Benedict Thomas – 02/27/2016
In two more days Black History month will come to end, I pondered for days on what I would write about to commemorate this occasion. I finally decided to write about a truly recognized warrior for racial equality and justice and a warrior helped to retard the progress gained by all those who have fought and continue to fight for equality for all. One is highly regarded and held up as a pioneer carrying the battle forward started by the likes of: Dred Scott, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Dubois, Harriett Tubman, Marcus Garvey, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and many others. Justice Thomas marching to the drum of the likes of: George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Roger B. Taney, Robert E. Lee, George Wallace, Lester Maddox, Orval Eugene Faubus, and other segregationist.
Chief Justice Thurgood Marshall vs Justice Clarence Thomas both men nominated to serve on the highest court in the land. Their vote on issues before the court concerning voting rights changed the landscape for African Americans one positively the other negatively.
Justice Marshall in 1948 wins Shelley v. Kraemer in which Supreme Court strikes down legality of racially restrictive covenants, 1954 wins Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka, landmark case that demolishes legal basis for segregation in America, 1961 Defends civil rights demonstrators, winning Supreme Circuit Court victory in Garner V. Louisiana, nominated to Second Court of Appeals by President J. F. Kennedy, 1967 becomes the first African American elevated to U. S. Supreme Court (1967-1991). These are just a few of the accomplishments of Justice Marshall during his battles to overcome racial injustices during his lifetime.
Justice Thomas sided with the majority vote of 5-4 authored by Chief Justice John Roberts in the case before the court Shelby County v. Holder ruling that “things have changed dramatically “ in the South almost 50 years since the Voting Rights Act was signed in 1965. This vote had the following effect to the voting rights act: There were certain provisions placed in the act that recognized some states had a history of using such thing as literacy test, poll taxes and use of fear tactic to include beating and murdering minority citizens who sort to vote. Section 5 of the act required identified states found to practice such tactics to submit to the Department of Justice any changes to their states voting requirements to determine if such changes would be discriminatory before they could be implemented. After the enactment in 1965, there was an immediate decrease in racial discrimination in voting. Almost 250,000 African American registered one third of whom were registered by federal examiners. After the 2013 ruling by the Court those states that were held to federal scrutiny, immediately began to change their states voting requirement to include restrictions that had a direct negative impact to minorities in particular African Americans. The state of Alabama set forth a requirement that a voter drivers ID would be required to vote and within a year closed 75 offices where drivers ld.’s could be obtained and the district offices closed were a least 75% occupied by African American. This is only one example of states invoking requirements to restrict African American their right to vote other states such as: Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, South Carolina, and many others interestingly all controlled by Republican Governors. The theory that things have changed dramatically was obviously erroneous.
Clearly Justice Marshall had a different viewpoint of reality than that of Justice Thomas. Let us continue to uphold Justice Marshall as a true champion of equal right for all people in particular those of his race who’s reality was clearly unjust. Let the actions of Justice Thomas serve to show that obstacles to equally can exist in all forms even forms of our own kind. It brings to mind a saying that my Grandmother use to say “one monkey don’t stop no show”. People of all races, creed, and origins continue to fight for equality for all if one among us is not treated equally then we all face the possibility of being treated the same.
Warren S. Murff
6:24pm
Warren,
Thank again for your message is again clear and precise. Such a delicate Subject, you handle it in a brilliant way, but it pointed out that Mr. Thomas have not furthered our cause. The cause is the reasons for the Human Race.
In not furthering our cause he has not furthered the cause of the Human Race you are absolutely correct in your reasoning.