Secretary of Education Rod Paige has come to the defense of Sen. Trent Lott, who has faced criticism for making racist comments during a celebration for Sen. Strom Thurmond’s 100th birthday. Mr. Paige, when asked about the senator’s remarks, stated that it is absurd to label Sen. Lott as a racist and described him as a great American. Both Mr. Lott and Secretary Paige hail from Mississippi and belong to the Republican Party.
Since making the comments, Sen. Lott has apologized on multiple occasions. In his initial statement, he acknowledged that his choice of words may have given the impression that he was endorsing past discriminatory policies, which he vehemently denies. He expressed regret for offending anyone with his statement. However, the controversy surrounding his remarks has only intensified. Numerous civil rights groups have called for his resignation as Republican leader, a position he is set to assume when the Republicans take control of the chamber in January. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, all of whom are Democrats, and some members of his own party have also criticized Sen. Lott.
On December 12, President Bush joined the chorus of criticism, describing Sen. Lott’s comments as offensive and acknowledging his apology. Following the President’s speech, a spokesperson for the Department of Education echoed Secretary Paige’s earlier remarks, stating that Sen. Lott’s comments were unfortunate.
The day before President Bush’s speech, Secretary Paige, who is African-American and attended segregated schools in Mississippi in 1948, defended Sen. Lott and dismissed the criticism as unwarranted. He expressed his belief that as Americans, they should rise above such reactions. Secretary Paige stated that Sen. Lott made his comments in the spirit of celebration at Sen. Thurmond’s birthday party, emphasizing that the intent was to pay tribute to the honoree and not to espouse racism. Sen. Lott had made a statement during the event expressing pride in his state’s support of Sen. Thurmond’s presidential campaign and suggesting that the nation would have avoided numerous problems had they followed suit.
It is important to note that Sen. Thurmond ran for president in 1948 while serving as the governor of South Carolina. Dissatisfied with the Democratic Party’s stance on civil rights, he ran as a member of the States’ Rights Democratic Party, also known as the Dixiecrats, with the goal of preserving racial segregation. He garnered support from four Southern states, including Mississippi. After being elected as a senator in 1954, Mr. Thurmond set a record for the longest Senate filibuster, lasting for 24 hours and 18 minutes. This filibuster was part of a failed attempt by several Southern senators to impede civil rights legislation. In 1964, Mr. Thurmond switched to the Republican Party. He will retire from the Senate when his seventh full term concludes in January and has renounced his previous segregationist positions.
Mr. Clegg pointed out that Secretary Paige, if anyone, would be deeply offended and threatened by Senator Lott’s remarks. However, it is significant that Secretary Paige does not express offense or feel threatened. On the other hand, Julian Bond, the chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, expressed disappointment in Mr. Paige’s reaction, despite the criticism from conservatives towards Mr. Lott’s remarks. Mr. Bond asserted that it is disheartening to see party loyalty drive Mr. Paige to defend the indefensible. He believes that Mr. Paige feels compelled to toe the party line in order to maintain his position, which he acknowledges is a challenging role.
The circumstances surrounding the controversy are unique for Mr. Paige, who is 69 years old. Not only is he one of the highest-ranking African-American officials in the Bush administration, but he has also made history by becoming the first black U.S. secretary of education. His unique perspective stems from growing up in Mississippi during a time when racial inequality was rampant. Mr. Paige personally experienced segregation as a student in a segregated high school. He recalls the stark differences between his school, where students used hand-me-down books and lacked facilities like a gym and lighted football field, and a nearby school attended exclusively by white students that had superior resources. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle in 1994, Mr. Paige publicly acknowledged these disparities. However, in a 2001 interview with The Washington Post, he refrained from providing graphic details about the differences between white and black schools during his upbringing. He stated that it was almost irrelevant to him now, emphasizing that his strong family support helped him overcome racial barriers. He viewed it as a period in his life that did not hinder his development.
In a recent interview with Education Week, Mr. Paige reaffirmed his view that Mississippi has transformed over the years and made significant efforts to overcome its racially divisive image. He asserted that the Mississippi of 52 years ago is vastly different from the state today. He acknowledged the progress that has been made in improving relationships between blacks and whites, comparing it to other parts of America. Mr. Paige also commended Mr. Thurmond for evolving his stance on racial issues and for his support of historically black colleges and universities during his time in the Senate. Additionally, he highlighted Mr. Lott’s support for the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001, which directly aims to assist disadvantaged children, primarily minorities. Mr. Paige emphasized that there are more pressing issues for society to address, and he has no qualms about defending Mr. Lott.
When asked for more information regarding Mr. Paige’s thoughts on Mississippi’s support of Mr. Thurmond in 1948 and whether the country would have fared better if Mr. Thurmond had been elected, the Department of Education declined to provide further details.
