As Dr. King observed, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice". Congratulations Montgomery!
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Montgomery isn’t a cradle of civil rights. What did the city of Montgomery, capital of the Confederacy, ever do for civil rights?
Montgomery is a cradle of civil rights PROTEST. If Montgomery hadn’t denied its citizens their rights for centuries, both before and after the Civil War, that protest would not have been necessary.
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A milestone event, one that must pain the many White supremacists living in Alabama. Young Americans cannot appreciate the significance of Black candidate victories. They were not alive to witness marches, MLK, and worse, lynchings and murders of civil rights workers, incidents that took place during some of our lives. America must continue to push for equality and freedom. Oppose racism and bigotry, which has become acceptable to many, at every turn. Support minority candidates. Embrace change. Do not allow Trump and his ilk to turn the clock back to a time of hatred and oppression.
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A ray of hope in dark times.
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A proud day for America. Smile, then keep it going.
Vote.
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Wonderful, wonderful event! When I was a child, I saw footage on TV and read articles commenting on the demonstrations and the violence in Montgomery (I did not live in a kiddie world of sugarcoated ideas) and could not understand it why peaceful demonstrators were mostreated, found it terrible. Now, as an adult, I rejoice that this has finally come to pass - a black mayor in Montgomery!
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Amazing, and about time. There may be hope for us yet.
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We had a black president elected almost 10 years ago and we are celebrating the election of a black major of a small city?
I don’t identify as African American but many of my neighbors do and they would be embarrassed at the condescension of this article.
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@Mark
I think you find the article condescending because you live in the Northeast, not the South. I also suspect you didn't grow up watching television and seeing people beaten up for peacefully demonstrating for their civil rights, seeing children trying to desegregate a "white" school being spit on and harrassed, or hearing about little girls bombed in their church by white supremacists, and civil rights/voter registration workers being murdered. Yes, it took way, way too long, but it is a tremendous achievement that these cities where schools, buses, theatres, etc. were segregated, and black people were kept from voting, now have black mayors.
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As a former resident of Montgomery, I am pleasantly surprised.
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Too bad Montgomery’s former Mayor the late Emory Folmar wasn’t around to see the son of his former sworn enemy be elected the mayor of the city he ran with an iron fist.
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Move over, Stacy Abrams. W.E.B. DuBois' "talented tenth" of American blacks is wonderfully triumphant now in every single phase of American life. Millennial Alabama is going to look very different from the stupid Bama we're used to that has been held back by how far right most Boomers are, there and nationally. But these troglodytes will be dying faster and faster, and Millennial whites, much less the Greta generation behind them, tends to look at blacks through the prism of "the content of their character," just like everyone else. Anyway, a great win for America in Montgomery.
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@Fred White
A few statistics, or at least some evidence, are in order. What are you basing your opinion on? You describe "most boomers" as "far right troglodytes." So you believe that at least a majority (let's say 55%) of the Americans born between 1946 and 1964 fit your description? Unless you can back that up with data, it strikes me as extremely far-fetched.
But even worse, you're wishing people dead. Are you aware that while justifiably rejoicing at a victory for black people, you're expressing prejudice against a different group? Prejudice means to make a judgement about an entire group based on the (perceived) behavior of some members of the group. That's precisely what you do here. Generalizations are odious, whether made about blacks, Jews, Catholics, "boomers," Hispanics, Muslims, men, women, gays, or any other group. By the way, were you really talking about "old people"? If so, that's called "ageism" and is in the same category as racism, misogyny, etc.
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Let's hope the state too goes democratic and that these political activists move beyond Joe Biden! Congratulations Mayor Reed and Montgomery!
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This is great news! Congratulations, Mayor! We can only hope women's voices will soon be heard here, too!
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Alabama has a woman governor, Kay Ivey, a Republican. Although I disagree with her politics, she made history too.
There has been a significant shift in the city's demographics in that it's population is now over 52% African-American. Accordingly, there is nothing new or unique about an African-American being elected mayor in a majority African-American city. So, the relevant question is what is the percentage of the white vote he received. Now, if he got a majority of the white vote in Montgomery, Alabama, that would be news as it would strongly suggest that the racial attitude in the cradle of the old Confederacy has changed. Otherwise, this is nothing more than a story about the effects that demographic changes have on voting patterns!
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@Harold C.
You're jealous Harold.
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@Harold C. % of black population is 52%, he won 67% of the vote, that is significant! A moment to celebrate! It could be that a higher percentage of black people voted and possibly not a majority of whites but we don't know that and it is unlikely (I think)! In any case, let us celebrate and give thanks!
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Not remotely. A break down of vote on racial lines will show 90 percent of AAs voting for Reed. Other minorities voted Democratic for another small percentage. That leaves the urban white liberals making up the other small percentage.
A demographic shift explains the election.
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Is “_standing at the door_ of another significant event” really the best metaphor in this context??
@Antoine I'm originally from Montgomery (moved to NYC in April) and that was my first thought as well. I hope Montgomery can now move past its racist vestiges of the past. There are some very fine people there who can help, but there are also segments of the population (black and white) who can never let go of their "heritage". Hopefully a new generation can guide them.
