Have you read Robert Mickey’s Paths out of Dixie? He’s a political scientist at Michigan, but recent Southern history is the book’s subject. It contends that Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina were full-fledged “authoritarian enclaves” circa 1940 or so and surveys and compares the different ways in which each democratized from then through the 1970s. Its core argument is that each state’s experience was much more contingent on leaders’ choices and factional conflicts inside the ruling state Democratic parties than other often cited factors like economic development. For instance, he argued that the regular Mississippi Democratic Party’s complete estrangement from the national party until the mid-1970s delayed the Republican takeover of state politics, whereas the relatively early reconciliation between the South Carolina party and the national Democrats helped lead to a very different outcome for GOP fortunes there.
Anyway, it gave me a lot to think about, and I was curious about your reaction to it. Thanks, as always, for doing these!
Yes! Great book, which as you notes shows the importance of intraparty politics and personalities -- you can see a similar pattern across the south with the Dixiecrat rebellion of 1948, as some states bolted but others remained loyal to Truman, largely for the same reasons. (Happy to add that Rob's a terrific guy too.)
Hi. Do you have any recommendations for reading materials on Citizen Committees? I read Go Set a Watchman with a book club and hadn't heard much about them before (HS in Florida).
Kevin, I have only been following for a relatively short period of time and I’d like to ask you something. Would you tell me about your dog. I know that he was hurt and you were very worried but I don’t know what happened. Could you please share that with me. Also, any good concerts at Princeton in the past decade or so? Thanks, Marsha R.
You won't be surprised to hear that segregationists were especially invested in the argument that slavery wasn't that bad and, in fact, benefited the enslaved by bringing them to America where they could be "civilized" etc.
I had that textbook in 7th grade, in Culpeper, Virginia. Found a copy in a junk shop and bought it, to prove how deceptive our education was. At age 70 I’m a recovering “lost causer” and very angry about the lies that I was taught. "Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd." William Congreve, The Mourning Bride (Act III Scene 2), 1697.
Have you read Robert Mickey’s Paths out of Dixie? He’s a political scientist at Michigan, but recent Southern history is the book’s subject. It contends that Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina were full-fledged “authoritarian enclaves” circa 1940 or so and surveys and compares the different ways in which each democratized from then through the 1970s. Its core argument is that each state’s experience was much more contingent on leaders’ choices and factional conflicts inside the ruling state Democratic parties than other often cited factors like economic development. For instance, he argued that the regular Mississippi Democratic Party’s complete estrangement from the national party until the mid-1970s delayed the Republican takeover of state politics, whereas the relatively early reconciliation between the South Carolina party and the national Democrats helped lead to a very different outcome for GOP fortunes there.
Anyway, it gave me a lot to think about, and I was curious about your reaction to it. Thanks, as always, for doing these!
Yes! Great book, which as you notes shows the importance of intraparty politics and personalities -- you can see a similar pattern across the south with the Dixiecrat rebellion of 1948, as some states bolted but others remained loyal to Truman, largely for the same reasons. (Happy to add that Rob's a terrific guy too.)
Hi. Do you have any recommendations for reading materials on Citizen Committees? I read Go Set a Watchman with a book club and hadn't heard much about them before (HS in Florida).
The White Citizens Councils? Yes, there's a great book by Neil McMillen which takes a state by state approach:
https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p064418
Thank you!
Tommy, I had not read your Etta James/Take It to the Limit piece from last year until just now. Wow!
It was amazing. You can write, man. Thank you!
Kevin, I have only been following for a relatively short period of time and I’d like to ask you something. Would you tell me about your dog. I know that he was hurt and you were very worried but I don’t know what happened. Could you please share that with me. Also, any good concerts at Princeton in the past decade or so? Thanks, Marsha R.
Any precedent to the "benefits of enslavement" messaging in Florida, from the Civil Rights era?
You won't be surprised to hear that segregationists were especially invested in the argument that slavery wasn't that bad and, in fact, benefited the enslaved by bringing them to America where they could be "civilized" etc.
Here's a piece on a Virginia textbook in the late 1950s: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/slavery-history-virginia-textbook/2020/07/31/d8571eda-d1f0-11ea-8c55-61e7fa5e82ab_story.html
I had that textbook in 7th grade, in Culpeper, Virginia. Found a copy in a junk shop and bought it, to prove how deceptive our education was. At age 70 I’m a recovering “lost causer” and very angry about the lies that I was taught. "Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd." William Congreve, The Mourning Bride (Act III Scene 2), 1697.