Racism Then, Racism Now, Racism Forever!

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour refuses to posthumously pardon an African American man who was falsely imprisoned over 40 years ago for trying to desegregate a Mississippi college. Clyde Kennard, an army veteran who served seven years in Korea and Germany, only wanted to complete his education closer to home.

He had been a third year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago when he was refused admission to the all white Mississippi Southern College. To teach this uppity "Nigra" - as we were called in the south - a lesson, they plotted to kill him but ultimately decided to have him convicted and imprisoned on false theft charges. I guess to add insult to injury and to perpetuate the stererotype of black folks love of chicken, they convicted him of stealing $25 worth of chicken feed! The sole witness recanted, but sadly, Kennard died in 1963 of cancer.

Mr. Kennard's supporters have asked Barbour for a pardon but he said he will not even consider it, no matter what the parole board recommends. Read this callous response from his spokesman:

"The governor hasn't pardoned anyone, be it alive or deceased. The governor isn't going to issue a pardon here. The governor believes that Clyde Kennard was wronged, and if he were alive today his rights would be restored. There's nothing the governor can do for Clyde Kennard right now."

I have written before about Barbour's racist comments he's made in the past and his affiliation with the new Klan, the Council of Concerned Citizens. The picture at the top is Barbour at a CCC barbecue. He has been asked to have the CCC take his picture down from their website, and like his pardon of Clyde Kennard, has consistently refused. People like Haley Barbour make me sick to my stomach! To think that in the year 2006, there are still people clinging to a past most southerners would rather leave behind. Attention Ken Mehlman. Do you still wonder why the Republican Party has a hard time finding acceptance among African Americans?

Hat tip: blackelectorate.com

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