Hidden Pattern Of Rape Helped Stir Civil Rights Movement : NPR »
Recy Taylor was a 24-year-old mother when she was abducted at gunpoint and gang raped by a group of white men in Alabama in 1944. An activist named Rosa Parks was sent to investigate the attack. Taylor's case, and a number of others like hers, helped spark the civil rights movement. Danielle Lynn McGuire explores the story and the pattern of racist, sexual assaults on black women, in her book, "At the Dark End of the Street". In Tell Me More's we...
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My reaction--and what should be the natural, obvious reaction--to this awful, awful story is anger and disgust. It is ridiculous to me that this type of thing goes on without notice and without punishment. Even though--and I hate this phrase--this kind of thing happened all the time, that makes it all the worse. There were plenty of opportunities and plenty of people that could have stopped this, but nothing was done to stop these horrific crimes being committed against black women. I agree with what Danielle McGuire said on NPR, that the one way to help solve these problems is to stop the "crime of silence." McGuire said that one reason that rape and assault continued to happen without anybody taking action was because nobody wanted to talk about. Of course, it is a very sensitive subject indeed, but how can we move forward if no one is willing to talk about it?
One thing about Recy Taylor's story that upset and angered me was the fact that the sheriff had the boys that raped her more or less in custody, with an ID from Recy, but nothing was done--the boys were not punished in any way. It is possible that, like McGuire said, the sheriff made it seem like something was going to be done to appease the Taylor family. There is no excuse for that, as there is absolutely not excuse or reason for the rape happening in the first place, but the only thing that I think could be going through the boys and men that took advantage of the black women is this: I think that maybe because African Americans were starting to succeed in gaining rights and such, the whites felt powerless. They used to have complete control over blacks when blacks were slaves, but now they were starting to become equal to them. Imagine being considered equal to your dog--that might be what the whites were feeling. So, to make black men feel just as powerless as they themselves were feeling, whites made it so blacks could no longer protect their women. It is indeed a very low blow, but it seems that the white men were doing anything possible to hinder African American success and were lashing out in horrible ways, including rape and sexual assault.
My reaction is one of disgust; I’m appalled at the actions that had taken place back then. There was so much sexual violence towards black women with no consequence, but a black man could get serious jail time for “eye rape” which can’t even be proved. It’s crazy that just by the simplest of rumors could get a black man arrested or killed, but when a white man actually assaults a black woman it is overlooked. Its crazy how even the police back then was partaking in the depraved acts. I’m just outraged that these things happened.
My reaction to this is just shocking. I can't believe the police officer didn't do anything to the boys when he found out that they raped Recy Taylor and just let them go without having them facing any consequences. It's just totally unfair for Black men and women because Black men can get accused for "eye raping" a white women and go to jail which doesn't even make sense because you're not even touching the person or sexually harass the person. While there are many whites raping Black women and they don't face any consequences or punishment for it. I just find it really upsetting that all these unfairness has happened back then.
To be completely honest I am not at all surprised by this story. Even though I'm not surprised by this hearing stories like gertruch Perkins and Recy Taylor always make me angry. I think is completely obsurd that everyone thought it was ok for African American women to be sexually assaulted and it was ok because they were black. Every time I think about things that happened during this time I am always over come with curiosity. I'm curious to know why whites felt it was ok that these horribole things were happening to African Americans but as soon as whites women were even looked at by African American men the men were accused of "eye rape". I think it is completely ludacris that black women were able to be gang raped but white women couldn't even be looked at. I also think it is obsoird that black men could be arrested off of circumstancial evidence but whites were touched by the law even if they admitted to the crime.
These interviews surprised me but at the same time didn't. I was not surprised of the fact tht black females were getting raped and there was no justice brought about it. It was the 1900's and blacks were besically defenseless because whites controlled everything. Whites controlled the courts, the law, the streets and the media. Therefore, blacks being raped did not surpirse me because when blacks got lynched, there was barely any justice served. Society in the 1900's was patriarchal so females were looked down upon or not cared about.
I was surprised that Recy Taylor told her story after several years and she was brave and defiant when telling it. If I was Recy Taylor, I would have been devastated and I am glad that she was powerful enough to tell her story at 91 years of age. Also, I was curious as to what happened to her friend she was with. Did her friend get raped too? Where did her friend disappear too?
