Alabama Goddam!

Governor Mee Maw Strikes Again

Kay Ivey looking like the inspiration for a 90’s Kathy Bates character. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Here we go again, Alabama!

One of the most famous racisms in the history of racisms is without a doubt from January of 1963 when Alabama Governor George Wallace, during his inauguration address, shrieked the proclamation, “Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!”

It was met with rapturous and hooting applause. The kind of applause that makes Black people say, “We should probably head to the car.”

And somewhere in Montgomery, Martin Luther King Jr. was heard saying - in one of his less quoted quotes -  “What the fuck?!”

Just kidding. I can’t confirm (nor deny) that he said that. But I have to believe that even he was shocked at the level of open-faced racism that Wallace was demonstrating. But I also assume he wasn’t totally surprised. 

And that brings us to earlier this week, when I had my own “What the fuck, Alabama?!” moment.

On Wednesday, March 20, current Alabama Governor, Kay Ivey - who many Alabamians call “Mee Maw” (some affectionately, some mockingly) - signed a bill banning the use of any state funds in support of programs about diversity, equity and inclusion. The ban includes schools, public colleges, and state agencies. The bill calls these “divisive concepts.” Versions of the word “divisive” are quickly shooting up my list of the most overused words of 2024. Way to go Governor Mee Maw! And for the record, I’m definitely using “mee maw” in a mocking way. 

Governor Mee Maw’s ban is officially the kinder, gentler, and more gentile version of George Wallace’s,  “Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!” This is like,  “Y’all want some segregation now, tomorrow, and forever? No? Well, bless your heart, I’m giving it to y’all anyway.”

And here’s where I do the thing I have done so many times in my life after I have a “WTF, Alabama?!” moment. I google “Alabama education rank.”

Hold on. I’ll be right back…

44! (or maybe 45) But let’s give Alabama and Governor Mee Maw the benefit of the doubt. Alabama ranks 44 out the 50 United States of America in education.

I wanted to specify that there are 50 states in case anybody in Alabama’s government is reading. Hey, they may not know. And just in case they are still reading this, 44 out of 50 is bad. Real bad.

Is this really the time to restrict any kind of education or any kind of knowledge in Alabama? Is this really the time to limit opportunities for your populace to gain new insight or discover something new? Calling this racism is almost beside the point, because the racism is the point. Governor Ivey wants to fully institutionalize racism in a way that hasn’t been done since her ancestors owned slaves. And if that sounds harsh, remember this is a woman who has had to make the the “apology for wearing blackface for funsies” that white people seem to have make too often. She admitted to wearing it in college for a performance more than 50 years ago. And in 2019, during her apology she said this:

I will do all I can – going forward – to help show the nation that the Alabama of today is a far cry from the Alabama of the 1960s. We have come a long way, for sure, but we still have a long way to go. - Governor Kay Ivey, August 19, 2019

Welp, Governor Mee Maw, I would ask you, how does banning DEI work support your intent to “show the nation that the Alabama of today is a far cry from the Alabama of the 1960s”? Just imagine, Governor. What if a young Kay Ivey had taken some DEI class when she was in college? Then you wouldn’t have to deal with the “pain and embarrassment” of the rest of us finding out what you did. And maybe those classes would have influenced your direction in politics. Like maybe you and the rest of the Alabama government would have taken enough DEI courses to avoid ugly folly of the Alabama Supreme Court inadvertently making IVF illegal in its effort to take away reproductive rights. Or maybe if you had done the DEI work, you would see Alabama like I do, as a place filled with so much potential greatness, if only it stopped restricting the opportunities and education of Black people and other marginalized communities. Then and only then would I be able to believe the part of your 2019 blackface apology where you said, “that is not who I am today, and it is not what my Administration represents all these years later.”

Because from where I sit in 2024, after what you did this week, it is exactly, excitedly, and fervently who you and your administration are. 

Governor George Wallace would be so proud. Governor Mee Maw, you are truly carrying his legacy forward, as you carry Alabama backward.

All of us who intend on being on the right side of history need to understand that elections aren’t just just about voting for president. The right wing is doing this backward democracy dance all over America. Kentucky did the same thing Alabama did with DEI on the same day. Whether our next president is Joe Biden, Donald Trump, or Cornel West, the leadership of the right wing is not going to stop continuing to dismantle democracy.

While we are on the subject of Alabama, Nina Simone’s official Youtube Channel released a 10 minute mini-doc about her legendary protest anthem / bracing barn burner, “Mississippi Goddam!” It is great. Check it out for a vitamin B12 shot of Black righteousness.

What are your favorite protest songs? Put ‘em in the comments and we’ll make a playlist on Spotify to share with our crew here.

You’re With Me!

Some more updates:

• Governor Mee Maw might not be looking out for the best interests of Alabama’s students, but we can. Let’s support students from low-income households through these Donors Choose projects. Ms. Nicholson in York, AL needs $722 to keep her middle school students warm, fed, and safe from the last of the winter germs. I think we can help her out! Also, Coach Rankins from Calhoun High School in Letohatchee, AL needs $656 to keep his track team hydrated and well-fueled during their meets.
  

  On Wednesday we shared a big Donors Choose project from Ms. Latoya, a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Bronx. Less than 48 hours later, IT WAS FULLY FUNDED! I know some of y’all did that. Nice work.
  

• Bay Area folks, this event’s for you! Join me, Lena Wolff, and Flip the Vote at a fundraiser where you’ll learn about fun and practical ways to channel your hopes and fears about the upcoming election into meaningful action.

  
  When: Friday, April 19th, 5:30 to 7:30pm 
  Where: doña restaurant, Oakland 

  Tickets: Here! They’re moving quickly.
  
  All of us can play a role to ensure that we don't elect the most far-right government in our history in 2024. Learn how together we can have an impact on the outcome in November. Flip the Vote provides a way for people who care about democracy and civil rights to strategically funnel their resources in furtherance of a more equitable society by funding critical voting organizations. For the 2024 election cycle, Flip the Vote is supporting 6 groups in the must-win swing states of Arizona, Michighan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
  
  Learn more about Flip the Vote.

  Learn more about Lena Wolff's project Art for Democracy.
  

• March Office Hours: Our second edition of Office Hours will happen on Friday 3/29 from 11am - 12pm PST / 2pm - 3pm EST. Save the date! This month we’re doing another “Ask Me Anything” because last month’s was fun.