Word: niggerism
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
These new politicians wince in honest horror at old-style racist demagoguery. Mississippi's venomous little Theodore ("The Man") Bilbo stayed in power for more than three decades by such tactics as describing one opponent as "begotten in a nigger graveyard at midnight" or, in defending himself against charges of religious bigotry, by declaring himself in favor of "every damn Jew from Jesus Christ on down...
Such discouraging statistics and pessimistic views do not take into account the electrifying effect that an expanded and more diverse electorate has had on Southern white politicians. Notes Georgia's Congressman Young: "It used to be Southern politics was just 'nigger' politics?a question of which candidate could 'outnigger' the other. Then you registered 10% to 15% in the community, and folks would start saying 'Nigra.' Later you got 35% to 40% registered, and it was amazing how quick they learned how to say 'Nee-grow.' And now that we've got 50%, 60%, 70% of the black votes registered...
Jimmy Carter has been criticized for not taking a firm stance on some issues. But in this failing, he is entirely representative of today's Southern politicians. Even as in the bad old days, personality still counts more than issues. The difference is that the candidate who can holler "nigger" the loudest no longer wins; instead, candidates try to project what has been called a "best man" image. This has been termed the "politics of trust"?trust in basic good intentions. Arkansas' Governor Pryor, for one, insists that issues "aren't nearly as important as honesty and decency...
...down, saying "Be with you in a minute boys." And then, after hanging up the phone, an explanation: "Sorry for making you boys wait. That was the television people. They want me to go on T.V. but you know damn well all they want to talk about is niggers, the nigger problem...Well, I guess we're always gonna have a nigger problem, boys...
...SOLDIER who was in the trench next to Michael when he was killed wrote to the Mullens and gave them insight into their son's character. "I was the only Black in our squad," Private Willard Polk from Detroit wrote, "and I can honestly say I heard the word Nigger enough to last me a lifetime. You see, I could talk with Michael, he didn't care if you was Black or White. He was a good guy and we both had a great deal of respect for each other...