MEMPHIS, Tennessee —
The winds of change brought on by the deaths of African Americans – mostly by police – are blowing across America. That change is playing out in numerous ways – from police reforms to dismantling monuments to the Confederacy – which are in fact monuments to racism and oppression.
But in Tennessee, lawmakers are all over the place when it comes to taking a bold stance against the vestiges of racism and the Old South. Democratic Rep. London Lamar scored a major victory in a House Committee Tuesday – by narrowly winning approval of a bill to eliminate Nathan Bedford Forrest Day in Tennessee.
The effort likely will be short lived – since the full House and Senate are unlikely to pass the bill as written. At best, it appears lawmakers might pass a bill allowing Governor Bill Lee to avoid signing a proclamation declaring July 13th as Forrest Day in the state.
Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled legislature seems to be dead set against removing a bust of Forrest from the Capitol Rotunda – despite renewed efforts by Democrats to stop paying homage to the Confederate general, slave trader, and Ku Klux Klan leader.
What’s going on here is simple. The clarion calls for change regarding racism in America – is falling on deaf ears with most Tennessee Republicans. They would rather honor racial oppression from the past – than to join a growing chorus pleading for better days in the future.
And that’s my point of view. I’m Otis Sanford, for Local 24 News.