African Ancestored Genealogy

Comment

Comment by James Alfred Locke Miller Jr. on September 30, 2011 at 9:26pm

Alane, I agree. First, financially, it was harder for blacks to raise the dollar than whites; even if there as no ulterior but intent. But bad intend usually came with it.

Comment by Alane Roundtree on September 30, 2011 at 8:53am

I possess copies of original manuscripts documenting the collection of poll taxes on my husband's formerly enslaved ancestors at the turn of the last century. The taxes were collected by the son of the family's last slave owner. Sometimes the amount was $1 other times it was $3. Sometimes the ledger showed the tax had been "paid in full" -- other times it was in arrears.

The hardship the poll tax created for our family members and most African American citizens at that time was by design.

If one only questions whether the poll tax (or any voting law) is adjudicated legally then you miss the point that the strategy, or added benefit, of such laws in areas throughout the South was to prevent those with an inability to pay the tax from exercising their constitutional right to vote.

This is the insidious nature I spoke of regarding certain laws which appear benign on the surface but were created with an objective that seeks to disenfranchise an entire group of citizens to keep the concentration of power in the hands of the oppressors.

Some white folks in Raleigh, North Carolina in the 1960s may have had the luxury of refusing to pay the "pole tax" based on principle. For my husband's ancestors, and their community, the stakes were much higher. As that ledger shows, and history attests, for those who managed to scrape together nearly one week's worth of hard earned wages to buy their "right to vote" there were a myriad of other road blocks created to silence their voices, both figuratively and literally, in our democratic process.

In that regard, the news out of South Carolina today regarding voter rights is really no different than it was five generations ago.

Comment by James Alfred Locke Miller Jr. on September 29, 2011 at 10:03pm

In the mid to late 1960's, I lived in Raleigh, N.C. We still had the annual "pole tax" (capita or head tax) for adult males only, all races; which had to be paid before voting.

 

Though an old tax, I believed it discriminatory and refused to pay mine. I was called for a private back-office conference with the (county, though his office was in Raleigh) tax lawyer, an older lawyer. He joked with me to come-on, pay it; only us men had "poles". I didn't bite; I wanted to stick to the issues.

 

A better argument of his was; traditionally men made more money than women. I pointed out that our North Carolina Justice Susie Sharp made much more money than I; then why didn't Susie pay the tax? He got mad and "tossed" the law book he was handling at me. I think he really wanted to throw the book at me, as it only hit the top of that long table, just in front of me.

 

That was the year I stopped paying the tax. It would be abolished the following year. However  I'm unaware it was ever adjudicated illigeal in the Wake County jurisdiction? I would think an equal poll tax on both men and women might not be discriminatory?  

 

About two weeks later, the Raleigh News & Observer reported that that tax collector had written an improper letter to two boys, and he either retired or was removed. I hope it was retired as he did not seem a bad man; but just another ageing white man of the rigid old school who felt there was too much disrespect for authority.

 

I partially agree with him. But what he was doing, was not separating the wheat from the chaff. Some authority was not worthy of unquestioned obedience, while other authority was worthy of obedience; and a fair, "reasonable man", questioning person would see that, and reasonably obey. I suspected this good man, too simply believed; if it was authority, that made it right, and unquestionably should be obeyed.

 

Hopefully in his retirement; with less pressure on him; he would see that the one sex only poll tax, as applied, was wrong. That day he retired, was the first day of the rest of his life; and verily, I wish the old man both wisdom, and well.

Comment by Alane Roundtree on September 29, 2011 at 10:50am

Words of wisdom Art -- as always!

 

We must learn to recognize that these strategies are not so far removed from the days of "Literacy Tests" when so called poll workers would disqualify African American voters with questions like,

 

"How may bubbles are there in a bar of soap?"

 

The tactics utilized today may be less overt but they're just as damaging and insidious.

Comment by Art Thomas on September 29, 2011 at 9:09am

Hello Alane,

You and George are right on the money with possible courses of action that could/should be taken to stop this guise of  protection from so-called Voter Fraud.

Here is my initial reaction to this story which I posted on the AfriGeneas and FaceBook.

=========

This story is a grim reminder of the inequities and antics used by voting offical's prior to Voting Rights legislation where prospective Black voters were, for example, required to quote verbatim some seldom cited and used section of the U.S. Constitution before being 'determined' as qualified to cast their vote.

Voter ID requirements on the surface may not seem unfair, but the 'devil is in the details'. New legislation can still allow the same discriminatory practices of the past to be exercised when applied as in this situation.

Just my humble opinion

 

Thanks George for bringing this example to our attention.

Comment by Alane Roundtree on September 29, 2011 at 7:53am

The ongoing effort to disenfranchise voters in the state of South Carolina has a very long history. Their tactics are well known and should be easily recognized by now.

 

This month marks the 135th Anniversary of the Ellenton Massacre which occurred during the Campaign of 1876 in Aiken County, SC. Scores of African American citizens were subjected to harassment, terroristic threats and murdered as part of a strategically planned and highly organized plot to keep them away from the polls on Election Day. The Campaign of 1876 gave way to the poll tax, reinforced Black Codes and Jim Crow laws which disenfranchised generations of would be voters.

 

The significance of the fact that Mr. Larrie Butler shares a surname with one of the architects responsible for the "Straight Out Plan" of 1876 which resulted in the Hamburg and Ellenton Massacres is not lost on me. The past never dies.

 

Enough is enough. The usurping of voting rights in this country needs to end.

