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The American Myths of the ‘Black Wrecker’ and ‘Outside Agitator’
Government response to Black Lives Matter shows not much has changed since the 60’s
“We have never had a problem in the South except in a few very isolated instances and these have been the result of outside agitators.” — George Wallace, 1964
George Wallace penned those words in response to the civil rights movement. It was the beginning of a valiant and glacially paced but inexorable march toward unkept promises of universal justice, promises of an American dream available to all that had long been withheld from black communities — many of which remain unfulfilled to this day.
Just as Trump now cannot fathom what is happening today before his eyes and citizens rise up, Wallace could not accept the possibility that blacks suffering injustice could possibly have the determination and bravery to take their destiny into their own hands. To Wallace, his racism ran so deep that African-American organizers, protesters and their allies who resisted the tyranny of the state could not possibly have self-determination or autonomy, they were incapable — the only explanation that made sense to him was that the movement had to be led by white agitators.
