James H. Morrison: Rights for All
Louisiana Congressman James Morrison, serving in the United States House of Representatives from 1943 to 1967, did not fit the mold of a Deep South white politician in the 20th century. A moderate on civil rights issues, rather than a typical staunch segregationist, he supported the important Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to extend a voice to voiceless southern blacks. In voting for this act, Morrison lost re-election to Congress in 1966 (“J.H Morrison”). Morrison voted for the Act, exemplifying political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage when he “triumphed over all personal and political considerations” and followed his conscience (Kennedy 18).
The Voting Rights …show more content…
Much of Louisiana’s white population had been proponents of fighting to keep rights from African Americans, leading to oppression of blacks throughout Louisiana. The infamous Jim Crow Laws, laws designed to impose racial segregation upon African Americans, were enacted throughout Louisiana (“Jim Crow Laws.” Iowas’). These laws included prohibitions on interracial housing, integrated public schools, and interracial marriages, with penalties associated for breaking of the laws("Jim Crow Laws: Louisiana ."). Complementing the oppressive rule of Jim Crow was the prominence of lynchings throughout the South, including Louisiana. These lynchings were killing of African Americans and pro-black whites by white mobs and upwards of 3,900 them took place throughout the South between 1877 and 1950. These killings were ignored, sometimes even encouraged, by local law enforcement, causing all blacks to live in fear of death if they chose to defy the rule of the white man (Prime). The culture of Jim Crow and lynchings placed the white man in power, and the extension of rights to African Americans caused many whites to assume that as the blacks gained rights, whites would lose rights and power. This assumption led many whites to continually battle against reform to confer rights upon African Americans
Louisiana Congressman James Morrison, serving in the United States House of Representatives from 1943 to 1967, did not fit the mold of a Deep South white politician in the 20th century. A moderate on civil rights issues, rather than a typical staunch segregationist, he supported the important Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to extend a voice to voiceless southern blacks. In voting for this act, Morrison lost re-election to Congress in 1966 (“J.H Morrison”). Morrison voted for the Act, exemplifying political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage when he “triumphed over all personal and political considerations” and followed his conscience (Kennedy 18).
The Voting Rights …show more content…
Much of Louisiana’s white population had been proponents of fighting to keep rights from African Americans, leading to oppression of blacks throughout Louisiana. The infamous Jim Crow Laws, laws designed to impose racial segregation upon African Americans, were enacted throughout Louisiana (“Jim Crow Laws.” Iowas’). These laws included prohibitions on interracial housing, integrated public schools, and interracial marriages, with penalties associated for breaking of the laws("Jim Crow Laws: Louisiana ."). Complementing the oppressive rule of Jim Crow was the prominence of lynchings throughout the South, including Louisiana. These lynchings were killing of African Americans and pro-black whites by white mobs and upwards of 3,900 them took place throughout the South between 1877 and 1950. These killings were ignored, sometimes even encouraged, by local law enforcement, causing all blacks to live in fear of death if they chose to defy the rule of the white man (Prime). The culture of Jim Crow and lynchings placed the white man in power, and the extension of rights to African Americans caused many whites to assume that as the blacks gained rights, whites would lose rights and power. This assumption led many whites to continually battle against reform to confer rights upon African Americans