The stories I heard were absurd. So many of it was just so shocking to me, it was really hard to hear that these women were being raped and nothing would happen to the men that did it. My opinion is, you do something you have consequences but in these cases, these men had no consequences. Why? Because they were friends of the sheriff. I mean this is ridiculous that these women had to go through living their life in fear that they will get raped like Recy Taylor or Gertrude Perkins. Its really crazy that the people that your supposed to trust, police men and sheriffs cannot be trusted. You trust them just a little bit and BAM you get raped. These women were innocent women, going to church or going to a friends house, and without knowing it getting raped an hour or two after that. Thats just crazy to me. I just couldn't believe that I was listen to these cases of injustice toward these women that were raped.
Recy Taylor was going to church, and coming back, their goes a full car of white men, she gets raped 6 times at gunpoint. Then she goes to tell the sheriff what happens and the sheriff does nothing! It's crazy. Just because their this neighbors. They had no consequences because they were friends of the sheriff! Its really crazy. And Gertrude Perkins, going to trial and being called a liar because she said that two police officers raped her. Or even a black man going to jail for "eye raping" a white woman.
My reaction to these cases is I'm so shocked. I'm really angry and upset that these men had no consequence for their actions.
Listening to these interviews i wasnt really shocking about all the gang rape and the men not getting charge. but one thing that did shock me was the work rosa parks did with the victims of gang rape.
Listening to this did completely shock me, because I didn't know it was something that happened so often. I knew it happened, but listening to it makes me angry and im honestly hurt. I feel bad for the little girls who didn't know any better and their innocence was taken. It also shocked me that it was you cops who was doing it, I mean to me its hypercritical, I understand they all of them didn't like & respect blacks but to me its like your job to protect any citizen no matter color, but instead you take advantage of your privilege and rape African-American women. In class we talked about how rapist were cowards and this article really opened my eyes and I saw that! They would rape these women at gunpoint and then to testify they would have to sit on front of a white jury to have their rights protected but how can you sit in front of your enemy and honestly get served the right justice? Ugh! Im just upset and in disbelief!
My reaction to this was discusted and shocked. The rape in this exert was just horrible. It's just discusting how people are supposed to get along are taking advantage of others. I thought that wht the cops reactions were terrible. When they didn't do anything about Recy Taylor. When whites were convicted of rape the punishment was just flaged off, but when a black was accuse of looking at a white women wrong he was basically put to death even I he wasn't actually looking at her. Also I thought it was wrong that if you you were friends with the sheriff you wouldn't get in trouble . My reaction is just that I I were a person back then I would do the right thing not be a discusting pig like the men who were supposed to be good but took abuse of there powers
My reaction to this was discomforting. Before this I was somewhat aware such acts were happening to African American women. I have heard of a few cases of rape and abuse in class, but never in this much detail, never from a first hand experience. This made me aware if just how insignificant the black race was at the time. They were not worth defending, not worth fighting for,and not worth a second thought at least by white standards. What made this even more alarming was the the fact that this act was committed by the very people who were suppose to prevent things like this from happening.This says says a lot about the judicial system back then and just how twisted and corrupted it was. What makes this even worst was the fact that the men that raped Recy Taylor were never convicted or even held accountable. She has had to live it every day of her life knowing that the men who defiled her womanhood are out there acting as if nothing never append.
My reaction to this was not at all suprising. I knew around this time period woman were looked down at especially women of color. Racey Tracey was a gang rape victim who was walking home. Clearly their had to be evidence on this case but authorities would care less about the rape of a black woman. The one person she did tell was the sherrif after figuring out that he knew the boys he did nothing about the matter. But why didn't they care? They took the human rights of many woman some were even afraid to leave their homes at night. They had to live with this with the other million problems they had because justice was not the answer. As cassidy stated, the whites might have thought blacks were beginning to have power and that they were more equal to dogs than anything therefore they needed to seek the power by raping black woman.
My reaction to this story is one of shock, disgust, anger, and expectation. Despite race, being a fellow woman it angers me the power these men had over these women. How police officers partook in the sexual violence black women faced. Even though I have many emotions coursing through my person at these assaults,but I understand to some extent why they have happened. Before the Emancipation Proclamation and even after, whites have been using their powers to enforce their racial hierarchy by going after the black women. In a patriarchal society, how do you believe and man would feel if he had to witness his wife, mothers,daughters, nieces, aunts, and any other family members harassed and assaulted without them being able to do anything about it? Even when blacks and whites were supposed to live in harmony, power still had the upper hand. Our entire history is dominated by power, from racial prejudices to the Holocaust. Power is what drives people, even today.
