A Brief History
On August 28, 1957, in an effort to stop the Civil Rights Act of 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina conducted a record 1-person filibuster of 24 hours and 18 minutes! A segregationist, Thurmond is sadly only one of many U.S. politicians who have shown discriminatory tendencies and insensitivity toward women or to people belonging to other races or religions. Here 10 such politicians are listed.
Digging Deeper
10. John McCain, Senator. (1936- 2018)
The man who was nominated by the Republican Party for the 2008 presidential election said in 2004 (to reporters of all people), “I hated the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live.” He was referring, of course, to Asians, as he had flown against them in the Vietnam War and had been their prisoner of war, mistreated and tortured by them. On the other hand, for a man who wanted to be President of all Americans, including those of Asian descent, such a statement is shocking. While running for president, McCain and his campaign became increasingly hostile to Muslims and African-Americans. He had also become less than supportive of Hispanic immigration to the U.S. He does not shy back from loudly supporting the bombing of other countries just about every time the issue comes up and even once sang, “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran…”. McCain did say that the “gooks” he referred to were specifically his captors and torturers.
9. Rick Perry, Governor. (1950- )
During the Republican presidential primaries in 2008, it was reported that the Texas governor had a hunting preserve called “Niggers’s Head.” After that information hit the press, the print on the rock at the entrance to that property disappeared.
8. Robert Byrd, Senator. (1917-2010)
In his youth, this West Virginian held racist views and joined the Ku Klux Klan. As his career progressed, he appeared to lose those racist views and became an advocate of civil rights. When politicians change their tunes, it is hard to tell if the change is sincere or just politically expedient. Of course, he did use the term “white niggers” when discussing race relations in 2001, which is probably not a good idea.
7. African-American Politicians. (past-present)
Many African-American politicians are quick to demand that white men like George Zimmerman (who killed Trayvon Martin in Florida) or Patrolman Darren Wilson (who killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri) who have killed blacks immediately go to jail before all the facts in the case are known. Of course, quite a few white politicians jump on the same bandwagon, perhaps in an effort to secure votes. Just as there should be no rush to judge African-Americans accused of a crime, the same should apply to persons of all races. Racism is wrong, period. (Zimmerman was found not guilty in his murder trial, with the jury agreeing that he acted in self-defense. Darren Wilson was not charged, not because of politics, but because the facts of the case proved Michael Brown attacked the officer and the witnesses that gave the phony “hands up don’t shoot” lie recanted and told the truth in Grand Jury testimony. Physical evidence also proved the officer’s version of events.)
6. Lester Maddox, Governor. (1915-2003)
Before becoming governor of Georgia, Maddox had been a restaurant owner who refused to serve African-Americans. A segregationist, he was known to stand around for the cameras with an axe or baseball bat as if he was going to attack any black person who tried to attend a school or patronize a business that was segregated. Maddox believed the African race was intellectually inferior to the Caucasian races and that the Bible mandated segregation. In his opinion integration was a communist plot. (To the contrary, the Soviets tried to widen the racial gaps and tensions in the United States, much as the Russians are doing today.)
5. Brigham Young, Governor. (1801-1877)
A leader of the Mormon Church (Latter Day Saints) and later the Governor of the Utah Territory, Young instituted racist doctrine into the Mormon faith even though Joseph Smith, the founder, had not done so. Young decided that men of African descent could not be priests, nor could anyone of Sub-Saharan African descent partake in the rites of the church, as they were “the seed of Cain.” Young also ruled that any white person who “mixes his blood” (has children with a black person) should be put to death immediately. Thankfully the Mormon Church undid his racist policies in 1978.
4. Jesse Helms, Senator. (1921-2008)
While representing North Carolina, Helms became known as “Senator No” for his opposition to appointees of Democratic presidents and for his opposition of civil rights of all types, including: anti-segregation laws; women’s rights; gay rights; disability rights; religious rights (except for his brand of Christianity); and abortion rights. He also opposed the creation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. He even called the University of North Carolina “The University of Negroes and Communists.” Internationally, Helms supported the racist regime in South Africa, and at home he did his best to prevent African-Americans from becoming judges.
