Opinion: Legacy of George W. Lee is instructive for today’s GOP
Otis Sanford
Otis Sanford is professor emeritus of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Memphis and political commentator for WATN-TV ABC24 News. Contact him at o.sanford@memphis.edu. Follow him on Twitter @otissanford.
Lee encouraged Black Memphians to support Democrat Lyndon Johnson in 1964. But when emerging Black leaders in Memphis pleaded for Lee to officially abandon the Republican Party and become a Democrat, he graciously declined.
Topics
Lt. George Washington Lee GOP Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
Subscribers to The Daily Memphian help fund our not-for-profit newsroom of nearly 40 local journalists plus more than 20 freelancers, all of whom work around the clock to cover the issues impacting our community. Subscriptions - and donations - also help fund our community access programs which provide free access to K-12 schools, community organizations, and more. Thank you for making our work possible.
Related stories
Sanford: Tennesseans, politicians and others must answer for insurrection
As we look ahead with hope, we must also look back and demand accountability.
Cohen bill would remove the name of segregationist congressman from Memphis’ federal building
A bill by Rep. Steve Cohen would remove the name of the late segregationist congressman Clifford Davis from Memphis’ Downtown federal building and courthouse.
Opinion: Voter suppression efforts still on the minds of state GOP lawmakers
Among the misguided proposals presented at the Tennessee Legislature, none would have as much negative impact on the majority of Tennesseans as the bill introduced last week to abolish early voting in the state.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.