Frederic Douglass Explains Racial Malice

I am privileged to know and to have worked with Former Congressman Craig A. Washington of Bastrop and Houston Texas who shared this with me.  He represented well the good people of Barbara Jordan’s district after having served in the Texas legislature.

Craig is every bit the orator as was Frederic Douglass and a distinguished attorney in Texas, honored by his State Bar and who is credited with many of Texas’ high profile cases which advanced civil liberties in that state.  He has always given generously of his valued intellect and leadership skills in areas of progressive reform, including school integration movements where we overthrew a racist, conservative school board in one of the largest school districts in the U.S.A. which was opposing school integration.

He also pro bono represented my spouse in her successful fight to stay on the ballot in a State Board of Eduction race, challenged as a “carpetbagger” by Republicans.  She went on to receive 44% of the vote against a prominent Republican who name appeared on a local stadium; she got that vote advocating a pro-busing platform.

Frederic Douglass was a brilliant leader in the abolitionist movement as well as the women’s suffrage movement; he was born in Maryland a slave and later served in several public offices.

Craig makes these observations about Frederic Douglass’ seminal observations very pertinent to the animosity President Obama has to wake up every day and deal with with such grace and dignity.

Many people wonder why Republican legislators AND OTHERS are so unrelenting on President Obama. Frederick Douglass gave us the answer over 129 years ago years ago. How Prophetic !

“Though the colored man is no longer subject to barter and sale, he is surrounded by an adverse settlement which fetters all his movements. In his downward course he meets with no resistance, but his
course upward is resented and resisted at every step of his progress. If he comes in ignorance, in rags and wretchedness he conforms to the popular belief of his character, and in that character he is welcome;
but if he shall come as a gentleman, a scholar and a statesman, he is hailed as a contradiction to the national faith concerning his race, and his coming is resented as impudence. In one case he may provoke
contempt and derision, but in the other he is an affront to pride and provokes malice.”

Frederick Douglass

Sadly, these words ring true 129 years later. Pass it on … … …