I think Crespino shows Thurmond to be a lens which focuses
the bright light of historical reflection on the similar issue of manliness and
civilization as in Bederman last week. For example, on p. 72, Crespino refers
back to Thurmond’s infamous quote captured by Movietone News this way: “And
there was no more manly matter in July 1948 than the fate of white Democracy.
Thurmond knew that with this speech this throng of angry white men was testing
him, and he was determined not to fall short.” While Crespino does show an uneven and unsteady
and somewhat eventual partial transformation
of Thurmond over his long life span, Crespino definitely ties white
supremacist, segregated ‘manliness’ as exampled in Thurmond to the ‘civilization’
that white southerners in the main and many other non-southern whites envisioned
and worked to maintain in 1948. Anyone else agree? Further, if one accepts that Crespino's Thurmond did undergo a partial transformation of his white supremacy and segregationist views, Crespino shows a similar kind of transformation of the South's, if not the nation's, racist and white supremacists attitudes on 'manliness' and 'civilization.' Others agree or disagree?
Hi Bryan, I agree with the section you mentioned showing Thurmond's connection between race and manliness, however, I found it difficult to pick up on this intriguing nugget throughout the rest of the book. This was one of the few occasions where I really felt like we got to see Thurmond the person rather than Thurmond the political figure. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteBryan,
ReplyDeleteI caught a few instances where Crespino seemed to be suggesting the importance of gender in his study. However, these comments actually left me wanting more. I'm not sure if Crespino stopped short of doing a full study of gender since this seems to be a work intended for a larger/public audience or if it was just not one of his primary concerns. However, as you point out, Crespino's study hints at gender throughout. Thoughts?
I feel that saying we live in a post-racist society is detrimental. Today, just as in the 60's we hide racist views and politics through other terms. the tea-party politics has been a prime example at attacking "social welfare" as a means to attack minorities.
ReplyDeleteThurmond and the South did transform, instead of overt racism, there is cloaked racism.
I definitely agree, Alejandro. I'm still struck by Crespino's piercing comment in the intro that he feels he has been carrying Thurmond's baggage for a long time. I think, especially as a native, "white", Southerner, I definitely feel the baggage of the legacy of Thurmond's overt racism in the remaining cloaked racism of today.
Delete