Independent investigation of the truth

That headline is a fundamental principle of the Baha’i Faith. Baha’u’llah has taught us that it is our divine right, and indeed duty, to “question everything” especially including His teachings.

As last month had significant civil rights history and actual events that happened in the area I grew up in, I wanted to share with you the potential consequences of not thinking for yourself and living a life through the expectations and mores of others.

I grew up as an anomaly in the segregated South. Our religious, social, educational, political structures, all enforced by local criminal justice systems, taught (brainwashed) us the following values that were pretty much like the tablets Moses delivered off Mt. Sinai at the direction of a higher deity that could never be questioned; and whose immunity extended to his earthly mouthpieces.

In no particular order (we were taught never to question): black people are accused of god and bear the “Mark of Cain” (being black of course) following the line of “original sin” by which women were the direct and sole downfall of man; (white) man is a spiritual descendant of the ancients whereas anything of color came out of earthly evolution; “god” himself approved of enslaving people of color-numerous Bible references were always provided to support this.

Perhaps the reference that highlights this era best was provided by successful businessman J.B. Stoner: “Law and Order can never be achieved when the “Negro” (I changed his wording) is present in society.”

Never mind that J.B. Stoner was a Nazi, leader of a local KKK unit and the mastermind of the bombing of the Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham — he was white and a figure of authority and commanded huge respect within the white power structure.

This was the collective mindset of Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 1965. I knew some of the state troopers (more like storm troopers) and local police; they were all KKK members who would die before they saw any black person achieve the right to vote.

This was also the time period when a crime was committed, the local joke was the first black person authorities saw were generally arrested then convicted — collectively, white folks never gave it a thought as to imagine what it was like to be black and in that position, primarily because black folks were never considered to be people.

Once in jail, “sassy” or “uppity” blacks were subjected to the sweat box — much like what the Japanese did to American POWs in the Pacific. Of course, this extreme heat torture did produce deaths; but, hey, if you weren’t a criminal, you wouldn’t be here in the first place, right? And, if there ever was an arrest for this state-supported murder, good luck getting a conviction: “jury of your peers, anyone?”

After the beatings on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a voting rights march was conducted from Selma to Montgomery. If should have been evident that law enforcement agencies were working in concert with various state units of the KKK and that void of any federal (National Guard) help, no real assistance would be forthcoming.

Viola Liuzzo, of Detroit, was a volunteer civil rights worker who was assisting transporting black marchers from Montgomery back to Selma. The problem here is this — a car full of black men and a lone white woman sticks out like a sore thumb.

They were chased down by armed KKK thugs, ran off the road and murdered. I distinctly remember how this played out in social circles immediately as this was being reported on national TV.

“That damned Yankee husband should have kept her in her place.”

“Outside agitator sticking her nose in affairs that aren’t her business; states rights!”

“You know those civil rights organizations are actually a front to force Communism on America.”

“What was she doing with a bunch of black men anyway?”

This idea actually morphed into something more cynical (tragically comical) and became the widespread rumor that the Catholic church had set this multi-day event up whereas white nuns could have sex with black men. As stupid and insane as this is, it became “fact.”

Prior to this in May of 1961, we experienced the “Freedom Rides” which was apparently an attempt by the Communist Party to take control over Alabama and then the nation.

Local law enforcement knew the schedule and it is historical fact that Birmingham Chief of Police Bull Connor and the staff of his police force met with the Eastview Klavern #13 of the KKK to work out a game plan in attacking the civil rights protesters.

It is now known that Bull Connor especially wanted the “nigger loving whites” on the bus to be seriously injured or killed. “You have 15 minutes to do what you need to do,” Connor informed the KKK, “then I will have to do my official duty.”

Those beaten to the point of death were transported to Carraway Methodist Medical Center where they were refused admission.

The injured were redirected to another area hospital where they were admitted.

I saw the collective mindset that a certain group of people were not human and, as such, not entitled to any human rights. Beliefs supported by a multitude of churches (not all of course), segregated communities, schools, the dominant political parties and the legal system.

The local media were also enablers. My most memorial character in this regard was WSFA’s weatherman, Heinz Walters who always ended his segment with the crisp cracking of his heals followed by the authentic Nazi salute and the words: “Fair Thee Well.” Later, when it became unpopular to be a known KKK member, he moved on.

What if we, as individuals, actually thought about considering others as people with rights — this journey of independent investigation and the challenging of a legal (but immoral) system, could have made a difference.

Strangely this happened a mere 50 years ago-does anyone get a feeling of deja vu?

For recently unpublished photos of Bloody Sunday, please see: www.apr.org/news/2025-03-05/bloody-sunday-through-the-lens-of-spider-martin

Jim Rhodes is a resident of Coulterville.