Get ready to laugh, folks, because we’ve got quite the tale to tell! Josephus Daniels, a newspaperman from North Carolina, had quite the sordid history before he ever made his way to Washington. If you thought your uncle’s shady business dealings were bad, wait until you hear what this guy got up to!
Rumor has it that Josephus was the ringleader behind a gosh darn coup in Wilmington. And why? To kick Black people out of positions of power in the city! Unbelievable, right? This dude couldn’t handle the thought of someone other than him being in charge, it seems.
But wait, there’s more! Josephus’ newspaper, The News & Observer, did everything it could to get white folks good and fired up. They printed cartoons that were so offensive, they make my mom’s cooking look like five-star cuisine. One of these cartoons featured a giant black bat with the words “Negro rule” on its wings, and white women trapped in its claws. How charming!
On November 10th, 1898, white men in Wilmington were running rampant, committing all sorts of heinous acts. They burned down buildings and took lives wherever they pleased. They even managed to drive Black officials and their supporters out of town. Talk about throwing a hissy fit!
This whole debacle was all about the “Lost Cause”, this B.S. idea that white folks were superior and that Black folks were nothing more than mere property. Those Lost Causers sure loved themselves some racism! They thought that violence was the answer to Black people gaining any sort of political power. To them, slavery was just a big ol’ party where folks were happy and well-fed. Gag me with a spoon!
But wait, the icing on the cake (or should we say, the cherry on top of the sundae?) was when the dead Confederate general Robert E. Lee was treated like some kind of patron saint. Did this guy even do anything noteworthy? Who knows, who cares! These Lost Causers were gonna worship him regardless.
So, there you have it, folks. Josephus Daniels was just another dude who couldn’t handle the idea of equality. Luckily, times have (sort of) changed, and we’re (mostly) past that kind of nonsense.
Serious News: nytimes
