How common has political violence been in America? We are all familiar with the Civil War and kids being sprayed with water hoses in the south, but what's the comparative context?
After the Trump verdict, some right winger tweeted out "war." It feels like we all want to read about a new civil war, but it also seems like we are experiencing a low level of political violence compared to the last hundred years or so.
How does the political violence of early 1900s compare to civil rights violence and to today with the student protests of both Police violence and now Israel's war and the right wing J6 riots. And what are mass shootings? Are they political? How about the Timothy McVeigh bombing?
Violence used to play a much more prominent role in formal politics, from duels to incidents like the caning of Charles Sumner. I'd strongly recommend picking up Joanne Freeman's Field of Blood which tracks this exact issue: https://www.amazon.com/Field-Blood-Violence-Congress-Civil/dp/0374154775
The civil rights era's violence was wholly outside the sphere of respectable politics, and even many segregationist leaders in the South regarded murders as beyond the pale (largely because they understood they were counterproductive to the cause, not out of any moral objection).
Part of the trouble the civil rights movement had combatting police brutality, both then and now, was that such violence was deemed necessary and given political sanction (and legal protection!) by political leaders.
That's why police violence is such a great tool for oppressing political action. It is not the content of the complaint, but the manner in which it is being opposed.
It is interesting to see how many right wing people see George Floyd as an individual guilty of a crime, compared to how easily it is for left wing people to see the police violence as a political reality that exists regardless of individual action.
For me it is easy to see police violence as part of a structural system that keeps poor people and specifically poor people of color, desperate, isolated, disorganized and distrusting. Standard political violence stuff. But very different from dueling and caning and Jawhawker raids.
Happy birthday and thanks for giving us your gifts of humor and insight! My question is about the next "Red Scare" - will there be one and whom will be the target?
I'm thinking about every layer to it - loyalty oaths, pop culture references ("I Married a Communist"-type movies), blackballing, naming names, Palmer raids, bumper stickers ("Better Dead than Red" - can you believe this comes from the same originator as the words frenemies and disc jockey , Walter Winchell)--- the whole megillah. -- could this happen here, again?
We’re sort of seeing it now, though it’s not a foreign ideology but what the right caricatures as “woke” — but the same thought policing and congressional pressure is there
I am retiring soon. Do you have any advice or suggestions to someone who wants remain active in writing and research without an institutional affiliation?
Sadly there are lots of academics who are far from retirement but lack an institutional connection, so there are lots of models here — I’d recommend a writing group to keep you on pace and get feedback?
Happy early birthday. Enjoy the weekend.
Thanks!
Happy birthday to both of you!
Thanks for all you’re doing.
Thanks for the support!
How common has political violence been in America? We are all familiar with the Civil War and kids being sprayed with water hoses in the south, but what's the comparative context?
After the Trump verdict, some right winger tweeted out "war." It feels like we all want to read about a new civil war, but it also seems like we are experiencing a low level of political violence compared to the last hundred years or so.
How does the political violence of early 1900s compare to civil rights violence and to today with the student protests of both Police violence and now Israel's war and the right wing J6 riots. And what are mass shootings? Are they political? How about the Timothy McVeigh bombing?
Great question.
Violence used to play a much more prominent role in formal politics, from duels to incidents like the caning of Charles Sumner. I'd strongly recommend picking up Joanne Freeman's Field of Blood which tracks this exact issue: https://www.amazon.com/Field-Blood-Violence-Congress-Civil/dp/0374154775
The civil rights era's violence was wholly outside the sphere of respectable politics, and even many segregationist leaders in the South regarded murders as beyond the pale (largely because they understood they were counterproductive to the cause, not out of any moral objection).
Part of the trouble the civil rights movement had combatting police brutality, both then and now, was that such violence was deemed necessary and given political sanction (and legal protection!) by political leaders.
That's why police violence is such a great tool for oppressing political action. It is not the content of the complaint, but the manner in which it is being opposed.
It is interesting to see how many right wing people see George Floyd as an individual guilty of a crime, compared to how easily it is for left wing people to see the police violence as a political reality that exists regardless of individual action.
For me it is easy to see police violence as part of a structural system that keeps poor people and specifically poor people of color, desperate, isolated, disorganized and distrusting. Standard political violence stuff. But very different from dueling and caning and Jawhawker raids.
I'll check out the book. Thanks.
Happy birthday! Are there any good new/newish works in the post-New Deal US history field—or, hell, US history generally—that you’d recommend?
Oh that’s a huge question!
I will say one new book that’s great is Matt Lassiter’s Suburban Crisis on white America and the war on drugs
Happy birthday and thanks for giving us your gifts of humor and insight! My question is about the next "Red Scare" - will there be one and whom will be the target?
I'm thinking about every layer to it - loyalty oaths, pop culture references ("I Married a Communist"-type movies), blackballing, naming names, Palmer raids, bumper stickers ("Better Dead than Red" - can you believe this comes from the same originator as the words frenemies and disc jockey , Walter Winchell)--- the whole megillah. -- could this happen here, again?
We’re sort of seeing it now, though it’s not a foreign ideology but what the right caricatures as “woke” — but the same thought policing and congressional pressure is there
I am retiring soon. Do you have any advice or suggestions to someone who wants remain active in writing and research without an institutional affiliation?
Sadly there are lots of academics who are far from retirement but lack an institutional connection, so there are lots of models here — I’d recommend a writing group to keep you on pace and get feedback?
But try these folks for more ideas:
https://contingentmagazine.org/home/