Edmond Winston Pettus
By
John C Abercrombie
For years we have heard of the Edmond Pettus Bridge. It was the site of “Bloody Sunday”, where marchers including future congressman John Robert Lewis, were marching in support of voter rights for all. Lewis suffered a fractured skull in the incident. In this post we investigate the question of who was Edmond Pettus.
Born July 6, 1821, he represented Alabama in the US Senate from 1897 until his death in 1907. Before that, he was a senior officer in the Confederate States Army and was politically active in the Ku Klux Klan and served as grand dragon.
He was the youngest child born to John Pettus and Alice Taylor Winston. His brother John J Pettus, served as a governor of Mississippi and he was a cousin of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America.
Edmond studied law and was admitted to the state’s bar in 1842. Pettus ad his wife Mary Chapman had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. 2 of the boys died in infancy. He was also a solicitor for the 7th judicial circuit of Alabama.
Pettus fought in the Mexican American war as a lieutenant. He then moved to California and participated in ethnic cleansing of Native Americans. Ethnic cleansing is the expulsion or killing of members of an unwanted ethnic or religious group. So, we see what Pettus is willing and capable of doing.
In 1853, Pettus returned to Alabama and again served as the 7th circuit solicitor. He was appointed judge in 1855 and served until 1858, when he resigned to practice law.
Pettus was a strong enthusiastic supporter of Confederate causes and slavery. He was a Democratic Party delegate to the secession convention in Mississippi where his brother John was governor. He organized the Alabama Infantry and was one of the officers, rising to the position of Brigadier General.
He was captured 3 times during the way, being exchanged for Union soldiers twice and once escaping.
At the end of the war, Pettus returned to Alabama and his law practice and served as chair of the state delegation to the Democratic National Convention for 2 decades. With profits from the law practice, he like many Southerners bought land, and with the labor of slaves became rich.
Edmond Pettus ran for the US Senate at the age of 75. At that time, the state legislature elected US Senators. Pettus was chosen based on his organizing the popular Alabama Klan.
It was more than 3 decades after Pettus’ death that the bridge was dedicated in May 1940. The naming of the bridge was more than just honoring a Civil War hero. The town was majority Black; however, Blacks were prevented in most cases from voting and therefore being in leadership positions in local matters. Thus, the naming of the bridge for Edmond Pettus was a “slap in the face” to the Black citizens and symbolic of White Supremacy. It was also a link to the state’s long and enduring history of enslaving and terrorizing Black citizens.
It is also obvious that the majority Black citizens were not consulted about naming the bridge in honor of Pettus.
Pettus’s family grew rich from the economy, owning slaves and producing cotton. Pettus believed in White supremacy as much as the economics in his support of the Confederacy. Pettus believed that civilization could not be maintained without slavery and was a strong believer in these principals.
The period after the Civil war was known as Reconstruction, Blacks were free and able to vote. They held political office, but those who had previously profited from the free labor of Blacks were resentful and, in an effort, to retain their status and wealth terrorized Blacks with the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan, intimidating and practicing violence against Blacks. Alabama led the nation in Lynchings, and Selma had its share.
While these proponents of White supremacy were so fervent on the issue of race mixing, they were guilty in the extreme. Edmond Winston Pettus preached separation of the races yet had Black children. One descendant, Caroline Randall Williams is featured in one of the videos on this post and has been very vocal with her work “My body is a Confederate Memorial”.
These hypocritical men often had many Black children. While some recognized them, others were cruel slave masters and often sold their own flesh and blood into more cruel slavery. What man treats his offspring so callously? What man of principal has so little disregard for his marriage vows?
While the Edmond Pettus bridge was the site of “Bloody Sunday” where Black people were beaten by Alabama State Troopers, run over by horses and suffered greatly, it was a continuance of an event that happened earlier when Jimmy Lee Jackson was killed by police as he was unarmed but protecting his mother and grandfather during a voter registration protest.
A ray of hope and a show of how oppressive the efforts to prevent Blacks from voting, Jackson’s grandfather was finally able to cast his first vote at the age of 84.
Thus, we see that Edmond Winston Pettus was a man dedicated to greed and the oppression of human beings in the hopes of maintaining wealth and power at the expense of others.
Pettus died at Hot Springs, North Carolina, in the summer of 1907, at age 86, while still in office and elected for the next term. He is buried in Live Oak Cemetery in Selma.
*
As you scroll down through the books and videos, you will encounter some value offers. These take you directly to Amazon where you can do all your shopping. We encourage you to use our links as we receive a small royalty without cost to you. These funds help us continue to provide you with quality information.
To see the full listing of posts on this site, click on our Blog list
For Black History Month 2020, we posted daily. To see the posts, click here
To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us
For super savings on Amazon – updated frequently amazing values
We encourage you to share the site on social media.
Use our links to Amazon anytime you shop Amazon. We receive a small royalty without cost to you.
Continue to scroll for fascinating Videos and Books to enhance your learning experience.
Continue scrolling down for more amazing information, videos, books and value items.
