Fear does
not reveal its disastrous consequences to the full until it colors one’s
thoughts about the source and destiny of life. Folk work joyfully at a picture-puzzle
so long as they believe that the puzzle can be put together, that it was meant,
completed, to compose a picture, and that their labor is an effort made in
reasonable hope.
Fear hides its damaging consequences until it negatively convinces one’s thoughts about life’s power and purpose. As long as I believe all parts to a puzzle are in the box, I will work with all reasonable hope and joy to completely assemble the puzzle’s picture.
But if they
begin to fear that they are being fooled, that the puzzle is a hoax and never
can be pieced together anywhere by anyone, how swiftly that suspicion will
benumb their work! So joyful living depends on man’s conviction that this life
is not a hapless accident, that a good purpose binds it all together, and that
our labor for righteousness is not expended on a futile task without a worthy
outcome.
But once I fear pieces are missing I feel fooled, like the puzzle is a hoax, so I may swiftly give up all hope and lose interest in completing the puzzle. The joy of being active in life requires a sense one’s purpose in their activity will bring about a worthy outcome. That a good purpose binds conviction to our activities with joyful living. We must not feel our righteous activities in life are worthless or futile tasks that lead nowhere.
But fear blights
all such hope; it whispers what one pessimist said aloud: “Life is not a
tragedy but a farcical melodrama, which is the worst kind of play.” That fear
benumbs worthy living, kills hope, makes cynical disgust with life a reasonable
attitude, and with its frost withers all man’s finest aspirations. Only
faith in God can save men from such fear.
Fear obstructs all hope; it numbs worthy living, kills hope, implants cynical and disgusted thoughts into one’s life attitude, rotting away man’s noble aspirations. Only God can save men from such fear.
Fear or
faith – there is no dilemma so full of consequence. Fear imprisons, faith
liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages;
fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable – and,
most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices
in its God.
Fear or
faith – there is no choice so significant to one’s life. Fear imprisons, paralyzes, disheartens, sickens and makes useless. Faith liberates, empowers, encourages, heals and makes
serviceable. Most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life,
while faith rejoices in its God.
It happened last Thursday and I'm finally coming to grips with the Raiders throwing this season atop the garbage heap of other seasons of late. "Just wish it into the cornfield son."
As Raiders seasons go, it wasn't all bad. They started strong out the gate and had some big upset victories, none bigger than a takedown of the Chiefs at Arrowhead. Quarterback Derek Carr had an outstanding season and TE Darren Waller is Pro Bowl worthy again. With a running game anchored by Josh Jacobs, the offense could hang with the best of them when healthy, and the defense showed sparks of talent.
But this is the NFL, not some family carnival where a puff ball thrown into a fishbowl wins you a prize. In the NFL it takes more than luck to win consistently. And the Raiders, after squeezing out a lucky over-time win against the winless New York Jets in week 13, had their luck run out in over-time against the Chargers Thursday night.
They currently sport a 7-7 record with games remaining against the Dolphins and Broncos. I believe I heard they have a 5% chance of making the playoffs; that's ninety-five percent of hopelessness.
In analyzing what went so wrong this season I found myself coming back to what was obvious on the field; weak defense and poor preparation. Though the linebacking corps were serviceable, the D-line and D-backs failed miserably.
Perhaps the fault lies with fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. The Raiders have some young talent on defense. But maybe, as I heard my boy Q on Locked On Raiders suggest, it's time to scrap the entire defensive philosophy and start over with new coaching.
If you've never listened to Your Boy Q's show, you are missing out. This young brotha gives an articulate, straight-up breakdown on all things Raiders, daily throughout the season. It's a Raiders show minus the cursing, pirate growling, over-the-top passion of some shows. His podcast is informative and analytical with selective recordings of fan call-ins. Easy on the ears and a treat to young and old Raiders fans alike.
As far as I know, Q is Bay Area raised and knows his Raiders and football history. He brings professionalism to the show and it amazes me that I've never heard him stumble or stutter while delivering the goods. Also, he's a proud father Raising'em Right as Raiders fans; you gotta show some love for a Raider Nation brotha just trying to make a living doing what he loves. And he's good at his craft!
Here is Q's Podcast breakdown following last Thursday's heartbreaking loss to the Chargers:
The Rivalry began with the birth of the AFL (American Football League) in 1960. The upstart league showcased eight teams in two divisions:
Eastern DivisionWestern Division
Boston PatriotsDallas Texans
Buffalo Bills Denver Broncos
Houston Oilers L.A. Chargers
N.Y. TitansOakland Raiders
The Chargers played in five of the first six AFL Championships, winning their only title in 1963. In 1967, the AFL-NFL Championship Game began, pitting league champions against one another for a title.
