| |
|
The recent death of Rosa Parks, a figurehead of the American Civil Rights Movement, came as something of a surprise, not least because some of us didn't realise she was still about! Whilst learning history at school, many of us in the UK were inspired her act of defiance on that Alabama bus, where she faced arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. Her death at 92 is a loss to the world, though one cannot help but feel joy at her longevity and the legacy she has left behind.
When President George W. Bush says of Parks that she is "one of the most inspiring women of the 20th century," who "transformed America for the better," I am in complete agreement with him. However, one cannot help but detect a note of hypocrisy in the US establishment falling over itself to make tributes to her. Let us recall, for a moment, the circumstances surrounding Bush's rise to office.
Many readers will be familiar with footage of the joint session of Congress and the Senate which was disseminated as part of Michael Moore's documentary, Fahrenheit 911. This is truly jaw-dropping footage, as we see member after member of the Congressional Black Caucus rise to voice objections to the blatent disenfranchisement of black voters during the 2001 US election. Ironically, it is election loser Al Gore who chairs the meeting, and who must repeatedly reject the petitions on the basis that not one senator has given his signature in support of the objections.
When Congresswoman Waters takes to the stand, she remarks "I do not care that it is not signed by a Member of the Senate," to which Gore replies, "The Chair will advise that the rules do care." The ripple of self-satisfied applause and laughter which travels through the ranks of the assembled white male senators speaks volumes about the state of American democracy. It is a humiliating put down of a black female politician who has the best interests of her constituents at heart. And, perhaps more importantly, it displays a callous lack of regard for the democratic rights of the black voters disenfranchised in that election.
Given these events, it is ironic, and one may say somewhat cynical, that the senate has authorised the burial of Rosa Parks' body at the US Capitol Rotunda, a tribute usually reserved for presidents, soldiers and politicians. Senator Harry Reid is quoted as saying "The movement that Rosa Parks helped launch changed not only our country, but the entire world, as her actions gave hope to every individual fighting for civil and human rights. We now can honor her in a way deserving of her contributions and legacy." Given such forthright support for Parks' movement, one wonders why Mr Reid did not give the congressmen and women the signature they needed at the joint session described above. We know he was there, because records show that he called the Senate to order at 11am on that same day. |
|
|
