Arkansas Blog

Hmmm. Had not thought about Virginia Johnson in nearly 40 years! But I remember her and her race. Unlike most 11-year-olds, I was following politics even then.

She and Justice Jim were quite a couple, and, though I disagree with 98% of what they believed, I sympathize with the old Confederate in his loss.

I'm sure down deep she is a good person.

Down deep she was a racist, proven by the fact that she stayed married to Jim Johnson.

What I remember about Mr. Justice Johnson, from when I was a small boy, was my first experience with fear of a human being in the real (not TV or dreams) world.

As I listened to the grown-ups talk, I concluded that the was the boogy man personified, and that if he had the chance he would drag me from my bed and do away with me solely because of the color of my skin.

While I don't know whether his feelings about me and my kind have changed, my feelings toward him have matured. I am sorry for his loss and sorry as well for the hatred and ignorance that seems to have enveloped much of his life.

(And the fact that he likely does not want my sympathy does not stop me from feeling it.)

Those are exceedingly gracious and thoughtful sentiments, TAP. I am glad that the fact that the old peckerwood doesn't deserve them didn't stop you from giving voice to them.

Make me wonder how we'll feel when Laura Bush dies 37 years from now?

You've got lots of class, TAP, and I admire you for it. There is nothing, however, that I ever admired about Virginia or Jim Johnson. Nevertheless, I join you in expressing sympathy.

The old racists are dying off.
I'm ashamed to say that my grandparents used the n word but proud to say that my parents did not.
Why? I don't know, but my grandparents didn't know anyone who wasn't white, but my parents did.
We lived in a mixed race neighborhood in the 1960's and my friends were black, white, and brown.
What a shame that Virginia Johnson never knew or liked people of other races or cultures.
She sure missed out.