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Congratulations Mayor Reed! May your administration be significant and meaningful, encouraging the citizenry to continue their active participation. Your triumph is evidence of the underlying campaign and sacrifice of those Americans - Black and white - who preserved for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Galvanizing and organizing supporters, get out the vote drives, and educating and informing the critical importance of voter participation are as significant today as in 1965 with the efforts culminating in the historic March on Selma in March 1965. Bloody Sunday proved the indispensable catalyst engendering the intense focus of LBJ to call that special joint session of Congress that March night, and invoking the mantra of the civil rights movement: "And we shall overcome." Governor George Wallace at that time was witnessing the beginning of the end of racial voter suppression, and recognizing the ascendancy of the significant impact of Black American voter participation. Wallace would later be the beneficiary of that critical voting bloc that he maligned, denigrated, and intimidated simply for attempting to register to vote. In 2020, the fierce, intense organizational voter operation that produced Mr. Reed's historic victory must be quadrupled in force to assure re-election of Senator Doug Jones, and place Alabama in the Democratic column in the presidential election. Dr. King said shortly after completing the March on Selma: "How long? Not long!" Race matters!
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I’m from Montgomery and my ancestors helped establish the town. I’m hopeful for the first time EVER that my town is moving forward. Go see!
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This story is going to get me through the day. Up till now I have spent the day agonizing over Mr. Trump's despicable betrayal of the Kurds who were our allies in Syria; learning that Trump has "important"real estate interests in Turkey and that Turkey has spent more money in Trump Washington than any other foreign country, and that Mr. Trump is now inviting his friend Mr. Erdewan to visit the White House. Then I got to read about neo nazis killing Jews in Berlin on Yom Kippur. Then, merciful heaven, I learned that Montgomery Alabama has elected a Black mayor. Maybe that is a light I see at the end of the tunnel and not a fireball.
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This is 100% validation that getting out the the vote really makes a difference. Voting equals change for the better!. Please may this be a positive indicator of what will happen across the country in 2020.....As Barack Obama said... we're going to put on our marching shoes ... and fulfill our responsibilities as citizens..." VOTE!!!!
Godspeed Mayor Reed!
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At last, at last, at last. Perhaps Alabama is turning a corner. Lets hope so. The Civil war ended so long ago yet daily life in Alabama (and much of the south) is all about race.
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@MSW No it isn't. If you don't live here you can't make that assertion.
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@MSW I have no doubt that a resident of Naples, Maine with a white population that is 99.28% white has much to tell us Southerners how to get beyond being "all about race." Please tell.
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@Nancy Hart But Nancy surely MSW counts among his best friends some of the .32% population in Naples that's black. Doesn't that give him the moral authority to enlighten us Southerners?
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This is wonderful news, especially for the City of Montgomery !!! The best of luck to Mayor Reed and the people of Montgomery.Alabama !!! I have wanted to visit the new Lynching Museum and now have another reason to visit Montgomery !!!!
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Mayor Reed, congratulations!!! Now, continue to get out the vote! There is POWER in the ballot box!
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The last few years have been challenging for this country and have made me deeply concerned for my children's future. This is the first story in a while that has made me smile and given me hope for the future. Congratulations to the citizens of Montgomery and best wishes to Mayor Reed!
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Bravo! We need more of this.
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I hope Emory Folmar spins in his grave!!!
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Reed is more evidence of the shifting tides taking place in the nation. Even with all of the blocks the Republican Party has put in place, African Americans clearly understand the power of the vote. As more young people of color step forward to replace the old encrusted power structure, they will form the foundation of future leadership for the entire nation. Local politics is the back bone of our political system and these elections support needed change.
Congratulations Mr. Mayor!
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Proud of my hometown. Congratulations Mayor Reed!
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Congratulations Mayor Reed. This is truly good news in dark times.
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God speed, Steven Reed. I hope your time in office will be wildly successful. It's lovely to hear this great news in the midst of the national crisis we're in. Congratulations, Montgomery!
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Congratulations Mayor Reed. Let's hope that others will take note of your platform of unity.
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I’m disappointed that the author of this article gave all the credit for the Montgomery bus boycott to MLK. Jo Ann Robinson is the person who initiated the boycott and set up the organizing and got it going. Yes, MLK later took it over, but Jo Ann Robinson is the one who made it happen.
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JoAnn Robinson, E. D. Nixon and so many more- the taxi drivers, the folks who walked for over a year. So many, and yes, let's acknowledge, and not diminish the sterling leadership Dr. King brought and know that it's okay to recognize him as the servant leader of this movement.
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@Anonymous I have an idea! Instead of criticizing, let’s encourage travel to Montgomery to explore and acknowledge its history. I recall an excellent museum devoted to the bus boycott, many details enlightened my paltry knowledge. Also, the Equal Justice Initiative memorial to those who died by lynching and the associated museum. Because, when you visit and learn, you go home more informed, thirsty to learn more, and looking for ways to push for change.
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@Anonymous And those who want to learn more will visit Montgomery, or look it up on their devices...but I would vote for A. Go to Montgomery to learn more . Much more. B. Go to places on and off the Civil Rights trail. C. Be curious in all kinds of ways. Read books. Find out about places normally devoted to” the great cause “ history, devoted to monuments. Accounts. Curriculum in support of separation of races. All of these things exist in Our. Current. Culture.
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Congratulations!
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All politics is local, so the saying goes. Let’s hope this is the seed that grows into a flourishing movement.
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So happy to see this. It proves hope is still alive.
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A beautiful piece of good news during a time of so sadness and betrayal.
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Congratulations Montgomery!
Congratulations Alabama!
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YES!!!!
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