"It's not a local issue anymore" - and in fact, it never was.
With a Congressional hearing scheduled Monday on #DCStatehood, let's trace the roots of opposition to democracy for DC—roots in the racist, late 19th century backlash against Reconstruction.
washingtonpost.com/politics/dc-st…
With a Congressional hearing scheduled Monday on #DCStatehood, let's trace the roots of opposition to democracy for DC—roots in the racist, late 19th century backlash against Reconstruction.
washingtonpost.com/politics/dc-st…
Elected local government existed in DC before the Civil War, but Black men were denied the vote.
Congress abolished slavery in DC in 1862, and in 1867 banned racial restrictions on voting.
Biracial democracy flourished briefly—tho not without opposition.
Congress abolished slavery in DC in 1862, and in 1867 banned racial restrictions on voting.
Biracial democracy flourished briefly—tho not without opposition.
Less than a decade later, Congress eliminated local elected government in DC, part of a national retreat from Reconstruction.
On that brief flourishing and later retreat, I highly recommend @katemasur’s An Example for All the Land.
uncpress.org/book/978080787…
On that brief flourishing and later retreat, I highly recommend @katemasur’s An Example for All the Land.
uncpress.org/book/978080787…
Afterwards, white Americans came to view Reconstruction as a “tragic era” of corruption and mis-rule brought on by the “mistake” of black men’s enfranchisement.
That view was false but powerful, taking root in American politics, popular culture—and history textbooks.
That view was false but powerful, taking root in American politics, popular culture—and history textbooks.
Events in DC were part of that wider public memory of Reconstruction.
White Southerners recalled DC’s Reconstruction-era history as they fought to disfranchise African Americans in their own states.
Here, for example, is one Alabama Senator—and former rebel general:
White Southerners recalled DC’s Reconstruction-era history as they fought to disfranchise African Americans in their own states.
Here, for example, is one Alabama Senator—and former rebel general:
So, he concluded, it was necessary to burn down the barn—to end elected local government in DC—to "get rid of the rats."
That quote dates to December 1890, as the Lodge Election Bill to protect voting rights was pending in the Senate.
A filibuster killed it.
That quote dates to December 1890, as the Lodge Election Bill to protect voting rights was pending in the Senate.
A filibuster killed it.
As Louisiana prepared in 1898 to write disfranchisement into its state constitution, the governor ranted to a New Orleans audience about the “leprous virus” of Black suffrage - and he included a reference to DC in his diatribe.
DC won a limited return of elected gov't during the 2d Reconstruction of the 20th century’s Civil Rights era—and again faced opposition from white supremacist Southerners in Congress.
On that history, see @gdmusgrove & @chrismyersasch's Chocolate City
uncpress.org/book/978146965…
On that history, see @gdmusgrove & @chrismyersasch's Chocolate City
uncpress.org/book/978146965…
tl;dr
Today as during the 1st and 2d Reconstructions, the battle over democracy in DC isn’t just about the residents of the federal district.
It’s part of a broader fight over democracy in the US.
Supporters know that—and so do opponents.
/x
Today as during the 1st and 2d Reconstructions, the battle over democracy in DC isn’t just about the residents of the federal district.
It’s part of a broader fight over democracy in the US.
Supporters know that—and so do opponents.
/x
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