Articles Race and Racism Maryland Dems and Racism | Maryland Dems and Racism |
|
|
|
by Quismartin Author Quismartin examines the sad history of white supremacy in the "progressive" state of Maryland. Many contemporary political observers from outside the state marvel at how “progressive” Maryland is. But to those who have lived in the state a long time, its history is more revealing. Few remember that not only was Maryland a “slave” state, but remained so for two years after the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. In fact, the 1864 Maryland Constitution outlawing slavery passed by only 364 votes (soldiers voting made the difference as the measure lost by 1,995 votes on the “home” ballot). Many historians say the only reason Maryland remained a union state during the Civil War was because President Abraham Lincoln had the Maryland legislature arrested.  Runaway slave ad In 1939, the state adopted confederate sympathizer James Ryder Randall’s “Maryland, My Maryland” as the official racist state song. James Ryder Randall In 1966, Maryland Democrats had voted for the racist George P. Mahoney (“My home is my Castle”) as the nominee for Governor. Mahoney had opposed open housing laws that dropped barriers to African Americans buying homes in many Maryland communities. Progressive Democrats abandoned Mahoney and voted Spiro Agnew to the governor’s mansion in 1966—starting a political career that would end in Agnew’s resignation as Vice President for corruption.
Wallace after being shot in Laurel Md. In 1972, African-Americans and progressives protested the racist George (Standing in the Schoolhouse Door to prevent integration) Wallace campaign, including a picket line in Cambridge and rocks in Frederick, Hagerstown and Wheaton Plaza. At Capital Plaza, University of Maryland students joined High Point High School students to confront Wallace. Popsicles and pennies were first thrown followed by tomatoes and rocks—one of which hit Wallace (perhaps he should have gotten the message). As Wallace left, Nazi Party members confronted the demonstrators and eight were arrested including U. of Md. alumnus Bob Simpson. Route 1 participant Charlie Delve was among those confronting the Nazis. Later Wallace was shot by Arthur Bremer at Laurel Shopping Center, but nevertheless narrowly won the Maryland Democratic primary the next day. Attempts to change or repeal the state song in 2002 were defeated inthe Maryland General Assembly. Randall's poem, written at the beginningof the Civil War, was meant to incite Maryland against the North, calling Abraham Lincoln a despot and asking Maryland to spurn the "Northern scum." It therefore came as no surprise in 2002 when Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Kathleen Kennedy Townsend bypassed African American Isaiah “Ike” Leggett for Lieutenant Governor in favor of a white former Republican. That decision, much like the Mahoney nomination in 1966, insured that right-wing Republican candidate Robert Ehrlich would win the Maryland governor’s election.The fight inside and outside Maryland’s Democratic Party between progressives and reactionaries continues today. --Quismartin
|
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