 

For more information contact:

South Carolina Progressive Network

Voter ID Campaign

http://www.scpronet.com/

 

Anyone can comment directly to the U.S. Department of Justice through email to: vot1973c@usdoj.gov

 

Put in the subject line: "2011-2495: Comment".

 

Or comments can be mailed to:

 

T. Christian Herren, Jr. Chief

Voting Section, Civil Rights Division

Room 7254 - NWB, Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20530

 

Include Case # 2011-2495 at the top of your letter.

 

You may fax comments to the Department of Justice at 202-616-9514 with the same heading.

 

As my friend George Geder said, Do Something.

 

Comment by George Geder on September 28, 2011 at 10:48pm

I hear you, James Alfred Locke Miller Jr.

 

I have no problem with photo ID. In fact, that's an equitable way to go along with proof of citizenship (driver's license, student ID, etc.). Also, here's what we can do:

One thing that genealogy societies can do is research and publish any redistricting maps and information that is available in their districts. They can invite seniors and others to their monthly meetings and share that info. They can also do an outreach to the neighborhood/community organizations. If necessary, they can do census lookups for the those born before 1930; and soon - 1940. Most importantly, they can help those who need assistance in obtaining the necessary documents to enable a successful voter registration.

We can also post this information on the internet; providing locations, times, and transportation routes, fares and schedules - and make the efforts to keep this updated; since we know that the information can be a moving target.
 
We need to support and supplement the efforts of traditional voter registration entities. We need to call out the ones who are creating obstacles to those trying to get registered.

Every citizen in this nation is guaranteed the option to vote. Every citizen in this nation should exercize their option and RIGHT to vote; and without interference!

If you have suggestions on how to help the Larrie Butlers of this country in their quest to vote, please let us know.

Comment by James Alfred Locke Miller Jr. on September 28, 2011 at 8:06pm

I've seen many mistakes in census records, and the census records I'm most involved with are white kin.

Most government records should be read as open to reputable presumption, as to being correct. A presumption in reading most laws is what is the justifiable, equitable intent or goal of the law, or administrative rule?  

 

In this context; is it to qualify qualified people to vote, or to hinder qualified people from voting?

 

I happen to believe in photo ID's for voting. Why?  So when people who have received the qualified ID go to vote; these issues should not arise to stop them at the last minute. That may not be the intent of all who support photo ID. I suspect some intend, and support photo ID for vetoing; rather than voting?

 

It can be used either way, depending on intent.

Comment by George Geder on September 27, 2011 at 11:11pm

Larrie Butler holds up the plane ticket he was able to buy with the ID that will not allow him to vote in South Carolina.

 

Reverand Al Sharpton peeps the 1930 Census situation and how it affects the voting opportunity of 85 year-old Larrie Butler of Calhoun county, South Carolina.

Larry Butler has to apply for a delayed birth certificate - so he can vote. He produced his college records, high school records, medical records, military records, and presented  them to the 'vital records' to proove his date of birth.

THEY TOLD HIM THAT HE NEEDED HIS ELEMENTERY SCHOOL RECORDS!

HE WENT TO A SEGREGATED SCHOOL - IN A BLACK CHURCH - IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH - IN THE 1930s .... THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE!!!!  (the church doesn't exist, that is).

Family historians and genealogists; check this out.

The 1930 census records have Larry Butler listed as being 4 years old in Calhoun county, South Carolina! Here's the rub. The census enumerator spells his first name "L-A-R-R-Y"!

Mr. Butler is disqualified, per the 'vital records' determination, from voting - UNLESS HE PAYS $150.00 TO GET HIS NAME CHANGED!!!!

WHAT KIND OF SHIT IS THIS TO ASK OF A 85 YEAR OLD MAN?

Answer: Plenty; if your agenda is to keep people from the polling place, preventing them from voting.

Family historians, genealogists and folks; we need to make our voices be heard on the issue of using census records as a means to establish identity. We know what the deal is with these records. We know all about spellings and phonetics.

We also know that many of our Ancestors gave their lives so that, one day, we could vote. In turn, we can't sit on the sidelines, quietly, and watch our right to vote being washed away by rediculous rulings (and redistricting; another story).

Larrie Butler and other senior citizens with situations similar to his should NEVER have to jump through all of these hoops and come out of pocket $150.00 just to exercize their right to vote. Not in the United States of America; and not in South Carolina either! This borders on being criminal. It is, at a minimum, insensitive.

Reverand Al Sharpton says "... this is not only a civil rights issue, it is a democracy issue..."

Check the video out at http://on.msnbc.com/nbk4Je

And then, do something about this issue.

Comment by Anita Wills on September 22, 2011 at 12:24pm

We need to gird our loins and continue the fight even when it seems like the evil one is winning. Remember Martin Luther Kings prophetic words about the, Promised Land. My grandson was murdered in Oakland this year, and he may not be here with me, but he is in my heart, soul and spirit. So is Troy Davis and I know his mother was there waiting for him as he crossed over.

I am adding a link to an article I wrote about the murders of young black men here in the Bay Area, by Police. Yes, there are murders of young black men by other young black me, usually ones the Police allowed on the streets (informants). I am adding the link because of the historical aspects of the article and to show that little has changed for African Americans.They are African Americans who are doing well, and that is nothing new. There have always been People of Color in America doing well, so that is nothing new. It is the ability to pass that on from generation to generation that has been impeded.

 

Enjoy the Article.

 

Anita Wills

 

 

Strange Fruit..., by Anita Wills

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