Senate Apology

Last June 13, the United States Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 39 (see Resolution text in accompanying box), apologizing for that body’s past failure to enact federal anti- legislation—legislation the House had passed three times (1922, 1937, 1940). Each time the House-passed bill came to the Senate, Southern members used “states’ rights” arguments and the filibuster and other parliamentary maneuvers to prevent a floor vote—which most likely would have approved the bill. Senate Resolution 39 was an extraordinary action, reported widely in the media. The effort was the result of several years of organizing/lobbying by The Committee For A Formal Apology—initiated by publication of Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America, by (Twin Palms Twelve Trees Press, 2000), the mind-blowing and sickening collection of photos, not only of the victims but of the festive crowds that regularly attended these horrific acts. Eighty of the Senate’s 100 members were original co-endorsers of the resolution, introduced by Mary Landrieu (D- LA) and George Allen (R-VA); the remaining 20 took a lot of heat for their silence, leading 12 of them to add their names. The 8 holdouts, all Republicans, were both Mississippi Senators (Thad Cochran and Trent Lott), both Wyoming Senators (Craig Thomas and Michael Enzi), both New Hampshire Senators (Judd Gregg and John Sununu), Texas’ John Cornyn and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. Although Senate Majority Leader Bill First joined as a co-endorser, he acted to protect his holdout colleagues by preventing a roll call vote and by scheduling the bill’s hearing on a Monday evening, a time when the Senate chamber is nearly empty. In an effort to learn more about the work of the Committee For A Formal Apology, I interviewed Mark Planning, a DC- based lawyer who is pro bono counsel to the Committee.

Chester Hartman: Let me start off my becoming a parent in recent years ary: Lynching Photography in America. personally. You’re another anti-racist really made me think more about these CH: Was he a key figure in starting white guy. How did you get involved things. The project—the apology—was the campaign? in this? What’s your background? an opportunity to do something positive, MP: He was, along with Dick Gre- Mark Planning: I don’t have an ac- to make a contribution. gory, the entertainer activist, and Dr. tivist background. I’ve always been very CH: How did you get involved in E. Faye Williams, another prominent sympathetic to race issues, however. I it? human rights leader. Basically, after have a brother, a Jesuit priest, who’s MP: The campaign was inspired by James Allen’s book was published in very involved in race and other social the publication of James Allen’s 2000, a public dialogue began about what justice issues. I would say his work and groundbreaking book, Without Sanctu- to do with these pictures. Do we as a country continue to sweep this period of history under the rug, or do we try to do something constructive? One of my pas- New “Best of P&R” Book sions, my avocations, is 20th Century political history. I was amazed to dis- Poverty and Race in America: The Emerging Agendas, edited by Chester cover that there is very little historical Hartman, with a Foreword by Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., will be published by scholarship, at least by mainstream his- Lexington Books—out in January or February. A collection of 60 articles/ torians, on lynching. Perhaps this is symposia that appeared from late 2001 right up to the present issue (we because there is so much institutional snuck Jim Loewen’s lead piece in at the last minute), written by the shame on the white side, and then, nation’s leading researchers, activists and policymakers. The articles are frankly, anger by African Americans that in 7 sections: Race, Poverty, Housing, Education, Health, Democracy & this was done to their immediate past Miscellaneous. Each section ends with a heuristic quiz. ancestors. To try to rectify at least some The 400+-page book book is $34.95 pb, $95 hb. of this, Mr. Gregory, who, by the way, If you’d like to see the Table of Contents, email ([email protected]) is an incredible human being, pulled to- or phone (202/906-8025) your request. It is a marvelous set of course gether Dr. C. DeLores Tucker, Dr. readings for college, graduate school and high school students, and teach- Dorothy Height, Martin Luther King ers can request examination copies from [email protected]. Bulk or- III, and over time, people like Janet ders will be available at a considerable discount, even larger if we get such Langhart Cohen, another amazing per- orders before actual printing starts. son. She is best known, at least in the The first two such collections, published by M.E. Sharpe (Double City of Washington, as the wife of Wil- Exposure: Poverty and Race in America [1997] and Challenges to Equal- liam Cohen, the former Senator and Sec- ity: Poverty and Race in America [2001]), still are in print and still are retary of Defense. Following her mar- highly relevant for course adoptions and general reading. riage to Senator Cohen, she became the (Please turn to page 8)

