Over the past week, we have seen some horrific images in our study of lynchings and the murder of Emmett Till. Looking at the images and postcards in the collection "Without Sanctuary", it is clear that it is hard to envision a time when such photographs were universal and could be used as postcards to be sent to friends.
Before the murder of Emmett Till, only a handful of people in the were able to speak out against these racial motivated murder and lynchings. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other civil rights organizations tried unsuccessfully for many years to get a federal antilynching law passed. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) and Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes (1874-1952), a one-time president of the NAACP’s Chicago chapter, were supportive of the organization’s efforts, but President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) did not share their enthusiasm and believed that pressing for the NAACP’s demands would endanger congressional support for his New Deal programs. In her March 1936 letter to Walter Francis White (1893-1955), who served as NAACP executive secretary (later director) from 1931 to 1955, Mrs. Roosevelt stated some of the arguments that were used by the president and others against passage of an antilynching bill. It is clear from this “personal and confidential” letter that Mrs. Roosevelt was searching for a tactful means for aiding the anti-lynching cause herself, and she suggested to White various methods for winning the goodwill of members of Congress.
Years later, it is clear that although these violent hate crimes have decreased. They haven't gone away. Next week, we will be focusing on the death of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas. Byrd was who was attached by a chain to the back of a pickup truck and dragged for miles until his body disintegrated and he died. The trial of his murderers was extremely controversial on the community, state, and federal level.
For Monday's class, please explore the links above in order to get both background information about the 1998 case. If you have questions, or find something particularly striking, please post in the comments.
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