Several black lawmakers said they had mixed reactions to Reagan's death, though many were sensitive about disparaging a deceased president.
"It's not really mourning. We recognize him as the 40th president of the United States," said Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), adding, "In terms of being a president for African-Americans, he was not."
Rep. Major Owens (D-N.Y.) said, "Black grandmothers like mine said always speak well of the dead or keep quiet. I choose to keep quiet."
On a day when the Capitol prepared to received Reagan's body, other black lawmakers and civil rights leaders offered a damning assessment of Reagan's political life, and a few questioned his legitimacy as a president for all Americans.
"I don't think he is really being mourned in black America," said Ron Walters, a professor at the University of Maryland who was deputy campaign manager for Jesse Jackson's 1984 presidential bid.
"Politically, African-Americans can hardly get past that he started his campaign in Philadelphia, Miss.," said Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), referring to the area where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964. "It was such a strong statement that the KKK endorsed him on the same day."
"You can't forget that," Jackson added.
Jackson said he wrote a college paper on "Reaganism, Reaganomics and Reaganites," where he defined "Reaganites" as "people who drew pride from someone who was going to stand up to African-Americans."
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a veteran of the civil rights movement, said, "We all grieve for his family, but at the same time we can't escape the fact that Ronald Reagan was not a friend of civil rights."
"There are mixed reactions, mixed emotions," Lewis added.
"It's rather unkind not to mourn the president, but he didn't have a strong record on African-American issues," said Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.).
Rep. Al Wynn (D-Md.), a former student of Walters' at Howard University, also
offered a measured assessment.
"His passage is being viewed with appropriate respect as a former president; however, many in the African-American community strongly disagreed with his domestic policy," Wynn said.
| That's what caught our eye in Hans Nichols' "Blacks, gays mourn Reagan in own ways" for The Hill
Also: In addition to Project 21, a number of conservative, libertarian and moderate webloggers) have had their say.
Also: Professor Kim (via Prometheus 6) has quotes and 'mo quotes
posted in articles on June 9, 2004 8:26 PM | t (0)
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Look at the impact and results of Reagan's policies globally and domestically and then decide. The cold war is said to be over with Russia still pointing thousands of missiles at the US and vice versa. The poverty levels of Blacks worsened under Reagan, as did the gap in income disparity levels between Blacks and Whites. If one wants sentimentality - it is always sad to see a person die. If one wants reality - better that we move on to a President with some effective policies for the conditions that Black people find themselves in - in these United States of America. And - I did not have thoughts of a "build more prisons" policy in mind either. Not that Kerry is going to make much difference - but move on we must. Nuff said - and oh! one more thing - Ron - sorry that you are no longer with us.
may Ronald Regan rest in peace. God bless the dead,but the man did not give two squats about african americans whatsoever which is probaly the reason he caught alzheimers deasise,you reap what sow and then you answer to your creater. now he has to explain to GOD one on one about what good deeds did he do for homeless people, African Americans, and people who really needed help versus wealthy white America. He was a rich white man's president and may God have mercy on soul for his dirty cold ways.
No one gets away with anything that they do.
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