When I first heard of black men going to jail because they supposedly were offensive towards white females and white men abusing black females, I didn't feel very surprised. But I did feel that it was ridiculous and just awful. I especially felt anger towards the Recy Taylor case because nothing was done to the boys that raped her(6 times- atleast) because they were the sheriff's friend and neighbor's son. Also the story of Gertrude Perkins, who was raped by two police men and then she was accused of lying and being a prostitute.
I agree with Martin, who said that "unsubstantiated rumors of black men attacking white women sparked almost half of all the race riots in the United States before World War II."
Of course my reaction was upset because any female of any race shouldn't be attacked and violated like that. The fact that white men deliberately raped black women knowing that their own kind would take their side is monstrous. The thing that bother me the most throughout this listen was why? If white people hated and were disgusted by black people then why rape their woman. They are "ugly" and they look like "monkeys". WHY would you ever put your private part in that "ugly nigger"? The fact that "men of law" the ones that's suppose to bring justice did nothing for Recy Taylor after they knew who did it is ridiculous. Black men would have lynched or burned alive if they would have even think to look at a white women. The injustice is horrifying and I, too, believed that this was the foundation of civil rights movement. Black men cant defend their woman it is shameful, degrading, and damn sure unacceptable. If this was to continue what makes black women want to be "protected" by their men or even respect them?
I was taken back I didn't know how to react at first. Even though I have heard stories like Recy Taylor's, I still find it shocking. The pain in Taylor's voice was so evident and you can hear she has been through a lot. Even though she has been through so much, she still has faith. Even when the interviewer asked her if this crime was justified and Recy said no, you can tell how bad she wanted something to have happened, for something to happen to the boys for doing what they did to her.
I find it disgusting how white men find it normal to just rape a black woman and KNOW they can get away with it. But as many of my classmates have stated before, black men can get arrested for just LOOKING at a white woman. How can somebody ever be so cruel?
What also got to me was Gercher's story. How police officers, the men of the law, were also taking advantage of Black women.But I find it inspirational to know that she had someone to go to and ended up on the front page on what used to be a white newspaper. It may be the past but it still gives you hope.
I was also surprised to find out Rosa Parks was an investigator too for the NAACP.
I think the white men that did what they did to show white supremacy towards blacks. As Cassidy said, whites and blacks were starting to become equal and that kind of angered the whites. The fact that white men did what they did and at the same time know they can get away with it angers not only me but angered enough blacks to spark a movement. As Mr.Jobs aid in class: if you're in a male dominated society and you're a male that cannot protect his wife, children, family, etc., what does that make you? How powerless were you? Imagine what not only black women were going through but also black men. Black men being accused of rape for looking at a girl too long or for even looking at a girl, period. All blacks were helpless victims during this time period and then the Civil rights era began, which now I also believe started because of Black women being raped and assaulted and the crime not being justified.
Her story is terrible; first they lie to and defenselessness woman then they rape her. As she speaks her tone of voice begins to change. You notice she is still hurt by that series of events that happened umpteen amount of years ago. Making her story known might have a couple other girl but i believe that even though she knew those boys were brought to justice the damage had already been done. Its like breaking a plate then putting all the pieces back together. Yes it may still be useful and from a far view it might look new but once you sit down and look closely you can tell that it will never be the same. Once the damage has been done there is no was to go back in time and fix it.
Like she said, she has already lived with alot of pain because of what these 6 young WHITE men put her through on that afternoon. Then she come to sit in front of a ton of people-mostly whites-- that don't pay her any mind. I feel like this form of "justice" is just absurd. The people that hold the power to change things for better actually do the opposite. They harm the people around them but still have the guts to call them selves "helpers".
My reaction to listening to the piece is disgust and outrage.How could someone do acts so dehumanizing ? I find it very disturbing to hear about this. I mean how could people not be outraged by this? How can you not want to start a riot and protest on the injustice in the judicial system? If the justice system is not keeping people in order then whos job is it to make sure everyone stays civilized. I think that those who do these crimes are cowwards.All of those police officers and white men who used their power for bad and used their power to disquise the crimes they did are just cowards playing dress up. I think the idea of women staying silent is just out of the question why would you want to be dehumnaized ? Is humanity wlrth the punishment in the end for speaking up?
