremely important to John and something he must gain. 

They are proud liberals, but their daughter intends to marry a black man which is completely new to them. Their attitudes and concerns are tested by John’s relationship with their daughter, as they are approached by a part of society that they had previously only really commented on and had little association with. They aren't sure how to feel about the couple but want to continue to love and support their daughter. The father is hesitant to give his blessing for the marriage because of the extreme prejudice he fears he/they will face. Before this film was released, interracial marriage was still illegal in 17 US states. This made the film a complex subject matter. The father supports the marriage between a white woman and a black man, but fears of the difficulties that the couple will endure in society. The film tries to communicate that the fathers of John and Joanna are blind to the fact that their kids love each other dearly, and they are overcomplicating the love. The film also addresses the fast pace of their relationship, considering they had only known each other and had been dating for 12 days before they were engaged. It also addresses how racism can happen to both sides of the party. Tilly's suspicion, John's less-than-thrilled parents coming to visit, and Matt's priest friend, Mike, all know how to keep tensions high in this movie. 

This movie is absolutely still relevant today because our society faces issues with interracial marriage, same-sex marriage, and other types of relationships. The movie's message that being in a biracial relationship doesn’t invalidate you as a member of a given culture is powerful. I personally loved this movie and enjoyed the storyline and message. I think it's a great watch and related heavily to our class. 

Linked below is a relevant news story about the societal issues this movie addresses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb0acs3qoZI

Final Discussion Reflection

Our in-class final discussion was incredibly impactful and one that I will take with me in the future. Our discussion started with conversations about current cases and how they relate to older cases. We talked about modern 1st Amendment cases and why they are important in today's polarized society. Our discussion then transitioned into a conversation about race and how it relates to social media. It is important to talk about race because it is a significant aspect of identity that shapes people's experiences and perspectives in society. By acknowledging and discussing race, we can better understand the challenges and discrimination that many people face, as well as the systemic inequalities that exist in our institutions and culture. Engaging in open and honest dialogue about race can also help to build bridges and foster a sense of empathy and solidarity among people of different backgrounds. By addressing the issue of race, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society, and we did just that. 

Our discussion was also a debate about how social media severely affects politics today. This was the largest thing I took away from our discussion. We talked about how people hide behind their screens to make it seem like they want to help societal issues but in reality, people just post what is trending to seem like they are involved in an issue that they don’t care about whatsoever. The infographic trend has taken over social media and people think they can save the world’s issues by resharing some edit.

 

However, social media has also introduced new challenges, such as the spread of misinformation and the amplification of extremist views. Overall, social media has greatly changed the landscape of politics and will continue to do so in the future.

I’m actually incredibly thankful for the in-class discussion because I was able to hear the opinions of my peers and even if I didn’t agree with them completely, I listened and considered ever point they made. I also got to know some of me peers a little better and it was inspiring to hear them stand up for what they believe and issues they think are prominent in today’s society. 

Klansville, U.S.A

Klansville U.S.A.: the name given to a town in South Carolina that was once riddled with anti-black KKK members during the 1960s. Making their much-awaited return after their fallout in the 1920s, the Klan came back larger and more powerful than ever.

If you were born into a family of Klu Klux Klan members, you’re bound to be one during this time. This is what happened to Bob Jones, a member of the military who was known to be a racist. He was dropped from the military after refusing to salute a black officer. After being discharged, Bob Jones worked for a well-off life while making a sufficient amount of money. Bob then decided to organize a rally. He did not believe that many would show up but to his surprise, about 2,000 people came. This North Carolina rally was what helped Jones come to the realization that he had a “future” in that realm. He realized that the same people who showed up to his first rally would continue to support his efforts. These realizations are what led Jones to take his initiatives to the next level. Because of his efforts, the Klan grew to about 10,000 members despite North Carolina’s lack of progression with civil rights. Jones set up rallies across the state and built new chapters as well. 

The Klan became so large and popular that its growth was the cause of its downfall. The FBI started to catch on to its popularity and began to investigate the secrets of the Klan. The FBI used George Dorsett as a way to go against Bob Jones and unveil the secrets of the Klan. This led to the arrest of Jones and the loss of faith in Jones from his followers. 

The Klan is still present in the United States today. It was last reported that there were 42 active groups across 22 states. Upon further research, I found that there are 12 small, but active groups in Maryland (my home state). The first amendment protects the right to be a member of the Klu Klux Klan but it is a dying group because of how hard of a time they are having trying to show reasons that people should join and gain new followers. 

Who was Hazel Scott?

Hazel Scott was one of the most excellent jazz musicians of her time. To my surprise, I was unaware of who she was until she was brought up in my class by Professor Smith. Her enthusiasm and passion for music are evident in all of her work and especially through the videos we have watched as a class. It’s unfortunate that more people aren’t able to identify important Black figures in history who have shaped things like music, today. 

Known for her jazz and boogie-style music, Hazel was always an incredible pianist. Hazel was born in the Port of Spain in the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago. Four years later, her family moved to the United States and settled in Harlem. Hazel then auditioned for the Julliard School of Music at the age of 8, even though they typically only enrolled students ages 16 and above. Hazel was given private lessons by a professor at the school and then began to perform regularly for radio programs, as well as the Roslin Dance Hall. It was her 1939 performances at Café Society in Greenwich Village that pushed Scott’s career to the next level. Café Society was New York’s first fully integrated nightclub and the city’s hot spot for jazz. Throughout her career, Hazel declined any opportunity that involved any form of racism, all to stand in support of the Black community. Scott credited her courage to her mother who encouraged her to become the powerful and independent woman she was. Later on, Hazel married Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and together, they became a powerful activist couple. Hazel was the first person in the United States to have her own TV show. The Hazel Scott Show aired for 15 minutes, three times a week, first in New York City and then nationally. 

Scott played the mix of classics, jazz, and boogie-woogie blues for which she was known and the show earned good ratings. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after a few months because of her involvement in political activism. Scott then divorced her husband and moved to Paris where she remarried and continued performing as well as being an activist. When she eventually came back to America, the height of her fame was behind her. She continued to perform in small clubs for her fans and continued to take small jobs. Scott then got cancer and sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1981. 

Hazel Scott left a lasting impression on the world of jazz and pathed the way for Black musicians to come after her. Her passion for activism inspired many and she is now recognized as a forgotten pioneer of music. Her resilience and courage to stand up for what she believed was an incredible statement and one that heavily impacted the fight for equality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySQ8cA4a-f8