Mark Small

Until 1954, and the SCOTUS decision in Brown v. Bd of Education of Topeka I, discrimination against former slaves & their descendants, particularly in Southern States, was extreme. People were lynched, murdered by other means, and beaten. 17/29

1960s: viol against black ppl continued, but several pieces of Federal legislation were enacted to protect civil rights and voting rights, particularly in the South. President Lyndon Johnson said the Democratic Party had lost the South for a generation. 18/29

Some people in the GOP took advantage of these changes. The “Southern strategy,” under which the GOP would seek, through appeals to prejudice, was put into play. 19/29

If this country circa 1787 is viewed as a person who weighed 200 lbs, slavery was a tumor that comprised at least 25% of that weight. If a tumor - even benign - of that size is removed, the person’s metabolism is significantly altered. 20/29

The takeover of the GOP by reactionary elements shows that we still deal with the effects of slavery. I am lucky. I am a white male of European descent. I only can imagine the experience of one who is discriminated against. 21/29

We face a Constitutional Crisis once again. This time the crisis is the end of the two-party system. When only one party exists, there is no counter force to evil. People are leaving the GOP in large numbers because of that the GOP has become. 22/29

Slavery is an evil that haunts us today. The current occupant of the Oval Office has taken advantage of fear. We have to level the playing field. We have to negate the redistribution of wealth that has occurred since 1981. 23/29

Combined effects of Civil War & Reconstruction embittered white ppl in the South & they took out their anger on former slaves/descendants. Median levels of income and education starkly remind us how far we have to go to “even” the metaphorical playing field. 24/29