Interesting Esquire (1958) Article Predicted "Negro will be appointed Pres. by year 2000."

[BlueJazz]

SNIP:


"world events make it quite possible that a member of the Negro race will be appointed to a top cabinet post1 or elected to the Presidency or Vice-Presidency by the year 2000. And by Negro, I am not quibbling here with regard to the vast but undetermined number of Americans who have 1/32 or slightly more of Negro blood. I am dealing here with a person whose skin pigmentation is obviously other than white. I also believe that racial and religious prejudices will be eradicated so thoroughly that minority group persons -- Catholic, Jewish, or other -- will be able to run for high office without any special handicap; they will run on their merits as racial equals with white Protestants."

http://www.esquire.com/features/predicting-the-first-black-president-1258

[DemzRock]

Well, that was a better prediction that all the SF stuff...

saying we would all have flying cars by now. I bet there were some that predicted interstellar travel, personal clones, and all kinds of sf advances by now too.

[DemzRock]

1. Well, that was a better prediction that all the SF stuff...

saying we would all have flying cars by now. I bet there were some that predicted interstellar travel, personal clones, and all kinds of sf advances by now too.

[BlueJazz]

3. Yeah..You know, I never bought into that "Flying Car" stuff.

Geez...It's bad enough with slow cars (drivers) on the ground doing stupid things.

There would be 300 crashes every day...falling on people's Houses and Shit.....per city! :)

[slackmaster]

18. I'm still waiting for the 30-hour work week, robot servants, and the Metric System

In 1965 Walt Disney told us we'd have all that by 1980.

19 fucking 80!!!

[dipsydoodle]

2. Does that word remain acceptable ?

Just asking - can never tell with you lot who have successfully managed to give words power way beyond their original meanings and usages.

I'm guessing its a matter of context ? http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-11-19-al-qaeda-obama_N.htm

[BlueJazz]

4. Does that word remain acceptable ?

Of course not...I don't use it or even know of anybody that does...but 1958 was..umm..1958...

I just call people .."People"

[dipsydoodle]

6. I wonder what MLK

would have to say about that.

[BlueJazz]

8. MLK would most likely be pretty damn happy that a large share of the ...

..US population don't think in terms of Color anymore...or race.

Naturally a share of the population DOES think in terms of Race but as they get older and die,
(hopefully) that crap will disappear...

I (personally) feel that education... particularly the fact that we ALL came from Africa will
change the landscape of thought.
Having a distant "Mother" from Africa rather Trumps the whole Race Stuff..
We are ONE...no matter who agrees with it or not.. :)

[dipsydoodle]

11. Unqualified agreement here.

:fistbump:

ps I do like your id.

[BlueJazz]

13. Thanks..It seemed appropriate....I worked for CBS as a Studio Musician for 8 years (Sax)

I could tell you some stories about That !! :)..

[dipsydoodle]

15. Coo - I'm impressed

The fact that I can't play didn't stop me buying a late '20s Conn Chu Berry tenor and a King alto. They sleep in my bedroom along with part of my collection of 100 or so banjos and parlor guitars - which I can't play either....lol.

Heaven to me is sitting 6 foot away from the 5 saxes in a 17 piece Basie or Ellington unit. On one occasion I managed the double. Two bands were competing in a battle of the bands for charity at the 100 Club in London and they played a few numbers together with Jules Holland on piano too on his 45th birthday. :thumbsup:

[CBGLuthier]

7. there is a difference beyween just the word "negro"

and the term "house negro." I will leave it to you to find the meaning yourself in case I am one of the "you lot" whose interpretations you find faulty.

No, the term is not particularly acceptable but it was the term back in 58. Should the article have been bowdlerized for your protection?

[dipsydoodle]

12. See above discussion.

and yes - "house *****" is quite obviously offensive.

[BlooInBloo]

14. (facepalm)

[dipsydoodle]

16. Que ?

.

[BlooInBloo]

17. ...

[dmallind]

5. And they can. Only one group cannot be elected.

Catholics and Jews were set within the decade. Blacks and Asians took a bit longer, but have been around for quite some time. Heck in the last generation we've seen openly gay candidates win every once in a while.

Atheists though? We have ONE and he only admitted it after over 30 years of holding one of the safest Dem seats in the nation. He was not an open atheist when elected or more than a dozen times re-elected.

NOBODY has been elected or confirmed to high national office as a known nonbeliever.


When is PLayboy predicting that? Or do we have to depend on Hustler to get our prescient hope?

[Yukari Yakumo]

20. Catholics needed only two years: JFK.

Though it probably will be at least another 50 years before a non-Judeo-Christian is elected to POTUS.

[dmallind]

21. Yep - I hedged on the within the decade not knowing when Jews made it tho' NT

[demnan]

9. It makes you realize

why integrating the schools was so vital and important a decision.

[BlueJazz]

10. Yep..I agree... To Paraphrase...The old Adage:....

"Familiarity does not always breed Contempt" :)

[Phoonzang]

19. Well that was kind of depressing too.

All the background information about the powerful Africa Trade and Economic Union, a strong UN, a peaceful world. Meh.

[ContraBass Black]

22. "...racial and religious prejudices will be eradicated so thoroughly..."

Fifty years later, I don't believe it will happen before humanity meets its natural end.