3. George Wallace, Governor. (1919-1998)
In 1963, while already governor of Alabama, Wallace, a segregationist, actually stood on the steps to the University of Alabama in an attempt to block its first 2 African-American students from entering the auditorium. He only relented after President Kennedy sent in U.S. Army troops. “…segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” is one of his famous quotes. In explaining why he chose racist politics he said, “…I began talking about niggers and they stomped the floor.,” referring to his supporters. He further confirmed his sentiments by choosing to swear into office at the exact spot that Jefferson Davis had been sworn in as President of the Confederacy. Later in his career, he moderated his “beliefs” and softened his stance on segregation.
2. Woodrow Wilson, President. (1856-1924)
Wilson was an opponent of Women’s Suffrage and only reluctantly changed positions when it became politically necessary. He did not, however, hesitate to stomp on freedom of expression during World War I as he attempted to suppress anti-war sentiment and communist sympathies. He even deported recent immigrants who were not from Western European nations. Wilson actually reversed progress in the federal government by reinstituting racial segregation in branches such the Post Office and Navy. Famous for espousing the formation of the League of Nations and his 14 Points (for peace and human rights), he neither said nor did anything to eliminate colonialism and suppression of native peoples. In his own book, A History of the American People, he opines that African-Americans are unsuitable for citizenship and likens them to “shiftless children.” Before becoming president of the United State, he was president of Princeton University, and in that capacity, he attempted to keep African-American students out. Despite all this, many scholars still rate him among the best U.S. presidents. His quotation, “Segregation is not a humiliation, but a benefit.” just about says it all.
1. Strom Thurmond, Senator. (1902-2003)
Thurmond made a career out of opposing civil rights measures and was a segregationist on top of it. Ironically, at 22 he had fathered a child with a 16-year-old African-American girl. Even having a child of African descent, however, did not stop this racist from continuing his rants. His excuse for his racist policies was “states’ rights,” the same reason given by slave states during the Civil War. South Carolina kept electing him to the U.S. Senate, where he served a total 48 years, and he is memorialized at South Carolina’s state capitol (The same capitol that received so much negative publicity for flying the Confederate flag on top of its dome until 2000 when it was moved to the Confederate Memorial.).
Question for students (and subscribers): Who would you include in this list? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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For other statements made by politicians, please also see the History and Headlines article: “10 Incredibly Stupid Things Said by Politicians.”
For another interesting event that happened on August 28, please see the History and Headlines article: “August 28: An Important Date in U.S. Civil Rights History.”
Your readership is much appreciated!
Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
López, Ian Haney. Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented Racism and Wrecked the Middle Class. Oxford University Press, 2014.
Stadiem, William and Essie Mae Washington-Williams. Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond. Harper Perennial, 2006.
Wilson, Woodrow. History of the American People: The Swarming of the English (History of the American People (University Press of the Pacific) Book 1). Packard Technologies, 2005.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="4313 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=4313">7 Comments
Boy. Is this list full of misleading statements.
10. McCain’s comments weren’t about “Asians”. Not sure if you’re aware of this or not, but there is no race called “Asian”. Asia is a continent and it’s filled with all kinds of people with all kinds of skin colors that run the gamut from lily white to dark as night. The word he used wasn’t referring to Asians as much as it was referring to Vietnamese, and given the fact that he spent years as a POW being tortured by the Vietnamese, I think I can give him a bit of a pass on that.
9. The “hunting preserve” is located at a place in Texas that has long been known as that word. He renamed it to “North Head Rock”. I think you left that part out.
7. I like how you lumped ALL African American politicians into one group. Why? Was it too hard to separate out Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Sheila Jackson-Lee from the rest of the group? What about black politicians who are absolutely anti-racism? Why lump them into the same group as the others, unless you’re one of those people who sees all people of one race as having a similar behavior. What’s that called again?
