July 4th: Independence For Who?

On Monday, June 28, 2010 the longest serving senator in U.S. history, Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia) passed away after years of failing health. He served 51 years in the United States Senate and six years in the House of Representatives, accomplishing much throughout the years. He held the offices of both majority and minority leader, along with president pro tem. He came from a poor background, self educating himself, who eventually took college courses sometime around his 30's or 40's. He wrote a book about his life and was proud to say he represented the people of his home state.

The question that we really should be asking is exactly who was he representing. Byrd was a member of the Klu Klux Klan in his youth and later he joined the group of Southern Democrats that rallied an unsuccessful filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 1944, Byrd wrote in a letter to Mississippi Democratic Senator Theodore Bilbo...
“I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.”
Let me give credit to Byrd for later apologizing for his past and for supporting President Barack Obama, however, is it possible for a man who wrote so passionately against African Americans be truly sincere in his apology? This man represented the "people" for over 50 years but can we honestly say that it he was an equal opportunity representative; whose best interests did he have in mind while in office?

While we do live in a "free" country and we are in a position where everyone is able to vote, it's not to say that his appointment to Congress was UNFAIR but it makes me question the mindset of voters. I overstand that West Virginia is still a predominately racist state but in the age of an African American President, is it still acceptable to have people with this mindset, reformed or not, even representing us in the first place? It's a lot to think about on this day of "Independence."

But just as a close friend of mine said, "Today is the day this nation gained Independence while people's ancestors remained bound and beaten, carrying the weight on their backs LITERALLY. While scars healed on their backs and created deep roots for the tree of life I don't think they imagined barbecues & fireworks reasons to celebrate." You can argue me until you're tired or just agree to disagree, but until people can open their minds, throw out their prejudices, and educate themselves before they vote, our country is still far from being "The Land of the Free" and our people, ALL people, are far from being able to celebrate freedom.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!