November/December 2005 • Poverty & Race • Vol.14, No. 6 • 7 (APOLOGY: Continued from page 7) MP: Her cousin, Jimmy Gillen- pain and devastation she endured for water, was lynched in Kentucky the rest of her life. Over time, other first African-American Senate spouse around the time of the first anti-lynch- lynching descendants joined our Com- since Reconstruction. The second, and ing filibuster. He refused to leave his mittee. One is Doria Johnson, whose only other, is Senator Barack Obama’s land, so a mob hanged him from a great-great grandfather, Anthony wife. tree. Mrs. Cohen did not personally Crawford, was lynched in South Caro- CH: Mrs. Cohen has a lynching know Jimmy, the victim, but she did lina. One of the pleasant surprises fol- in her family? know his mother, and the incredible lowing the Senate apology was that the community of Abbeville, where this 109th CONGRESS - 1st Session lynching took place, came together and S. RES. 39 formally apologized to the Crawford family. Doria has been working on RESOLUTION these issues for over 10 years. She has a web site and does quite a bit of Apologizing to the victims of lynching and the descendants of those vic- public speaking on the subject. tims for the failure of the Senate to enact anti-lynching legislation. CH: Where does she live? MP: She is in Evanston, Illinois, Whereas the crime of lynching succeeded slavery as the ultimate expres- but there are Crawford descendants liv- sion of racism in the United States following Reconstruction; ing all over the country. In fact, Doria Whereas lynching was a widely acknowledged practice in the United States assembled in Washington—it was ab- until the middle of the 20th century; solutely incredible—about 100 Whereas lynching was a crime that occurred throughout the United States, with documented incidents in all but 4 States; Crawford family members. On the day Whereas at least 4,742 people, predominantly African-Americans, were of the apology, they attended a recep- reported lynched in the United States between 1882 and 1968; tion at the Capitol in their honor. That Whereas 99 percent of all perpetrators of lynching escaped from punish- evening they sat in the Senate gallery ment by State or local officials; to witness the apology. Another Com- Whereas lynching prompted African-Americans to form the National As- mittee member who is an actual survi- sociation for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and prompted vor—the only known survivor of a members of B’nai B’rith to found the Anti-Defamation League; lynching—is Dr. James Cameron. Whereas nearly 200 anti-lynching bills were introduced in Congress dur- After almost being lynched in Marion, ing the first half of the 20th century; during the 1930s, he dedicated Whereas, between 1890 and 1952, 7 Presidents petitioned Congress to his life to educating Americans about end lynching; this history. He founded the Black Ho- Whereas, between 1920 and 1940, the House of Representatives passed 3 locaust Museum in and has strong anti-lynching measures; written extensively about his personal Whereas protection against lynching was the minimum and most basic of experience. Other Committee mem- Federal responsibilities, and the Senate considered but failed to enact anti- bers include Dan Duster, the grandson lynching legislation despite repeated requests by civil rights groups, Presi- of Ida B. Wells, and ’s dents, and the House of Representatives to do so; cousin Simeon Wright, who was with Whereas the recent publication of “Without Sanctuary: Lynching Pho- Emmett in Mississippi when he was tography in America” helped bring greater awareness and proper recognition abducted and lynched in the 1950s. of the victims of lynching; The Committee was very authentic and Whereas only by coming to terms with history can the United States ef- grassroots. Everybody and everything fectively champion human rights abroad; and just came together in a beautiful way. Whereas an apology offered in the spirit of true repentance moves the You know, someone once said about United States toward reconciliation and may become central to a new under- James Allen’s book, that when you standing, on which improved racial relations can be forged: Now, therefore, view these pictures you are at once be it blessed and cursed to do “something” Resolved, That the Senate— about them. For me, it was an oppor- (1) apologizes to the victims of lynching for the failure of the Senate to tunity to work with great civil rights enact anti-lynching legislation; leaders and hopefully inspire young (2) expresses the deepest sympathies and most solemn regrets of the Sen- people to learn all of their country’s ate to the descendants of victims of lynching, the ancestors of whom were history. deprived of life, human dignity, and the constitutional protections accorded CH: How does the Committee all citizens of the United States; and function or meet, or is it really amor- (3) remembers the history of lynching, to ensure that these tragedies will phous? be neither forgotten nor repeated. MP: Most of us are here in Wash-