The Raiders played in the final three AFL title games, winning in 1967, but losing the AFL-NFL Championship Game to the Green Bay Packers.
In 1970, after playing four Championship Games with each winning two titles from 1966-1969, the leagues merged to form the modern day National Football League. That same year marked the renaming of the Championship Game to the Superbowl and the trophy was named for Packers coach, Vince Lombardi, in honor of his passing. And as they say, the rest is history....
The American Football League played ten seasons in all, before merging with the NFL. The Chargers and Raiders are second and third on the all-time AFL team winning list, trailing only the Texans/Chiefs.
1962 Western Division Champions 1962 AFL Champions 1966 Western Division Champions 1966 AFL Champions 1969 AFL Champions 1969 World Champions (won Super Bowl IV)
1960 Western Division Champions 1961 Western Division Champions 1963 Western Division Champions 1963 AFL Champions 1964 Western Division Champions 1965 Western Division Champions
1960 Eastern Division Champions 1960 AFL Champions 1961 Eastern Division Champions 1961 AFL Champions 1962 Eastern Division Champions 1967 Eastern Division Champions
"The Raiders-Chargers rivalry is one of the best in the AFC West, and while the intense nature of these two fanbases can sometimes lead to aggression in the stands, we all need to leave the physical contact to the players on the field.
The best part of a rivalry is being able to hate your opponent without laying a finger on them." - Marcello Villa
"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are."
It is long past time for all Americans to condemn republican leaders complicit in attempts to de-legitimize the 2020 Election. Their support of false and baseless Trump conspiracy theories is injurious to Democracy and the American way of life. It’s injurious to those citizens misled by lies as well as those standing up to defend truth.
So, what's at stake if our national elections and political institutions are no longer legitimate and chaos ensues? Empires fall, Civilizations die out and/or are wiped out, species mutate and planets go dark. . .
Justice - "The administering of deserved punishment or reward"
If Rome’s sheer size made it difficult to govern, ineffective and inconsistent leadership only served to magnify the problem. Being the Roman emperor had always been a particularly dangerous job, but during the tumultuous second and third centuries it nearly became a death sentence. Civil war thrust the empire into chaos, and more than 20 men took the throne in the span of only 75 years, usually after the murder of their predecessor. The Praetorian Guard—the emperor’s personal bodyguards—assassinated and installed new sovereigns at will, and once even auctioned the spot off to the highest bidder. The political rot also extended to the Roman Senate, which failed to temper the excesses of the emperors due to its own widespread corruption and incompetence. As the situation worsened, civic pride waned and many Roman citizens lost trust in their leadership.
Let's just call this win an early Christmas gift from "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight." That's right, the old Gang Green New York Jets were finally on the verge of notching their first win of the season, when with twelve seconds left on the game clock the Raiders stole their joy. Yes, the autumn wind is a Pirate, pillaging just for fun. When Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, under a Gang Green overload blitz, completed a perfectly thrown 46-yard bomb to receiver Henry Ruggs III for the winning touchdown, even the commentators were stunned into silent disbelief.
After hearing the words "No, He, Didn't" from the broadcast booth, there was dead air for several long seconds before anyone could catch their breath and continue commentating. Someone later referenced the "Miracle at the Meadowlands," and the rest is history.
Almost lost in all the excitement was the record game tight-end Darren Waller had. He caught 13 passes for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. If there were going to be an NFL Pro Bowl he'd surely stand at the top of the list for tight-ends.
This Raiders game was one of the hardest wins for me to enjoy because for the second week in a row their defense has proven ineffective. They're bending and breaking at the most crucial times. If they can't stop a winless Jets team, how the heck are they gonna compete against playoff caliber teams like the Colts and Dolphins still on their schedule? Remember, they didn't stop Kansas City three weeks ago. They competed in what was a shootout, but in the end the broken defense made the Chiefs win look easy.
Congratulations Raiders for staying the course and grinding out a win that could easily have been a loss. Win, Lose or Tie...........
The man who tirelessly kept us updated with breakdowns of the Presidential Election race has brought his craft to the NFL Playoff board on Sunday Night Football. Steve Kornacki, was a welcome surprise on the Sunday Halftime show as he went through the current NFC playoff scenario. Exhibiting all his usual enthusiasm and excitable body language, Kornacki gave a quick, informative breakdown of the top ten NFC teams vying for seven playoff spots.
