Medgar Evers survived WWII, only to be murdered fighting for democracy and human rights when he returned to the U.S. Evers fought for voting rights and investigated/exposed the murders of African Americans such as Emmett Till,
Clinton Melton, and many more. To honor his memory and sustain his
legacy, teach about Megar Evers and the many other war veterans who were
killed when they returned, most often for trying to vote.
The
simple white marble headstones lined up in rows across Arlington
National Cemetery are arranged without regard to rank, gender, branch of
military or race. The cemetery however began in a time of slavery,
through segregation and discrimination. Many of the men and women buried
in Arlington National Cemetery broke through barriers and boundaries to
become the first of their race to reach certain military
accomplishments. - See more at:
http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/black-history-of-arlington-national-cemetery/#sthash.H4jeJ5Nm.dpuf
Fast forward to #MemorialDay2015: Cleveland Police arrest African American protesters for protesting.
The protesters had largely been orderly as they marched around
downtown and into several nearby neighborhoods after the acquittal of
Police Officer Michael Brelo was announced this morning.
As police drove the protesters away from the East Fourth area, people
cheered the officers from the Euclid Avenue sidewalks, many recording
the action.
So this is the land of the free and the home of the brave....
When you celebrate Memorial Day, raise a fist for John Sims. Thank him
for speaking his mind and expressing his beliefs. The Confederate flag
is a symbol of white supremacy and the years of suffering of black
people, and that lingering hope of some that we will return to toiling
in the cotton fields, and swinging from the poplar trees if we get too
uppity. This is the N-word on a pole. If America had its own version of
the Nazi swastika, this would be it.
Happy Memorial Day. It's like Deja Vu all over again.
I write this post in honor and in memory of my paternal grand father who
fought overseas in World War 2 then returned to the Jim Crow south to
teach at what was known then
as the Veterans Continuation School (pre GI Bill), a federal program
designed for veterans returning home from the war to continue their
education. He and my paternal grandmother taught classes at night and
received a stipend. One
of the classes they taught was how to pass the Literacy test. My grandparents were exempt from paying the $2.00 poll tax
and allowed to vote
because they were teachers at the school. So you see, even though my
paternal grandfather was a WW2 veteran he didn't have the full rights
and
privileges he'd risked life and limb fighting for overseas.
RedEye
