Comments on: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Taylor Branch: ‘The Civil-Rights Movement Is About Our Future’

By: Guest

Guest — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:04:39 +0000

I too grew up during Jim Crow and my grandfather was also a West Virgina coal miner. The dichotomy between the man he was in the mines and the man he became when we went to “town” [Welch] impacted me to this day.

Condtions have changed for the better, yet more change is needed before we achieve the true diversity envisioned by Dr. King.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:46:19 +0000

I was a child during Jim Crow. Even then it was hard to understand the “why”? My grandfather, a very large and powerful man, worked in the coal mines of West Virgina. There he provided guidance and support to the other miners. Yet, when he went to “town” he had to avert his eyes! Things have definitely changed, but the destination has not yet been reached. I knew people like Mr. Branch and wish there were more like him today.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:26:27 +0000

I grew up in North Carolina where there were particularly close relations between Blacks and Whites during the growing seasons. Other times, I learned after turning 6 years old, and having to wait at a school bus pickup area, that my best friend and I had to get on separate buses. I didn’t get it until I got home after school and had it explained to me by my parents. I also lived to see my father, who was well respected by everyone, exert his rights when either White or Black crossed the line with him. I experienced the segregated rest rooms, schools, sit down lunch counters, and restaurants. However, I will always appreciate my Black elementary and secondary teachers who invested themselves into us. They were like another set of parents. Our parents worked in harmony with them to our benefit. They understood the inequality of our situation; they experienced it themselves. They taught us the we had to work at least twice as hard as the white students in order to be successful. We were not allowed to go to school in shorts and barefoot like the white students. We had to dress in more appropriate dress and had to wear shoes – even though at the time it seemed like it would be fun. Now we are at a new cross road where we must be concerned with each other. Whatever affect one will affect the other; we cannot isolate or insulate ourselves. In short, I agree with Taylor.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:09:10 +0000

Great article. My brother had copies of those books. I’ve quite a bit of them – I think it’s time I bought new copies!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:58:45 +0000

The Unitted States and the world would be much better places if there were more people like Mr. Branch, particularly if more White Americans could view Blacks from his perspective instead of the perspective of Hanity, Beck and Limbaugh.