To be honest, I was more excited about Kornacki landing the NFL Playoff board job than I was learning team's projected percentage chances to get in. Kornacki was the star of our 2020 Elections news, and didn't miss a beat tonight as he gave us an impatient peek at the season that is the season; the Playoffs. With Kornacki at the helm, you better believe these weekends leading up to the Playoffs will have you on the edge of your seat, watching the board and wondering; what if? Can't Wait!
Just as he's readying to return for another Warriors basketball season, Klay Thompson suffers an achilles injury that will keep him off the court for another season. In the 2019 NBA Finals, he tore a ligament in his left knee that shelved him for a full season. This latest injury means he will miss back-to-back seasons due to injury.
It's a blow to us Golden State Warriors fans, but I'm sure a bigger disappointment to Klay as a basketball player. I can't imagine the relentless, physical rehabilitation work he has put in to get himself primed and ready for this season, only to see it neutralized by another injury. Only professional athletes know the deep regret and depression that comes with an injury that forces you out of the game you've played and loved since childhood.
Keep your head up Klay. You've got family, fans and Rocco all rooting for your recovery. Don't Give Up The Ship Klay! We still appreciate your services here in the Bay.
Raiders Defense stepped up to rule the day with four interceptions, two quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles (1 recovered). The offense continues to successfully pound the ball and control time of possession. Although the Raiders were only leading 10-6 at halftime, they made the necessary adjustments to come out and put up 27 points while giving up only 6 points to the Denver Broncos.
The Raiders need to clean up the mistakes and miscues that kept the game close early; dropped passes, untimely penalties, 3rd down inefficiency. Against a better team they cannot play like they did in this game and come out with a dominating win.
The 8-1 defending champion Kansas City Chiefs are coming to town next, and I'm sure they would like nothing better than to avenge their only season loss, courtesy of the Raiders in week 5. Bring'em On!
Today, After reading an Associated Press article of the passing of Lucille Bridges, I only felt it fitting to post my thoughts on it.
Lucille Bridges was a mother who allowed her six year old daughter Ruby to be one of the first black children to integrate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. To be chosen as one of only a few black children to participate in early desegregated schooling required a bright and fearless child. But imagine the courage it took a mother and father to expose their little girl to the ugliness and potential violence of Louisiana white racism in 1960.
Lucille Bridges was that mother. Driven by a vision of equal opportunity for her daughter, a vision backed by the 1954, U.S. Supreme Court ruling on separate but equal schooling as unconstitutional.
Lucille Bridges, a mother who after proudly walking with her daughter on that first day (Nov. 14, 1960) would leave her in the hands of U.S. Marshals for protection while walking to school.
Lucille Bridges, who must've seen on television the ugly, intimidating faces of white citizens screaming and spitting racists epithets at her baby as she innocently entered what looked like a white fortress of enemy troops reluctant to surrender to the new law of the land.
After all, this wasn't the liberal northeast but the deep confederate south where blacks should know their place in a white supremacist society. Where everywhere a black citizen went publicly were reminders of the unequal terms they were expected to abide by at the risk of punishment and/or death. Water Fountains, Bathrooms, Restaurants, Stores, Theatres, Ballparks, and of course Buses.
Lucille Bridges knew the anger and ugliness her daughter would face desegregating an elementary school, and yet she convinced her reluctant husband to agree with such a dangerous undertaking for Ruby.
Without knowing Lucille, I am willing to wager the house that she was a strong woman of faith. Who else but an almighty God would a parent trust to guide and protect their child on such a perilous journey; alone.
A father and son might experience this same situation as just a right of passage on the journey from boyhood to manhood, but a little girl and her mother? Pigtails and baby doll shoes? Innocence?
Here's how Ruby remembered her mother Lucille in the article:
“Today our country lost a hero. Brave, progressive, a champion for change. She helped alter the course of so many lives by setting me out on my path as a six year old little girl. Our nation lost a Mother of the Civil Rights Movement today. And I lost my mom. I love you and am grateful for you. May you Rest In Peace.”
As I've stated earlier, I didn't know Lucille Bridges. I didn't grow up in the deep south nor experience early school desegregation. But I know the gut punches a parent takes every time their child has to face the cold realities of ugliness in this world. I know the pain of having no answer for a child's questions about racial discrimination. And fortunately for me, I know what its like to have a parent stand up and demand equality for their child.
