American History

Question

C. Wright Mills indicates that some people might not be willing “to exert themselves to acquire the reason that freedom requires.” He calls these people “cheerful robots.” Do the authors and signatories of the Southern Manifesto simply lack the ability or interest to see the harmful aspects of segregation or are they purposefully willing to ignore the perils of segregation due to their racism?

Answer 1

That is hard to say. Some would argue, what the harm of desegregation would be to them? Both are subjective questions and cannot really have objective answer. In general, anything that has been implemented by the Courts and even Congress, and takes effects immediately is always going to face opposition. Change is not something that people naturally welcome, especially sudden change. I also think, naturally people divide themselves, today we have China towns, little Cubas and Italys all over the country, people well group themselves; and the government cannot stop that from happening.