Mastodawn

Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

In 1961, a mob of armed KKK attacked the Monroe NC neighborhood of NAACP leader, Robert F. Williams. But they messed with the wrong ones that day. Williams & his followers engaged in an intense confronration that sent the Klan bolting. Contrary to the prevailing narrative that they were hapless victims of violence, Black Americans regularly handled business protecting themselves & their families from KKK & other racist mobs.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco

Monroe, North Carolina in 1925 was one of many Southern communities where black folks endured the oppressive reign of lynch law. The town was marked by pervasive "Whites Only" signs, extending even to public spaces like the library and swimming pool.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

A rigidly segregated environment prevailed, with all levels of white society and government steadfastly dedicated to upholding racial inequality. Speaking out against this system subjected black individuals to brutal and sadistic violence, while convoys of Ku Klux Klan members routinely drove through black neighborhoods, indiscriminately firing their weapons.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

The town was effectively controlled by the local white aristocracy, which prominently included the Helms family. Old Man Helms held the position of sheriff in Union County, with Monroe as its seat, while his son Jesse became a North Carolina senator affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

The Helms family and other racist ruling families played a crucial role in maintaining Monroe as a stronghold for Duke Power and the tobacco companies that wielded substantial influence over North Carolina. Furthermore, the Southern Railroad, now known as Norfolk Southern, fell under the control of the J.P. Morgan banking house in New York.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

Preserving Monroe's "safety" entailed suppressing the aspirations of black communities and actively obstructing the formation of unions, a reality that contributes to North Carolina's persistently low ranking in terms of unionized workers among the states.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

Robert Williams, born in 1925 in Monroe, had a rich family history that shaped his perspective. He was raised on stories from his grandmother Ellen, a former slave, and his grandfather Sikes, a Republican Party advocate and publisher of The People's Voice newspaper. At 11, young Robert witnessed a white police officer, Jesse Helms, Sr., father of future North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms, violently assault a Black woman.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

After experiencing racial violence during the Detroit Riot of 1943, Williams served in a segregated Army during World War II. Returning to Monroe, he married Mabel Robinson, who shared his passion for social justice and African-American empowerment.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

In the late 1950s, as the president of the Monroe NAACP, Williams witnessed the denial of basic rights, Klan harassment, and systemic marginalization of his community. In response, he advocated for "armed self-reliance" and led his NAACP chapter in fortifying their homes with sandbags and arming themselves with rifles to protect against Klan aggression.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

In Monroe, a city known as the regional headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan, Robert Williams became actively involved with the NAACP, gradually radicalizing his views as he fought against numerous instances of racism. Taking over the leadership of the local NAACP chapter in 1955, which had dwindled to just six members, Williams embarked on a membership drive targeting workers and the unemployed.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

The Black community in Monroe often faced violent attacks from KKK members driving through on Saturday nights, with many of these assailants originating from neighboring South Carolina, located only 14 miles away. With military-surplus rifles and fortifications made of sandbags, the small group of freedom fighters successfully repelled larger forces of Klansmen, resulting in no reported casualties on either side.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

The mere presence of armed individuals who were willing to defend themselves helped prevent further violence. In the summer of 1957, when a Klan motorcade attacked the home of NAACP member Dr. Albert E. Perry, an armed defense squad swiftly drove them away, effectively putting an end to Klan night riding in Monroe.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

However, despite the profound impact of these events on the Black community, mainstream media outlets suppressed their coverage, while publications like Jet Magazine, the Afro-American, and the Norfolk Journal and Guide reported on them.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

In a deeply unjust case, two young black boys, aged seven and nine, were found guilty of rape and sentenced to indefinite terms in a reform school. The verdict stemmed from a situation where a white girl had kissed them on the cheek while playing together.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

Incited by the girl's revelation, a mob of white men in Monroe stormed the home of nine-year-old James "Hanover" Thompson, threatening to lynch him and his 7-year-old friend David "Fuzzy" Simpson.

The boys were not present when the mob arrived, but they were later apprehended by the police, who beat them during their arrest. For 6 days, James & David languished in jail without access to their parents or legal representation.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

During their detention, the boys endured further intimidation, with police officers dressed in white sheets entering their cell. Meanwhile, white residents of Monroe targeted the Thompsons' home, burning a cross on their lawn and firing shots. James and David's mothers, Evelyn Thompson and Jennie Simpson, also faced consequences, losing their jobs.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

Following a brief hearing on November 4, where their right to an attorney was denied, the boys were charged with molestation and sentenced to "indefinite terms" in a state reformatory in Hoffman, North Carolina. However, due to the persistent efforts of Robert Williams, the president of the Monroe NAACP, and protests throughout Europe, the state eventually released the boys.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

It wasn't until February 13, 1959, over three months after their sentencing, that North Carolina's Governor granted them a pardon and allowed them to return home, though no official apology or acknowledgment of wrongdoing was made.