8 • Poverty & Race • Vol. 14, No. 6 • November/December 2005 Please donate to PRRAC!

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Philip Tegeler PRRAC Executive Director ington so we were able to meet regu- CH: Any idea what motivated Until Dr. C. DeLores Tucker’s death larly. Initially, we put up a web site him? a few weeks ago, Dr. Williams served that included information about the MP: Apparently he has been very as her counsel. Now we’re hoping that campaign and a Senate petition that the involved the last couple of years with she will replace Dr. Tucker as the head public could sign. Then we just started Congressman John Lewis’ Faith and of the National Congress of Black knocking on Senators’ doors. Politics Institute, which organizes civil Women, a wonderful organization that CH: Was it difficult? rights pilgrimages for Senators and was started by the late Representative MP: Mr. Gregory wrote two or others. He told us that visiting these Shirley Chisholm. Dr. Williams is an three separate letters to every Senator. sites with Mr. Lewis was something impressive person and one of the au- Eventually, Senator Landrieu saw a of a life-altering experience. It also thentic foot soldiers in the contempo- copy of Without Sanctuary in connec- turns out he was a history major in rary Civil Rights Movement. tion with one of these letters and im- college but, like most people, knew CH: I understand Majority Leader mediately contacted us about serving very little about this history, especially Bill Frist tried to undercut your efforts. as the lead sponsor. She thought it best the Senate’s unique culpability for MP: We requested a roll call vote to proceed in a bipartisan manner and these crimes. on the apology. For starters, other requested that we help her find a Re- CH: Are you the convener, the ini- groups who received an apology from publican sponsor. So we started down tiator? Congress got one. But more impor- the alphabet, first calling on Senator MP: I would say Dr. E. Faye Wil- tantly, we wanted Senators to be in Allard from Colorado, then Senator liams and I are. She and I did most of Washington so they could come to the Alexander from Tennessee. Senator the Hill visits. We also took care of floor and speak on behalf of the reso- Allen from Virginia was third, and he the mundane, day-to-day chores that lution. Plenty of Senators, Democrats said yes. go with running a campaign like this. (Please turn to page 10)