I agree with Tamia when I say I wasn't shocked after hearing about what happened to the black women in this video. My reason for my reaction towards the video is my knowledge prior to watching this. Blacks were always seen as inferior in regards to whites and this was true during slavery and even after slavery ended. Women also didn't have many rights during this time and were viewed as weak, naïve individuals when being compared to men. So to be a BLACK WOMAN during this time was like being shot in the foot before you were even given a true chance at life. Although I was surprised when I found out that in the upcoming decade leading up to the bus boycott there was a series of sexual assault cases and reports pertaining to black women. Of course many of the cases were shot down because of the ignorant views that whites already had on blacks and how women were not seen as important as men. Many of the jurors would accuse the person who should be the victim as the one who initiated what happened to them or as the aggressor. Like in the story about Gertruch Perkins, she was lucky enough to receive an actual trial but she was called a prostitute and it was said that it was her fault that she was sexually assaulted. The men who assaulted poor Recy Taylor was never punished for their actions and was even shone a blind eye by police because he was a friend of one of them. He put on an act to make it look like he was looking into it. If I were a black woman in their shoes during this time period I would more than likely not report what happened to me because I would fear what would happened to my family or loved ones if the white man found out I said anything. Many black women were threatened if they so much as mentioned anything about what happened. Honestly telling police wasn't going to do much because many of the police were kidnapping and were raping black women. There was no repercussions for any of the actions that white men did because they were view as superior and incapable of doing wrong in the eyes of the "law". Although on the flip side many testimonies made by black women started little campaigns for justice. I don't understand how some whites during this time tried to justify their reasons for why black women were being raped. Their reason was that some black men were raping white women. I do not believe that at all. Blacks would have been lynched if they even thought about such a thing. This is just a pathetic excuse and an abuse of power of racial color.
The first words that came to mind while listening to and after listening to this story were dehumanization and "sexual violence", a term used by Danielle McGuire used to describe such acts in her book "At The Dark End of the Street". I immediately thought of dehumanization because black women were treated brutally and treated as if they were inferior to whites. Black women were raped and beaten and left to die sometimes, treated as if they were less than human. The term "sexual violence" was brought up during the classroom discussion earlier today. Sexual violence is a form of dehumanization and in this case is any form of sexual assault performed against black women during this time. Another term that stood out to me was "rape epidemics" which can be used to describe the spreading of rape cases during this time. When I thought of white men raping black women at first, I thought it just occurred in a few areas, but I was wrong. Rape epidemics really makes me think of how big a deal this treatment of black women was and helps me understand how such acts led to the Civil Rights movement.
The fact that this is an untold story is sickening. People need to know that this happened. When things like this is covered up the victims are still victim, but each time their story is told they are liberated and empowered. I have more to react on just in a personal way from experience. I am appalled that so many people can be taught about the Civil Rights Era and something so important is left out. We have failed as a nation. We have failed in learning from our history: we don't know all of it
After listening to this, my reaction to hearing this was shock that this happen alot through that time period and the fact that many was unable to stop this from happening. Also the fact that those white man never get punish for what they have done to those women and the fact if a black man did it he would have been servely punish for his crime to those woman.
My reaction to reading this was shocking. But then again this was happening so many times to a black women.like if a white person rape or hurt a black lady and she press charges the case might be thrown under the bus. But if a black male was even looking at a white lady and she didn't like it;the White lady could just press charges on the black male and he might get jailed or killed. Just because the lady was white. But if the black lady did something like that nobody wouldn't really care.
While hearing this I felt sympathy for the 91 year old woman. That she had to live decades knowing that no one wanted to actually helped her. When Danielle Mcguir told Taylor's story she spoke about the many different rape stories of black women. I found the case of the guy 75 feet away being charged with "eye rape" to be interesting. It was a shame that even then, whatevrr bad thing that happened would be turned into a situation about African American men who did these bad things to black women when in reality it was more so white men doing these bad things to black women. I find it ridiculous they African Americans were always pointed the finger at because of anything that failed in America but whenever they called out for help because of something so serious is a rape they couldn't find proper assistance. No one in the communities really wanted to help other than the family. Even Court cases were taken lightly when it came to a white American verses a black American.but when it came to a black American verses a white American punishment we're extremely brutal. There was no getting around being killed or going to Jail or being lynched. If it was A suitable crime in the eyes of the white man then the black man was no longer to exist.though I didn't Hey any personal emotions towards hearing all of this,there is kind of a sick thought in the back of my head thinking they one day my ancestors had to go through these things everyday. And knowing that with today's resources if only me or a few generations before could have helped in some way more than what anyone else has ever done.I don't know if Taylor is alive til this day but I do appreciate the chance to hear it first hand from someone who experience what I am being taught about in school.