During this ordeal, Robert Williams campaigned for the boys' release and it was only through continued advocacy & international pressure that James & David were freed from their unjust confinement.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

After witnessing numerous instances of legal racism, Robert Williams grew convinced that the prevailing system offered no justice for African Americans. Recognizing the necessity of armed self-defense, he organized squads of armed black individuals to protect against attacks by the Ku Klux Klan.

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

Williams' militant stance and his efforts resonated deeply within black communities nationwide. His actions served as a powerful example, of the effectiveness of organized resistance against racist violence.

“The Afro-American is a “militant” because he defends himself. His family, his home, and his dignity. He does not introduce violence into a racist social system – the violence is already there, and has always been there.”

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

“It is precisely this unchallenged violence that allows a racist social system to perpetrate itself,” Williams wrote in his book Negroes With Guns (1962).

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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

Robert Williams, known as the "violent crusader," initially aimed to combine armed self-defense with non-violent resistance. However, this philosophy sparked a national conflict between two opposing ideologies within the civil rights movement. Williams not only challenged white supremacists but also Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights establishment, advocating for self-defense in the face of attacks.

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jz.tusk Jul 7, 2023

I got so scared when I saw that they had seized two young black men.

Thank you for including that photo of them as old guys. It felt like my breathing got easier once I saw it.

Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

@jztusk yes, they were released. But I’m sure it was very traumatic.

jz.tusk Jul 7, 2023

Yes. I can't even imagine what it must have been like.

Glenda Smith Jul 7, 2023

@Deglassco Another appalling story from US history.

Ricardo Harvin Jul 7, 2023

@smit9186 @Deglassco They're endless and I hate that.

Dan Berky "דן" ℞ MS 🇺🇲 🇩🇪 🇮🇱Jul 7, 2023

@Deglassco Of course

Diligence Jones Jul 7, 2023

@Deglassco
He and Mabel were badass.
This is a reminder to me to learn more about them.

Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

@DeliaChristina Yes, they took no prisoners, so to speak.

Nicole Parsons Jul 7, 2023

Nikki Haley boasts about her anti-unionism.

Republicans aren't anti-communist, they are anti-democracy.

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/nikki-haley-unions-gop-2024/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/14/nikki-haley-video-states-secede-secession-republican-south-carolina

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-17/nikki-haley-proud-union-buster-at-boeing-south-carolina-i8lpjuao#xj4y7vzkg

https://www.fitsnews.com/2016/03/01/nikki-haley-cant-stand-unions-unless-shes-employing-them/

Nikki Haley's Anti-Union Fanaticism Is Wild Even for a Republican

The 2024 presidential hopeful has one thing that really sets her apart from her rivals: the depth of her hatred for organized labor.

The Nation

Coach Pāṇini ®Jul 7, 2023

@Npars01 There’s a message of solidarity that the wannabe aristocracy does not like.

Eddie the Bulldog Jul 7, 2023

@Npars01 @Deglassco auto companies wanna build factories in her state for a reason.

Nicole Parsons Jul 7, 2023

@Eddiethebulldog @Deglassco

Auto companies want cheap labor.

An anti-union state gets them cheap labor, with sides of lax safety regulations, inadequate workers compensation, poor labor standards, and insufficient medical benefits.

From a car company's point of view what's not to like?

What car companies refuse to acknowledge is that mistreatment of your workers causes higher levels of errors, employee dissatisfaction, retention problems, quality control issues, and waste.

Michael Porter Jul 7, 2023

@Deglassco The grace of that woman in the background, in the face of such hate, astonishes me. People like her give me hope for humanity.

RedFossa Jul 7, 2023

@Deglassco Remarkable to consider after the fraudulent 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis Supreme Court decision, those signs and practices are likely legal again at the federal law level.

Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

@jamiesaker Sadly we are going backwards.

ThePsyOfLife Jul 7, 2023

We're about to enter a period where we'll see these signs again, only now, it will say, "We serve straights only, no LGBTQ+"

Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco Jul 7, 2023

@ThePsyOfLife Sadly.

ThePsyOfLife Jul 8, 2023

The psychology of disparagement humor and Prejudice Norm Theory at work.

https://wp.me/p7vabV-bop

It’s OK If They’re Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs Just NOT THOSE Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs!

Reading Time: 6 minutes I know, TL;DR, but you should R because it is a barn burner and is the perfect dissection of the SCOTUS decision on LGBTQ+ rights and sincerely held religious beliefs. You w…

The Psy of Life