JoAnne Bland on the Story of Selma, Alabama
JoAnne Bland tells stories about Sunday Bloody Sunday to students of William Woods University as part of the Woods Around the World program.
**
Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Sterilizer, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Maker, and Warmer, 8 Quart, Easy-Seal Lid, 14 One-Touch Programs
**
New Balance Women’s 680 V6 Running Shoe
**
How to Be an Antiracist
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the National Book Award–winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a “groundbreaking” (Time) approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society—and in ourselves.
“The most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.”—The New York Times
**
Giro Empire E70 Knit Men’s Road Cycling Shoes
**
The Truth About the Confederacy in the United States (FULL Version)
Jeffery Robinson, the ACLU’s top racial justice expert, discusses the dark history of Confederate symbols across the country and outlines what we can do to learn from our past and combat systemic racism.
**
Graco Pack ‘N Play Snuggle Suite LX Playard, Fashion
**
So, You Want to Talk About Race
In this New York Times bestseller, Ijeoma Oluo offers a hard-hitting but user-friendly examination of race in America
Widespread reporting on aspects of white supremacy — from police brutality to the mass incarceration of Black Americans — has put a media spotlight on racism in our society. Still, it is a difficult subject to talk about. How do you tell your roommate her jokes are racist? Why did your sister-in-law take umbrage when you asked to touch her hair — and how do you make it right? How do you explain white privilege to your white, privileged friend?
**
This offer is updated daily
**
Feb. 18, 1965 – The Murder of Jimmy Lee Jackson
der of Jimmie Lee JacksonFifty-two years ago, today, civil rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson, 26, was shot twice by an Alabama state trooper for refusing to disperse from a nighttime march. He died eight days later, and the man who fired the fatal shots wasn’t charged for another 42 years.
**
ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop, 15.6” FHD Display, Intel i3-1005G1 CPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint, Windows 10 Home in S Mode, Slate Gray, F512JA-AS34
**
Race Relations: The Struggle for Equality in America (Inquire & Investigate)
How could a country founded on the honorable ideals of freedom and equality have so willingly embraced the evils of enslavement and oppression?
America’s history of race relations is a difficult one, full of uncomfortable inconsistencies and unpleasant truths. Although the topic is sensitive, it is important to face this painful past unflinchingly―knowing this history is key to understanding today’s racial climate and working towards a more harmonious society.
**
Pure Enrichment PureDry Deluxe Dehumidifier – Mid-Sized 1.5L Water Tank Eliminates 500ml/day in Excess Moisture from Closets, Bathrooms, Basements, Boats, Kitchens and Other Small to Mid-Sized Areas
**
NYT Op-Ed: ‘You Want A Confederate Monument? My Body Is A Confederate Monument’
Writer and poet Caroline Randall Williams joins Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss how her ancestry influenced her new piece in the New York Times, why it’s “fundamentally inaccurate” to refer to Confederate soldiers as American heroes, and how she’s “interested to see what it yields beyond” just taking down the monuments. Aired on 7/1/2020.
**
Honeywell HCM350W Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier White
**
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race
The classic, bestselling book on the psychology of racism — now fully revised and updated
Walk into any racially mixed high school and you will see Black, White, and Latino youth clustered in their own groups. Is this self-segregation a problem to address or a coping strategy? Beverly Daniel Tatum, a renowned authority on the psychology of racism, argues that straight talk about our racial identities is essential if we are serious about enabling communication across racial and ethnic divides. These topics have only become more urgent as the national conversation about race is increasingly acrimonious. This fully revised edition is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of race in America.
**
Apple iPad Air 2, 16 GB, Gold, (Renewed)
**
President Obama Delivers Remarks on the 50th Anniversary of the Selma Marches
**
Sun Joe SPX3500 2300 Max Psi 1.48 Gpm Brushless Induction Electric Pressure Washer, w/Brass Hose Connector
**
The Antiracist: How to Start the Conversation about Race and Take Action
What would happen if people started moving beyond the conversation and took action to combat racism?
We are in an era where many Americans express the sentiment, “I thought we were past that,” when a public demonstration of racism comes across their radar. Long before violence committed by police was routinely displayed on jumbotrons publicizing viral executions, the Black community has continually tasted the blood from having police boots in their mouths, ribs, and necks. The widespread circulation of racial injustices is the barefaced truth hunting us down, forcing us to confront the harsh reality—we haven’t made nearly as much racial progress as we thought.
**
APEMAN Dash Cam 1080P FHD DVR Car Driving Recorder 3 Inch LCD Screen 170° Wide Angle, G-Sensor, WDR, Parking Monitor, Loop Recording, Motion Detection
**
Jimmie Lee Jackson Documentary
A short little film based on the life and impact of the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson
**
Samsung Chromebook 3, 11.6″, 4GB RAM, 16GB eMMC, Chromebook (XE500C13)
**
Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own
We hope you have learned about Edmond Pettus and the reason his name is on the bridge and the conflict over it.
Please share our posts and site.