I agree. Ididnt know that Rosa Parks had this much to do with things of this nature.
I thinking the fact that the white men were not punished was shocking to an extent but at the same time, we have to realize what time period this actually was. No matter what whites did they only got a slap on the wrist (if that much) while black were brutally massacred or jailed. It is rediculous. EXTREMELY. but not shocking. White privilege played sort of a role in the results of the rape cases. Oh you are a man and rapped a woman...lets view this case. Ok you are a BLACK man that raped a BLACK woman..
They're animals. Ok you are a BLACK man and rapped a WHITE woman....lets call the family in to see what they wanna do with you... now, you are a WHITE man who rapes a black woman...she's lying, their is no evidence...let me give you the PRIVILEGE of choosing your own punishment.... get where I'm coming from?
My reaction like Tamia said I wasn't surprised. But just hearing the story of how being ganged raped was uterly disgusting. My mouth dropped and I just shook my head. The thing that angered me the most was that after she idenified that those were two of the boys that rapped her the sheriff only put them in custody. THERE WAS NO TRIAL. Only because he was the same race and knew the family. The sheriff took his power and simply didn't do anything of it. LIke Danielle Lynn said the sheriff only helped looked for Taylor for the family. Once he found out it was someone he knew he wasn't going to do anything. They should have been killed or at least in jail for life. But that would never happen. Also, after being ganged raped thats alot to take in. Taylor would never be the same and she had to look at those faces everyday. Being raped can change you physically and mentally. But the fact that she stood strong really shows how couragous and strong she is. Danielle Lynn was right about how African American history only talks about the Civil war and the voting process and not human rights. It was in the white newspapers as well as the black but it still wasn't being acknowledged as it should.
It also angered me when Danielle Lynn told the story of how Emmett Till was brutally murdered for just being accused of whisteling a white female. But those men that gang rapped Taylor just got a slap on the wrist. But that shows how much powerment of race takes place.
My reaction to this was that I was very shocked. I was shocked because of how this story had never been told. I think its terrible what happened to Recy Taylor, and I think its very sad because it effected her life afterwards. I am very shocked that this was going on, and these stories had never been told. It upsets me to know that the young men didn't get consequences for what they did to her. It also shocks me that this was going on way back then. I think its sad that the police officers did such a thing as well. I find it harsh it being series of rape & assault cases only with black women. This story really shocked me, as well as disgusted me with the things that were going on.
I was not as shocked as some others, when I heard about these incidents of sexual violence towards black women and girls. I was however, disgusted to hear about it. I never thought that these incidents affected so many things and on such a huge scale. I find myself thinking that those men, those white men, were animals; primates that didn't take the time to evolve and know that those women were people and not just sex toys to use, abuse and then throw away, like it was nothing, like it didn't happen at all. I truly believe that these incidents did spark the fire of the Civil Rights movement and were not as De Facto as I initially believed them to be.
This is absolutely disgusting, and disturbing. If it was a Black man who did this he'd be hung without a trial. But since it's a white man and white men are more superior, then they DIDNT EVEN GET A CONSEQUENCE. We're not talking about robbing, or even hitting, but raping which is, in my opinion, one of the most serious incidents ever. Woman can get scarred for life because of harassment. Now white men have the idea that they will be able to take advantage of any Black woman they want with no consequences. White men will start to feel empowered again like they were during the slave times. At this moment there's not even the term "separate but equal" They are treating Black women like dogs.
This is very mind boggling to me . Not necessarily of confusion but disbelief . The tragic incident that happened to her is the most disgusting and dehumanizing act to anyone let a alone a black woman . Even though she was told not to tell , but did , still no consequences were handed to the WHITE males that did it . But if they were black , worst things , maybe if death would have occurred . Meanwhile , about the the cops raping the other woman . What a contradiction ! Police officers are supposedly here to protect and demand and fight but instead chose to partake in a crime themselves . They want to protect the "American" culture and be so patriotic but acted in a way so low that is UNACCEPTABLE in any country ! This was just shameful to hear .
After listening to that my reaction is was shocked because after all those years more unknown facts was brought to light. The incidents that was happening to her was very disturbing to "WHITE " men could get away with a crime such as raping black women an not being persecuted. Also is was very disturbing to hear that not only just a WHITE man was doing it but to hear that a police office was too , was just mine blowing. How can a person who's duty to stop the violence & crimes that are going on be apart of those rapes ??!!!
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