It’s time to learn the truth about Civil Rights

A Patriot's Opinion

By Jim Snyder

In the past several months some people have been having a hissy fit over Donald Trump reaching out to the African American community.

Mr. Trump has been meeting and talking with black leaders, pastors and civic leaders from all across the country getting their opinions on what needs to be done to turn their cities and neighborhoods around. While speaking to these groups Mr. Trump has made several comments that some found controversial. One of the things he said was that the democrat party has taken advantage of black Americans by basically soliciting them for their votes and then not doing anything to help them. He also made the comment “What do you have to lose”. While these comments may have stirred some controversy the main point is they were the truth. I am willing to bet that not 1 in 100 people know the real history of the civil rights movement. In other words what actually happened compared to what you have been told happened. For the last 100+ years democrats have touted themselves as the champions of civil rights. That could not be farther from the truth. I am about to tell you some things that many of you probably were never aware of.

Let’s begin with the civil war. In 1862, Abraham Lincoln (a republican) issued the emancipation proclamation, the document that called for the freeing of the slaves. On Jan. 1, 1963, the emancipation proclamation took effect. However the democrat party continued to support slavery. In 1864 Republican controlled congress passed the Equal Pay for African American Soldiers act for troops serving during the Civil War. Also in 1864 the Republican Party repealed the Fugitive Slave Act. In 1865, the thirteenth amendment to the constitution was passed with 100% republican support compared to 37 percent democrat support. In 1866 Republicans passed the civil rights act of 1866 to protect the newly freed slaves. Democrat president Johnson tried to veto the bill but republicans over rode it and passed it. In 1867, Republicans overrode Democrat President Johnson’s veto of voting rights for African Americans.

In 1868, the republicans passed the fourteenth amendment guaranteeing due process to all citizens and recognized the newly freed slaves as U.S. citizens. The vote was 94 percent Republicans FOR and 100 percent of Democrats voting AGAINST it. In 1870 and 1871, the first African American congressman and senators were elected, all Republicans. The first democrat congressman was not elected until 1935 and the first black senator did not occur until 1993. I could go on for another 15 to 20 examples but let’s move on to more modern times.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed with 80 percent republican support and 64 percent democrat support. Among those democrats voting against it were Al Gore’s father, and former senator Robert Byrd (a KKK member for many years). The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed with 87 percent republican support and 79 percent democrat support.

In 1962, democrat South Carolina governor Fritz Hollings was the one who raised the confederate flag over the South Carolina statehouse. In 1996, a republican governor tried to remove the confederate flag and was voted out of office. In 1987, then-governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton said, and I quote, “The Blue Star above the word Arkansas is to commemorate the Confederate States of America.” I would love to go on but I think you are starting to understand the point here. Now let’s move on to present day statistics.

In 2008 President Obama was elected as the first African American president of the United States. He was touted as the post racial president and was given high expectations for ending racial tensions in the U.S. What has actually happened? Racial tensions in America are worse now than they have been in 50 years. Black unemployment is higher now than when he took office. The unemployment rate for black males 18 to 35 is nearly 40 percent. More minority families are living in poverty than they were eight years ago. Food stamp usage is up by 35 percent since 2008. Again I could go on and on. All of the things mentioned in this entire column are FACTS that took less than 15 minutes to find.

Now you may be saying “but that’s not what we have been told.” So why hasn’t the truth been told about civil rights? That’s a darn good question. That is exactly why Mr. Trump’s speeches and ideas are resonating with African American families all over this country. And he has hundreds of black community leaders and black pastors who are spreading the word about what has been done to the black community for decades for their votes. History is a wonderful thing if you take the time to learn it rather than listening to politicians and their empty promises.