Lucille Bridges is a symbol for the many, many black mothers who stood up for their children and took the gut punches so that one day a little black girl, like her Ruby, could walk proudly into the White House of the United States of America as Vice President, escorted by secret service agents. Without the courage, vision and persistence found in the likes of a Lucille Bridges, there could not be a Vice President-elect like Kamala Harris.
Mrs. Lucille Bridges, we the black , brown and white citizens of the United States of America Salute and Honor Your Service!
The game came down to TWO defensive plays in the final SIX seconds with the Chargers at the Raiders FOUR yard line. TWO fade passes thrown toward the corner of the endzone against Raiders second year defensive back Isaiah Johnson in man coverage.
Using all his skill, technique, athleticism and sheer "will to win" nerves of steel, Isaiah outmanned both Chargers receivers launched to sink the Raiders. It was Isaiah Johnson who saved the Raiders flagship from destruction on the battlefield Sunday afternoon, and by God we the Raider Nation are proud to stand and salute his heroic contributions.
"The fire that burns brightest in the Raider organization is the Will to Win"
When the Wicked Witch of the East suffered her tragic ending, the cowered citizens of the land came out from their hiding places in disbelief. Once convinced the reign of tyranny had come to an end, the citizens were overcome with giddy celebration of song and dance.
Today's Election Results finally brought the house down on Donald Trump and his wicked administration, setting off dancing and celebrations in cities across the nation. An era of tyrannical leadership over the land of the free and home of the brave will come to an end on January 20, 2021 (Inauguration Day).
Celebrations recognizing the end of this incurable era and the beginning of truth & hope were a beauty to behold today. Citizens of the United States gathered in the streets, in parks, in civic centers, waving and dancing as if a long fought war had ended; V-J Day 1945 revisited.
On Inauguration Day, President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris will take over the highest offices in the land and begin implementing America's long road to recovery. And if any stragglers from the dead era of Trump try resurrecting divisive and ugly attacks so common in his day, I quote Belinda the Good Witch's warning:
He's being compared to the Energizer Bunny. You know, the drum-beating rabbit that just "keeps going and going and going." What sets him apart from all comparisons is his passion and persistence in providing viewers with much anticipated updates to the 2020 Presidential Election. His name is Steve Kornacki, and he's admirably manning the volatile Presidential election board on msnbc.
Steve is proving to be a master navigator of mathematics, U.S. political geography, state and federal elections laws and projections based on real voting ballot numbers. While others mostly discuss and speculate swing state numbers, Steve keeps us engaged visually, pointing out and comparing current counts with past numbers and calculating gains and losses as reflected on his digital battleground map.
During this tense and challenging election his reporting talents are being recognized by both colleagues and viewers alike. As he fields electoral questions from some of the best msnbc news personalities, nothing is left in the shadows. He reports very clear and enlightening answers on the Presidential race.
Somehow, this momentous occasion has targeted Steve with his impeccable presentation talents. It has placed him at the center of this elections storm with nothing more than a big, touchscreen elections map to navigate the ebb and flow of electoral waves. He resembles a weatherman at his command center post tracking a Category 5 Hurricane while updating, alerting and highlighting affected areas viewable on his map. Thanks to Steve's intellect and insight he excels as a national guide through this whirlwind of a Presidential Election.
He steers our ship with a joy and seriousness that must make other countries envy American liberty as well as freedom of the press. A nod to his cameraman, who is adding Hitchcock-like drama with camera angles and zoom-in/out artistry.
With all the crazy political and legal actions our President is saying and doing to thwart the election, our man Steve has kept even keel in his reportage of votes and electoral points. He just "keeps on going and going and going."
Though from outside looking in he may appear overwhelmed trying to maintain order on the ship, Steve just might be our only American newsman so focused on the task at hand that the tossing and turbulent accusations being made by a disgruntled incumbent President has no sway over him. Our loyal and trustworthy elections navigator has only one concern and goal; getting us safely through the fog of information and docked soundly at home port.
Meanwhile, we voters must hold on and weather the dizzying seasickness that comes from riding the waves of a hellacious race to the Presidency.
Eric Liu, former White House Speech Writer, talks about how America can overcome divisive ideologies for the greater good of the United States of America. In this short interview with NPR's David Green he highlights where we are at this moment as a nation, then he shines a positive light on the unique opportunity for change lying at our doorstep.
