By Alabama Begins Removing Racist Language From Its Constitution
The Alabama state government is drafting amendments to its 1901 state Constitution that would eliminate, among other things, discriminatory language.
The changes would mark the end of the last remaining legal vestiges of what are generally known as Jim Crow laws, which created a state-sponsored education system separated by races, and in which the Constitution allowed state authorities to place children by force in educational centers. institution of choice of the state.
By not passing referenda on the motion in 2004 and 2014, a third-time vote in 2020 did the job; established the Constitution Compilation Committee, who will proceed to remove Jim Crow fares, as well as others such as poll taxes, duplicate language, and more.
“It sends a message about who we are,” said Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, who chairs the committee and sponsored the amendment.
“It is important for us to let people know that we are a 21st century Alabama, that we are not the same Alabama of 1901 that did not want black and white to marry, that they did not think that black and white children should go to school. school together, “he said, according to AP.
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“The Legislature, on the recommendation of the Director of Legislative Services
Through a preliminary draft, the Agency may provide this constitution, as amended, in the due
articles, parts and sections that remove all racist language, remove duplicates and repeal
provisions, consolidate provisions relating to economic development, organize all
amendments by county of application during the 2022 regular session of the legislature,
and make no other changes “, a memorandum on the compilation writes.
The most egregious writing within the constitution is probably familiar to some, and reads: “Separate schools will be provided for white and colored children, and no child of one race or the other will be allowed to attend a school of the other race,” but Other A passage that states that the state will be able to confiscate children and place them in whatever institution they want, regardless of the will of their parents, is also scheduled to be removed.
Another passage on poll taxes is being dropped, as there is no such thing as a poll tax anyway.
Finally, a passage on the illegality of involuntary servitude in the country, except in the case of prisoners, is being modified by a very similar passage from the Federal Constitution. This particular article led, according to the AP, generations of black men spending their prison sentences on backbreaking work.
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