Alan ScherstuhlHoly hell, times have changed. Unlike in Texas today, just 44 years ago, publishers were rushing to put African-Americans into textbooks.
As you can see in this week's Studies in Crap post over on our Style Council blog, the early results, however well intentioned, were often hilariously strained. Author Margaret B. Young's refusal to ever offend any white folks ever means she often resorts to amazing understatement.
A taste of the fascinating/alarming quotes selected by your Crap Archivist:
“After the Civil War, the Negro's experiences as a sharecropper in the South were not very rewarding.”
And:
“The American negro that you know best is the person whom you see, hear, or read about today. He might be Ralph Bunche or Willie Mays. He might be the man who collects your garbage or brings your mail. He might be your janitor or your teacher. He might be your friend – or he might be you.”
Wait, he might be you? Only way to find out for sure is to click on through to Studies in Crap!
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