 |
| picture via @troutmouthidaho |
Jill Gill is a history professor and the Director of the Marilyn Shuler Human Rights Initiative at Boise State University. I was first introduced to Professor Gill at a City Club event, and I made a mental note that if she ever did a public lecture again I'd be sure to attend.
Notes from Idaho in Black and White...
Idaho might be best known for its racist ties to the Aryan Nations. California emigrant Richard Butler arrived in Idaho in 1974. He was drawn to Idaho by the cheap land, open gun laws, mountainous isolation and the whiteness of the population. He founded the Aryan Nations in 1977 and turned his compound into a racists’ retreat and operations center. As a result, Idaho was tied to Aryan activism. The work of local human rights heroes, who helped bankrupt Butler’s racist organization in 2000, is often overlooked.
But Idaho's racist past began long before 1974 and Richard Butler. White southerners populated the state, with an early wave of Confederates who fled the south. Former Confederates dominated Idaho politics in the 1860s and 1870s. Idaho’s elected officials solidified an Idaho-Southern states alliance on race during battles over federal anti-lynching bills. From 1922 until his death in 1940, Senator William Borah, R-ID, led the states’ rights fight against anti-lynching. He won the support of Dixiecrats (the Southern pro-segregation wing of the Democratic Party).
And the lovely BSU student sitting next to me suggested I also read: Mothers Of Massive Resistance by Elizabeth Gillespie McRae
I had to order both books from our local bookstore, neither were in stock. I'll keep you posted on my reviews.
As always, it is important to consider the history of things that came before you... your part in perpetuating hierarchies... and how you can help shape local, regional, and national politics and civil rights.
Idaho might be best known for its racist ties to the Aryan Nations. California emigrant Richard Butler arrived in Idaho in 1974. He was drawn to Idaho by the cheap land, open gun laws, mountainous isolation and the whiteness of the population. He founded the Aryan Nations in 1977 and turned his compound into a racists’ retreat and operations center. As a result, Idaho was tied to Aryan activism. The work of local human rights heroes, who helped bankrupt Butler’s racist organization in 2000, is often overlooked.
But Idaho's racist past began long before 1974 and Richard Butler. White southerners populated the state, with an early wave of Confederates who fled the south. Former Confederates dominated Idaho politics in the 1860s and 1870s. Idaho’s elected officials solidified an Idaho-Southern states alliance on race during battles over federal anti-lynching bills. From 1922 until his death in 1940, Senator William Borah, R-ID, led the states’ rights fight against anti-lynching. He won the support of Dixiecrats (the Southern pro-segregation wing of the Democratic Party).
Then again in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy called for a civil rights bill, the Coordinating Committee for Fundamental American Freedom (a Mississippi organization dedicated to segregation) ran advertisements in Idaho newspapers and sent out mass mailings against the Civil Rights Act. 75% of Idahoans opposed the Civil Right Act.
Again, in 1968, Idaho opposed the Fair Housing Act.
The 1970's were a time of white-flight to Idaho: enter Richard Butler and the Aryan Nations.
Again, in 1968, Idaho opposed the Fair Housing Act.
The 1970's were a time of white-flight to Idaho: enter Richard Butler and the Aryan Nations.
By the 1980s, the blatant racism in Idaho had become bad for business, tourism and universities. Despite this, Idaho - in 1990 - was among the last five states to create a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The main force to finally create the holiday was not the admiration for Dr. King among legislators, but desperation to dispel Idaho’s damaged image. However, Idaho's reputation for racism appealed to conservative Californians seeking to relocate. This white-flight highway from California helped make Idaho one of the most conservative states in the nation.
Even today, Idaho lawmakers continue to champion states’ rights over human rights and women's rights - most recently with respect to Medicaid expansion, mandatory minimum reforms, pretrial detentions, expedited evictions, and protections for gay and transgender residents. The idea of "states’ rights" has become a coded excuse for racism while disenfranchising minorities, claiming “reverse discrimination,” citing religious freedom, and denying systemic inequities.
Idaho has a rough history.
During the Q&A portion of the lecture there was a book suggestion: A More Beautiful and Terrible History by Jeanne Theoharis.
Idaho has a rough history.
During the Q&A portion of the lecture there was a book suggestion: A More Beautiful and Terrible History by Jeanne Theoharis.
I had to order both books from our local bookstore, neither were in stock. I'll keep you posted on my reviews.
As always, it is important to consider the history of things that came before you... your part in perpetuating hierarchies... and how you can help shape local, regional, and national politics and civil rights.