Eric's book, "You're More Powerful than You Think," is a citizen's guide to making change happen in America. And it appears change does not involve armed revolution, anarchy or walling ourselves off from one another. Actually, positive change in America will require majority citizen participation in seeking common sense solutions to problems our society is facing. "I Claim America"
Book Overview
Is this the America you want? If not, here's how to claim the power to change your country. We are in an age of epic political turbulence in America. Old hierarchies and institutions are collapsing. From the election of Donald Trump to the upending of the major political parties to the spread of grassroots movements like Black Lives Matter and $15 Now, people across the country and across the political spectrum are reclaiming power. Are you ready for this age of bottom-up citizen power? Do you understand what power truly is, how it flows, who has it, and how you can claim and exercise it? Eric Liu, who has spent a career practicing and teaching civic power, lays out the answers in this incisive, inspiring, and provocative book. Using examples from the left and the right, past and present, he reveals the core laws of power. He shows that all of us can generate power-and then, step by step, he shows us how. The strategies of reform and revolution he lays out will help every reader make sense of our world today. If you want to be more than a spectator in this new era, you need to read this book.
Former Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, known as "3rd & Renfrow" during his college days, scored on 3rd and Goal in the Raiders win over the Cleveland Browns today. It was the only touchdown in a game that saw blustering autumn winds along with sleet and snow affect passes, catches and kicks. And the temperature at kickoff was 35 degrees.
It was a close battle, but the Raiders revitalized running game with Josh Jacobs (137 yards), Devontae Booker and a dominating patched up offensive line took over. The Browns had no answer for the visiting Raiders running game down the stretch. However, they did produce a goal line stand, forcing the Raiders to kick a late field goal when a touchdown would of iced the game. But the day belonged to that Raiders O-Line leading them in doing what they do best, control the line of scrimmage and time of possession. Its a winning formula.
As for the 3rd down specialist from Clemson, the more I see him make plays, the more I'm convinced the Raiders have a playmaker ready and waiting to bust out. You simply don't get the football nickname "3rd & Renfrow" without consistently converting crucial 3rd down plays. Clemson knew what they had in Renfrow. He'd become a sort of college cult legend. Now Raiders fans are chomping at the bit wanting to see more of what made Clemson fans so fanatical watching the 5'10, 185lb receiver play football.
Into only his second NFL season he has teased us with flashes of his great route running, catching and overall athletic ability. Actually, he had a few 100-yard reception games in 2019 and was third in team receiving yards and touchdowns for the season. He missed three games last season due to injury. So far this season he's second in receptions and third in receiving yards on the team. For this young Raiders team so full of promise, "3rd & Renfrow" is destined to be a big part of its future success. Thanks Clemson!
In 2018, Renfrow won the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the best college player who began his career as a walk-on.[7] In his final collegiate season in 2018, he recorded 49 receptions for 544 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[8]
a Yankee, a Westerner, a Klansman, and a Jew changed America."
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Still reading this in depth book about FDR and his relationship with four of his Supreme Court nominations. The beauty of reading history as a hobby is you'll pick up a book just out of curiosity and discover within its pages an entire treasure trove of hidden historical facts. It is partly coincidence that I'm reading this book on the night of Amy Coney Barrett's Senate confirmation and the controversy surrounding it all.
Though the book is a long, dry read, the language of power and its use in manipulating politics is laid bare. Politics, if nothing else, is about favors and compromise. And support from a politician comes with a cost. As for a Supreme Court appointment, again, its about politics.
Two topics discussed in the book I found very interesting are the proposal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to "pack the supreme court," and the nomination of a former Ku Klux Klansman, Hugo Black from Alabama.
The story of Hugo Black is one that would have to be read to be believed and understood. He did not reveal his former KKK membership until after his Supreme Court confirmation in 1937. Here's the story as told by Thad Morgan of NPR.org:
While Black’s liberal leanings during this New Deal era, would not seem to fit with membership in the KKK, part of his motivation for joining in 1923 was political. Following years of working as a trial lawyer, Black was attempting to appeal to southern Democrats as he planned his run for the U.S. Senate from Alabama.
The KKK's membership was rising.
The Klan had recently undergone a resurgence, following the success of the controversial 1915 epic, The Birth of a Nation, which glorified Klan members as valiant saviors of the white South. An increase in the numbers of Jews and Catholics immigrating to the country was also triggering more interest in the Klan as some white Americans felt threatened.
With their membership on the rise, Klan leaders sought to become a more visible and respected organization throughout the country. In 1925, members even went so far as to stage a parade featuring some 60,000 Klansmen in front of the White House.