4. Ah, Jesse Helms. Funny thing is: I’ve met Jesse Helms and you know what? He wasn’t racist. He was anti-collectivist and anti-liberal. He didn’t oppose civil rights – he opposed the civil rights MOVEMENT. He didn’t oppose black judges – he opposed liberal black judges (he voted in favor of Clarence Thomas. He didn’t like UNC-Chapel Hill because, in fact, it was a school that was filled with professors who were, in fact, communists who were pushing the civil rights movement. Oh – and I’m not sure if you know this or not, but “negro” didn’t used to be a bad term for blacks.
Did you know that one of Helms’ top advisors in the Senate was James H. Meredith? Every other Senator refused to hire Meredith (a black leader of the Civil Rights Movement who’d become a very skilled lawyer). Only Helms responded and hired him immediately. They worked well together, even while Meredith was getting threats from other Civil Rights leaders.
By the way… where was Joe Biden in your list? You know, the guy who complained about Indians owning 7-11s? How about Barack Obama, who called white cops stupid who do their job by arresting black men who are breaking the law?
Yeah… didn’t think so.
Look at the headline. It does not say these guys are racists.
McCain’s comments included the word “gooks” which is a racial epithet. There is no “asian” race just as there is no “african” race, but any normal person knows exactly to whom one is referring by their use, without playing word games. If someone is mugged by an African-American, it is not ok to say you hate ‘n-words.’
The article clearly states the name of the hunting preserve was changed. Doing so only after it became an issue is like putting a shoplifted item back on the shelf. It does not make it ok.
Lumping African-American politicians together is somewhat questionable, but the idea is to lump those that engage in that particular behavior together, not every single one. Notice that the group lumped together is “the majority that get their face on television.” This does not say or imply all. Plus, the article acknowledges white politicians that do the same.
Again, nowhere is Helms accused of being a racist, just saying and doing things that can be considered discriminatory or racist. Opposing civil rights? How can refusing to support legislation that states no person shall be discriminated against not be considered racist? An awful lot of people that met Jesse Helms would disagree with your assessment. Obviously, you are welcome to your opinion and we respect that.
Joe Biden’s comment about 7-11 could definitely have made the list, but limiting the number to 10 makes it impossible to include them all. Many so called liberals have made similar, unthinking racist remarks over the years. As far as that goes, few people have not. That is why you are invited to nominate other people for mention on the next such list. Thank you for your feedback.
No, but the implication is there.
Everybody knows who he’s referring to? Yes, they do. The Vietnamese who imprisoned and tortured him for years.
Are you saying all black politicians are racist in exactly the same way?
He didn’t oppose civil rights – he opposed the civil rights movement. The movement. Keep saying that to yourself.
Biden’s comments should’ve made it to #2, but let’s be honest: the real reason he didn’t make the list is because the list writer is a liberal Democrat. He has a history of demeaning Republicans and promoting Democrats (see his list of 10 Democrats of faith and his comment in the thread that he essentially thinks Republicans think they are God).
It’s a hit piece, plain and simple.
Obama’s stupid statements about the police on several occasions are indeed not well thought out and are presumptive because of race. Liberals make those mistakes often enough. We’ll see if the next list has more liberal representation. Again, thanks for the input.
Dear AnnoyedElephant, As an editor on this site, I find it awesome that you’ve been reading enough of Daniel’s articles to notice patterns, whether the observations be accurate or not. Thank you for all your input. We look forward to your continued readership, and please comment whenever you feel the need. We are a young site and all feedback is appreciated. When readers like you chime in, we know better in which direction to take the site so that there is something for everybody.
Why are so many American Presidents of Scots-Irish descent? Is it just an extreme coincidence or do some of them hide/doctor their Irish heritage because they want to be WASPS?
You forgot David Duke grandwizard of the KKK.