By Elayne Savage, PhD

     © Can Stock Photo / michaeldb

The way I see it, this was a huge week of giving permission for prejudice and discrimination based on two Supreme Court decisions. I know some of you will disagree.

Two decisions were made that easily could have far-reaching effects on just about all of us not just based in the color of our skin or our sexual preference, but could actually seep into other aspects of placing restrictions our way of life – even our religious practices or our political preferences.

I actually find the possible effects from these SC decisions very scary. The Court’s decision to effectively end race-conscious admissions is especially having an effect on me.

From Vox: “Affirmative action has been used for more than half a century by colleges and universities, initially to encourage the participation of historically marginalized groups and mitigate the effects of decades of segregation by university systems. Since the landmark Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case in 1978, the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that such programs can be used as a tool to foster diversity among a university’s student body, and that an applicant’s race or ethnic background could be deemed a plus when deciding between applicants who are similarly qualified. The Court determined that students from underrepresented racial backgrounds could “promote beneficial educational pluralism” that benefits all students — a goal compelling enough to the justices that they have continued its use. Since Bakke, the Court has upheld affirmative action in admissions despite multiple challenges, including Fisher v. University of Texas, decided as recently as 2016, in which Abigail N. Fisher, a white woman, claimed that she was rejected from the University of Texas at Austin because of preferences given to applicants of color.” 

 Vox: The SCOTUS decision on affirmative action in colleges, explained

Reliving An Old Scary Experience

With this SC decision, I am dreading to see the gigantic loss in the futures of so many creative and bright and dedicated young people who grew up with economic disadvantages and lack of parental encouragement. 

I saw quite a few of these kids when I was a Child Protective Services Social Worker. I remember one teen who tried out for the HS play, got a huge part, practiced hard. During performances not even one family member showed up. 

He did get encouragement from teachers to apply to colleges, but his just OK grades would have prevented admission to a respected college without affirmative action and teachers who believed in him. 

He’s a teacher himself, now – but you probably guessed that!

Visceral Deja Vu

This decision is bringing back the same kind of visceral response for me that the movie Django Unchained did when it reminded me of my student years at the University of Alabama in the 1960’s. The school was still all-white back then.

This was the famous George-Wallace-high-profile-grandstanding-standing-in-the-schoolhouse-door drama. The time was June, 1963. The place, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.The University was about to be integrated by Vivian Malone and James Hood. The movie’s story parallels the desegregation drama at the University. Both are about striving to preserve the Southern way of life.

I missed out on the actual “stand-in-the-schoolhouse-door” day. I had just graduated and returned to Baltimore. 

Well, I really didn't miss it. In a way, I was part of it.  I had been involved in the careful planning that began many months before.

Deputy U.S. Attorney General Nicholas    confronts Alabama Governor George Wallace?and his attempt to block integration of students at the University of Alabama.?1963 file photo/The Associated Press. Photographer: Warren K. Leffler. U.S. News and World Report.

Knowing that desegregation was going to happen in the near future, a group of student leaders were organized to make sure plans were initiated and strategically choreographed. We were hoping to pre-empt problems and avoid violence. And we did! 

James Hood and Vivian Malone headed the cast of characters of this real-life drama and were seen as heroes by the media and most of the country. Many viewed Governor George Wallace who vowed to block desegregation as the antihero. Of course, his supporters saw him as defending the southern way of life.

There are many parallels between James Hood and Vivian Malone with Django Freeman and Dr. King Schultz, the bounty hunter who frees Django. And of course there are the shared values of Stephen, the sinister house slave and George Wallace, both defiantly standing in the doorway, fiercely protecting what they believed in. Which includes acting in their own best interests. 

I don’t know if Stephen had a nickname, but we called the Governor “Tail-Wind Wallace.”

The Real Heroes

The real heroes of this Alabama desegregation saga are Dr. John L. Blackburn, then Dean of Men at the University, and his band of student leaders. Many months before the official integration of the school, John L. organized thirty student leaders to make and carry out plans, meet with other students, and insure a smooth transition. He orchestrated the essentials and shepherded everyone through their roles. I remember being part of those planning sessions and how impressed I was with the commitment and teamwork involved.

Here's a reminder of what the climate was at that time: This was seven years after mob violence took place at the University following the admission of Autherine Lucy in 1956. The violence was sparked when it became public that the University hadn’t realized from her application that she was African American.

The integration of the University took place a year before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted. At the time the white supremacy doctrine of the Ku Klux influenced townspeople and politicians. KKK racism, lawlessness and violence towards African Americans was unchallenged in the Deep South media. 

However, in the early 60’s the Klan and their sympathizers began to realize integration was inevitable. They wouldn’t be able to stop it. 

And they were scared. And desperate. And dangerous. 

More about how the Klan tried to intimidate us:

Django Freeman Meets James Hood  

And here I am today reliving that decades old fearful feeling, especially being reminded r we just cannot take freedoms for granted.

© Elayne Savage, PhD