On this day in history, Democrat President Lyndon Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act (CRA) into law. 76% of Republicans voted in favor of the 1964 Civil Rights bill while only 60% of Democrats voted, affirmatively, and Democrats outnumbered Republicans (253 to 178). The Senate had an even bigger spread between the two political parties (Republicans were 82% in favor to 68% of Democrats). Many of those “ayes” came from Floridians. I bring these facts to mind because even at our most divided, we did what was best for the country.
I enjoy sharing facts like these because with all the contempt over what is taught as Black History in my home state of Florida, I never knew the vast noteworthy progress Republicans made on behalf of Black Americans as I do now through my own research. Whatever I learned back then came from the library, because of a book report or a lesson at church as a child. But the state was bland on bi-partisan facts.
Like the NAACP posits today about my state’s suppression of a liberal, Black theory of history, I think the entire educational system has been politicized for years. In fact, our nation has a history of intentionally keeping the Republican Party’s positive relationship with Blacks a secret. I could be wrong but believe the lack of conservative views (although progressive for human rights) was intentional because of its abolitionist roots, which were Christ -motivated. And in an attempt that may have been predicated on keeping the church out of the state, our educational system disconnected from a substantial part of our American history. And that is not good for our country, our citizens, or this nation’s children.
Furthermore, I believe that because the NAACP nor the ACLU support Christian viewpoints, as a whole, we hardly ever hear them arguing for the inclusion of the conservative angle. Both groups apolitical statuses are still positioning on behalf of a more godless perspective. So who will fight for the cause of Christ?
For this reason, I find myself in favor of hearing the opinions of organizations who are openly biased, even if I disagree with them, because at least I know where and why they stand. It is naïve to believe that we are not all biased in some respect. We, as individuals, are all layered with different expectations and reasonings about everything, from music to movies, to finances and friendships, to diets and indulgences. But the beauty of America, is that we can set aside our individualities to be one democratic republic, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all, and to do the right thing when it matters most.
That was exemplified during the signing of the CRA. Our country did something phenomenally spot-on way back then (sixty years ago). We said no to group biases and said yes, to Americans. And we can do what is in the best interest of our country and its citizens, again.
My prayer is that we would look deeply into the makings of these moments and come together again for policies that make us a better and less divided country. The separation of our three branches was meant to strengthen us, but now we are allowing a mob media to pull us apart, to tell us it is not working. My hope is that we push back on the legacy media and all laws that push us into hostile groups. Because divided we fall.
My dream is Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, who cherished receiving one of the pen’s President Johnson used to sign the CRA—a dream of content of character over color. Isn’t that what this Act meant?
But it won’t happen by osmosis or good intentions. No saints, it is up to us, to pray for our leadership and to pray for good leadership, like never before. And then, to cast our votes.
In remembrance of a stronger nation, Really,
Leah
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