Ayers overall message about this time during Southern transition is the amount of frustration with the lack of progress and prosperity for the majority of southerners, both black and white. The large percentage of black and white voters were controlled by intimidation and Jim Crow laws (in the case of blacks) or tenant rules, industry and merchant might and plays on their fears of blacks (in the case of whites). Under these circumstances, it also became clear to most groups that change was needed for any type of economic prosperity, and for a specific group, that change was needed in the realm of racial equality. Politics became the defining mechanism to address either of these challenges. Politics further complicated a social structure, defined by a broken economy and increasing racial tensions.
Here are a few of the themes which most interested me or even surprised me, in some cases:
- The overall capricious nature of life and fortune during the time period is staggering. Farmers, most of them not owning their own land were at the mercy of merchants and ultimately the railroads. Blacks, regardless of their success and ambition were at the whims of all whites, regardless of class. If we take for example the incidents which occurred in the first class railcars, where blacks with first class tickets could be assaulted by whites for simply being there, or being well-dressed or well-spoken. This inability to predict personal safety or economic stability left the majority of whites and blacks unable to make decisions about their own lives or bigger political/social issues without extreme fear of what might happen next. What a horrible way to live daily, with no prospects of what the future might bring. I am surprised by the brevity individuals displayed who dared to speak up or act out in the face or arbitrary retribution, being from lynch mobs, made railcar passengers or the vengeful merchant or landowner.
- Farmers were such a necessary group, yet had been alienated from any type of real power. Like Blacks, farmers, as a group with power of numbers, had to be systemically alienated from power. The formation of the Farmers Alliance and the power the group wielded, albeit temporarily, is very intriguing and certainly makes clear both the dissatisfactions and desires of farmers. Unfortunately this era also shows how little cohesion existed among people with the same overall goals. While farmers wanted to be treated fairly and have some say in the economy, as opposed to their economic forces being controlled by merchants and the railroad, many of the white farmers (landowning and tenant) were opposed to supporting black farmers in a meaningful way. So, while there was a common goal, there also existed this fear of making another group powerful. It seems the big industries played on those fears .
- Fine lines were walked in politics, most especially on issues of race and issues of currency. Black votes were needed and courted, but politicians had to be careful not to publically support black issues. Blacks had to be wary and distrustful or all parties. You would have to be an adept interpreter to read between the lines of political campaigning during this era.
- I found it so difficult to read about the prevalence of lynching during this time period. It seems the practice was rampant and required no real proof of any crime. One only need to be accused of a certain crime (most especially rape) or a black could even just show too much “smarts” or ambition and thereby rile anger resulting in lynching. In particular I noticed the accusation of rape, with no proof, while clearly it seems the accusing group in fact were those who assaulted females of the other race and frequented prostitution houses of the other race. Definitely of time of conflicting realities.