November/December 2005 • Poverty & Race • Vol.14, No. 6 • 9 (APOLOGY: Continued from page 9) American History Museum. We were told, and it may be true, that they have Remember to send and Republicans, expressed to us a exhibits already lined up for the next us items for our desire to speak. Additionally, we re- couple of years. Resources quested daylight business hours on a CH: What now? There was one Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday reference in the press accounts to a fol- section. when most of the Senators are around. low-up activity of having Senator Ri- Instead, Senator Frist gave us a Mon- chard Russell’s name taken off the day, starting at 6 pm. It was a big dis- Senate office building. Russell, of cramped spirit attained ‘greatness’ in appointment. This was the first time course, was the Senator from Georgia the Senate says more about the institu- African Americans ever received from who blocked all of the anti-lynching tion than about Russell himself.” Congress any kind of apology or legislation during the 1930s, 40s and CH: Are you working on remov- amends for past historical crimes com- 50s. ing the Russell name? mitted against them by the federal gov- MP: We think that’s a logical and MP: No. We are looking instead ernment. Numerous Senators wanted respectful thing to do. Russell, more at taking the political good will that to participate but were prevented from than any other single Senator, not only has been created and possibly pursu- doing so because of the scheduling. led all the campaigns to defeat anti- ing a joint resolution from Congress CH: The lobbying that was done— lynching legislation, but he fought to that would formally acknowledge and you described going door to door to delay and weaken all other civil rights apologize for slavery. We believe it find co-sponsors. What else was done measures considered by the Senate be- would represent another important step to produce 80 sponsors? tween 1933 and 1971. in furthering an honest dialog on race MP: As I mentioned, we obtained CH: I imagine the Russell name in this country. The issue of slavery, thousands of signatures on a petition change would be a tough sell. of course, is a good deal more com- that was delivered to the Senate. We MP: It is. Senator Lott chairs the plicated and controversial. It involves also had other groups and individuals Rules Committee, and Senator Byrd both the House and the Senate. It also contact Senators on their own. The let- is the senior Democrat. And it is re- brings in issues like reparations. ters from Mr. Gregory had to be hand- ally too bad. There were many South- CH: Are you doing anything on delivered to the Hill because of the ern Senators, perhaps more than you the reparations issue at this point? anthrax contamination at the Hart are aware of, who traveled heroic per- MP: No. In addition to possibly Building. That ended up taking a great sonal and political journeys to finally pursuing the apology for slavery, we deal of time. Then, over a two-year embrace civil rights. Richard Russell, are interested, I think I mentioned, in period, we just called on Senate of- unfortunately, was not one of these bringing the Without Sanctuary exhibit fices. It was good old-fashioned knock- Senators. He went to his grave still to Washington during February, Black ing on doors and getting lots of strange believing this white supremacist gar- History Month. These are things that looks. Eventually, after we visited bage. It is an indignity and an incred- can be achieved now. When people like enough offices and staff saw the lynch- ible insult to African Americans that Bill Clinton oppose reparations, it is a ing pictures and reviewed the history, the oldest, most prestigious Senate of- non-starter. they got it. fice building is named for him. A new CH: Have you received any offers CH: Was the book sent to all of the book just came out on the Senate called to host the Without Sanctuary exhibit Senate offices? The Most Exclusive Club: A History in Washington? MP: We brought it with us on our of the Modern Senate. It is written by MP: The Smithsonian has said they visits. a history professor from the Univer- would display it at the African Ameri- CH: I saw the exhibit at the New sity of Texas who really tears into the can History Museum in Anacostia, but York Historical Society. Senate Russell myth. On page 260, we feel very strongly that African MP: I first saw it in Atlanta at the for example, he writes: “Russell’s Americans know all about these pic- King Center. Just last week I saw it virulent and unrelenting racism went tures and this history. It is white again in Chicago at the Historical largely unmentioned in the summaries Americans who need to see it. We just Museum. James Allen and John of his career and contributions. On don’t believe many of them will view Littlefield have, at their own expense, that issue, he allowed race and his ha- the exhibit if they have to travel to taken it all over the country, includ- tred for black Americans to guide his Anacostia. ing Jackson State University in Mis- decisions. The qualities for which his CH: The lynching apology got mar- sissippi and the Charles Wright Mu- Senate colleagues admired him were velous publicity. Did you have a PR seum in . We would like to ones that he extended to them as fel- person or did it just spin itself? bring it to Washington next year. low white Americans. Had Russell MP: It spun itself, really. I’d like CH: Where? had his way, African Americans to tell you we had brilliant PR in- MP: Janet Cohen and I met with would always have been excluded stincts, but the truth is the Without the folks at the Smithsonian, the from full equality. That such a Sanctuary book did most of the work