An estimated 60,000 Ku Klux Klan members marched along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. in 1925.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
“The Klan was making a play for respectability and that march down Pennsylvania Avenue and other state capitols in 1926 kind of indicated that they had done pretty good at establishing themselves,” says Tony Freyer, professor emeritus at the University of Alabama and author of Justice Hugo L. Black and the Dilemma of American Liberalism.
Black calculated it was worth appealing to the growing KKK crusade. While campaigning, Black gave several anti-Catholic speeches at Klan meetings, according to Hugo Black: A Biography by Roger K. Newman.
Even as the Klan’s numbers grew to more than 5 million nationwide, Black knew that he could only get so much political leverage from associating with the KKK and that public knowledge of his Klan membership could sink any chances of his winning a Senate seat. So as he readied his Senate campaign, he sent a letter of resignation to the Klan in order to officially cut ties with the organization, while still maintaining their support.
Black then shifted his focus to rallying against out-of-state corporations that, he argued, siphoned money from Alabama’s working class. By setting his crosshairs on big corporations, he avoided publicly targeting minority groups.
His plan worked. Black secured the democratic primary and cleared the way for an easy win against his Republican opponent in 1926. And while he had provided his letter of resignation from the Klan the year prior in 1925, his time as a member of the Klan would eventually come back to haunt him.
Black supported FDR and the New Deal.
As Alabama Senator, Black became an avid supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and FDR’s New Deal. In particular, Black supported Roosevelt’s “court packing” bill, which would have increased the number of members on the Supreme Court in support of the president. Although the bill failed to pass, Black’s consistent and public support of the president helped earn him a nomination to the Supreme Court in 1937.
Since 1853, every candidate nominated for executive or judicial office was confirmed without hesitation. But the Senate took a different approach when approving their former colleague. Black was sent before the Judiciary Committee before gaining their recommendation and moving forward with a contentious confirmation hearing with the Senate.
Justice Hugo Black surrounded by journalists with whom he declined to discuss his Ku Klux Klan membership.
NY Daily News/Getty Images
Although rumors of his allegiance to the KKK began to surface during the hearing, it was his time as a Senator that became a point of debate. As a senator, Black voted to recognize retirement laws that would benefit those on the Supreme Court. Since Black would become a beneficiary of those new retirement perks upon his confirmation, it was argued that his appointment would present a conflict of interest. Under the Constitution's guidelines, no member of Congress would be allowed to take U.S. office if they are the beneficiary of regulations made by the same Congress.
However, after six hours of debate, Black was confirmed to the Supreme Court on August 17, 1937.
Black's KKK past was revealed after his confirmation.
Then the other shoe dropped. Just a few weeks after getting confirmed, a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette revealed Black’s history with the Klan. The Pulitzer Prize-winning report by journalist Ray Sprigle featured Black’s 1925 resignation letter from the Klan as proof.
Outrage erupted. Senators who voted for his confirmation argued they would have voted differently had they known Black was a Klan member. Even Black’s strongest supporter, FDR, claimed to have had no knowledge of his KKK roots before nominating him to the highest court in the land.
In response, Black addressed the public in a radio broadcast that reached some 50 million Americans. He admitted to being a former KKK member, but spoke briefly on his feelings towards minority groups.
“I did join the Klan. I later resigned. I never rejoined,” said Black. “I number among my friends many members of the colored race. I have watched the progress of its members with sympathy and admiration. Certainly, they are entitled to the full measure of protection accorded to the citizenship of our country by our Constitution and our laws.”
“Some of my best and most intimate friends are Catholics and Jews,” he went on to say, adding that that he had hired someone Jewish to officiate his will. And although the response was tumultuous from the press, Black’s response appeased the public enough that there were no official calls for his impeachment or resignation.
As he began to rule on the bench of the Supreme Court, some of Black’s biggest critics would eventually become his greatest supporters. Placing the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights above all else—he carried a copy of the Constitution in his pocket—his vote fell on both sides of the aisle, but typically leaned in favor of more liberal decisions.
As a justice, Black voted to support the separation of church and state in Engel v. Vitale and ruled in opposition to segregation in the unanimous Brown v. Board of Education case. On the other hand, he also voted in favor of sequestering Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II, reasoning with the majority that, in a time of war against Japan, taking “proper security measures” was justified.
After 34 years on the bench, Black retired from the Supreme Court in 1971 and died shortly thereafter. In his career, Black had both fiercely advocated for Civil Rights and the Bill of Rights and he had been a Klan member and filibustered against an anti-lynching bill in the Senate. His checkered legacy reflected not just a changed man—but a changed nation.
