As I wrote in my column this week for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, change is happening inside the U.S. Capitol. It’s not political change per se, but a change in the statues sent by southern states for display.
Three new statues are joining the Capitol collection. Arkansas just sent one of Daisy Bates, an NAACP official and civil rights leader. North Carolina will next send one of the Rev. Billy Graham. And this summer, Arkansas will add one of famed singer Johnny Cash.
The North Carolina and Arkansas statues are replacing people who were clearly white supremacists. And Daisy Bates now stands next to Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy. A black woman, standing tall, next to Davis - who did all he could to make sure someone like Bates could never receive such an honor.
Who do you think sends a better message to the tourists who file through the U.S. Capitol every day? The Black woman who fought for equality? Or the Confederate President who fought for slavery?
You know the answer.
Why is there a statue of the Confederate President in the Capitol?
Under an 1864 law, each state gets to send two statues to the Capitol. Mississippi sent the Davis statue in 1931.
Georgia sent a statue of the Confederate Vice President in 1927. And there are others.
Both statues matter: one to remind us of who we’ve been and one to inspire us to be better
Johnson sure did miss the most obvious thing to talk about, but that seems to be about on par for him unfortunately.
It was notable to hear the Speaker basically endorse Eisenhower's use of the National Guard in Little Rock in 1957.
I’m sure all the Confederate Heritage racists who post on Facebook and twitter wont like this. I’m so glad, and plan to convey what filth they are for still pushing for more monuments to hatred.