10 • Poverty & Race • Vol. 14, No. 6 • November/December 2005 for us. It also turned out that the gen- hand on a white woman. It is almost Mark Planning can be reached at eral press knew very little about this too unbearable to read. You can barely [email protected]. history and, consequently, recognized turn to the next page of the Record. See also W. Fitzhugh Brundage, the newsworthiness of the apology. CH: Well, you folks are to be con- Lynching in the New South; James H. Really all one has to do is view these gratulated on a great, inspiring victory. Madison, A Lynching in the Heart- lynching photographs and read the fili- I hope you all will be able to do the land; Laura Wexler, Fire In A Cane- busters from the Congressional Record follow-up tasks. brake: The Last Mass Lynching in and it will absolutely make you cringe. MP: Thank you, Chester. We re- America; Adam Fairclough, Better It is just nonstop ranting and raving ally appreciate the interest and support Day Coming; George C. Wright, Un- about mongrelization and how blacks of the Council. der Sentence of Death: Lynching in deserve to be lynched when they lay a the South. ❏

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Most Resources are Press Bldg., Wash., DC available directly from the 20045-2100, 202/662- Please drop us a line letting us know how useful issuing organization, 7145, [email protected], our Resources Section is to you, as both a lister either on their website (if http://www.nahj.org/ and requester of items. We hear good things, but given) or via other [9593] only sporadically. Having a more complete sense contact information listed. of the effectiveness of this networking function will Materials published by • “What Democracy help us greatly in foundation fundraising work PRRAC are available Looks Like: Springfield, (and is awfully good for our morale). Drop us a through our website: Illinois” — “Where short note, letting us know if it has been/is useful to www.prrac.org. Prices conversations about race you (how many requests you get when you list an include the shipping/ create ripples of commu- item, how many items you send away for, etc.) handling (s/h) charge nity” — is an 8-page, Thank you. when this information is 2005 pamphlet from provided to PRRAC. “No Study Circles Resource price listed” items often Center. Available from Confronting Racism”; discovery.com/freedom/. are free. them (possibly free), PO Topic Five is “Restor- Inf. from 800/769-8715 Box 203, Pomfret, CT ative Justice: Responding [9621] When ordering items from 06258, 860/928-2616, to Crime.” Available (no PRRAC: SASE = self- http://www.studycircles. price listed) from the • Racial Stigma and Its addressed stamped org/ [9603] Mennonite Publishing Consequences, by Glenn envelope (37¢ unless Network, Scottsdale, PA C. Loury (2005?); inf. otherwise indicated). • Call for Papers: The 15683, 800/245-7894. from www.irp.wisc.edu/ Orders may not be placed Harvard Journal of [9613] publications/focus/pdfs/ by telephone or fax. African American Public foc241a.df [9624] Please indicate from Policy is seeking submis- • Amerasia Journal which issue of P&R you sions for its 12th (2005- (published by the UCLA • “Slavery in New are ordering. 06) volume, “A Nation Asian American Studies York” is a remarkable Exposed: Rebuilding Ctr., headed by PRRAC exhibit at the NY Histori- African American Com- Bd. member Don cal Society, until March Race/Racism munities.” Dec. 16 Nakanishi) plans “An 5, 2006. Before the deadline for submissions Asian Canadian Issue” for Revolution there were • “The Portrayal of (with some flexibility). Fall 2007 and is solicit- more slaves in NY than Latinos & Latino Issues Contact Bria_Gillum@ ing contributions. 2-page any other city except on Network Television ksg06.harvard.edu [9608] abstract had a Nov. 30, Charleston, SC; 40% of News, 2004, With a 2005 deadline — but NYC’s households owned Retrospect to 1995,” by • “Pathway D: Walk- perhaps flexible — to slaves; even after NY Federico Subervi, the ing Through the Valley” guest co-editor Henry Yu, abolished slavery in Network Brownout (88 pp., 2005) is one of a [email protected] [9614] 1827, the business of the Report 2005 (24 pp., series of Faith & Life City was still tied to the June), is available Resources — “A Peace • New DVD & Teach- slave trade. Inf. at http:// (possibly free) from the Journey for Congrega- ers Guide to the Civil www.nyhistory.org/ Natl. Assn. of Hispanic tions” — Topic Three is Right Movement can be [9597] Journalists, 1000 Natl. “All God’s People: found at school.

November/December 2005 • Poverty & Race • Vol. 14, No. 6 • 11