The Century, America's Time: Then and Now (2 of 3)
Summary
TLDRThis script recounts the Oklahoma City bombing, reflecting on the tragedy's impact and the public's initial misconception of foreign terrorism. It delves into the evolution of government's role in American life, from minimal intervention to extensive welfare and regulation, with the Great Society and President Roosevelt's New Deal as pivotal moments. The narrative also addresses racial tensions, the struggle for civil rights, and the enduring fight against racial inequality, highlighting the complexities of American society throughout the 20th century.
Takeaways
- 🏢 The Oklahoma City bombing was a devastating event that resulted in the collapse of the Federal Building's fifth floor and the tragic loss of 168 lives, including 19 children from a daycare center.
- 🚨 The aftermath of the bombing was filled with chaos and confusion, with survivors struggling to comprehend the sudden and violent event.
- 👮♂️ First responders like Officer Don described the scene as one of devastation, with the smell of pulverized and burned materials, and the heartbreaking sight of severely injured children.
- 🔍 Initially, many Americans suspected foreign terrorists for the Oklahoma City bombing, but it was later revealed to be the act of domestic terrorists, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, influenced by anti-government sentiments.
- 🔗 The Waco Siege, where federal agents attacked a religious cult compound, was a precursor to the Oklahoma City bombing, fueling the hatred of the perpetrators towards the government.
- 🏛 The perception of the U.S. government has evolved from a minimal presence in the early 20th century to a more expansive role, especially during the Great Depression and the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- 💼 The New Deal and the Great Society programs significantly expanded the government's role in providing welfare and social services, shaping the modern American government's responsibility towards its citizens.
- 📉 The economic collapse of 1929 led to widespread poverty and the realization that the government needed to play a more active role in supporting its citizens, leading to the rise of social programs.
- 📊 The growth of government programs and the tax burden on the middle class led to a backlash, with figures like Ronald Reagan advocating for a reduction in the size and influence of the federal government.
- 📺 The power of television in the 1960s was instrumental in exposing the brutality of segregation and the civil rights movement, leading to a national outcry and subsequent legislative changes.
- 🌈 The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a critical period in American history, with African Americans fighting for basic constitutional rights and facing violent resistance.
- 🗽 The Million Man March in 1995 highlighted the ongoing struggle for racial equality and the enduring legacy of racial tensions in America, with the event organized by the Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan.
Q & A
What event is described at the beginning of the transcript?
-The Oklahoma City bombing, which caused the collapse of the Federal Building's fifth floor and resulted in 168 deaths, including 19 children under five from a daycare center on the building's second floor.
Who were the two Americans convicted for the Oklahoma City bombing?
-Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who were motivated by the government's actions against the Branch Davidians and their own extremist beliefs.
What historical event is mentioned that influenced the perception of government's role in people's lives?
-The Great Depression of 1929, which led to the New Deal policies under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, expanding government's role in providing welfare and social security.
How did the government's response to the Great Depression change the perception of its role?
-The New Deal policies marked a shift towards a government responsible for its citizens' welfare, which was a revolutionary idea at the time and helped to shape modern America.
What was the Great Society program, and how did it affect the perception of government?
-The Great Society was a set of domestic programs launched by President Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice. It increased the government's size and tax burden, leading to mixed public opinion on its role.
What was the reaction to the government's growing size and influence in the 1980s?
-Ronald Reagan's presidency marked a pushback against the trend started by Roosevelt, with a vow to reduce the size and influence of federal agencies, reflecting a desire for less government intervention.
What is the significance of Stone Mountain in Georgia in the context of American history?
-Stone Mountain is home to a monument honoring Confederate leaders, symbolizing the legacy of the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacy in the United States.
How did the Ku Klux Klan's activities in Stone Mountain impact different communities?
-The Klan's activities created a place of terror and fear for African Americans, Jewish people, Catholics, and other minority groups, representing a white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant male-dominated society.
What was the impact of television on the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s?
-Television played a crucial role in the civil rights movement by broadcasting the violence and injustice faced by African Americans, which helped to galvanize national and international support for civil rights.
What event did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lead in 1963 that was a turning point for the civil rights movement?
-Dr. King led the March on Washington, where he delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech to a crowd of over 200,000 people, highlighting the struggle for racial equality and justice.
What event in 1995 brought together 400,000 African American men to address racial issues in America?
-The Million Man March, organized by the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, aimed to address racial inequality and promote unity among African American men.
Outlines
💥 Oklahoma City Bombing and Its Aftermath
The first paragraph describes the harrowing experience of the Oklahoma City bombing, which resulted in the death of 168 people, including 19 children under five due to the presence of a daycare center in the building. It recounts the immediate aftermath as rescuers searched for survivors, and the emotional impact on the first responders. The narrative also touches on the initial public assumption that the attack was by foreign terrorists, only to reveal that it was perpetrated by domestic extremists, namely Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who were motivated by anti-government sentiments stemming from previous government actions like the Waco Siege. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the fluctuating perception of government's role in American society, from an abstract authority to a perceived intrusive 'Big Brother', and the historical context of economic crises and government response.
🏛️ The Evolution of Government's Role in American Society
The second paragraph delves into the evolution of the American government's role in the lives of its citizens, starting from the Great Depression when the government was seen as a non-entity to the introduction of social programs during President Johnson's Great Society. It highlights the shift in perception from minimal government intervention to a more active role in ensuring citizens' welfare, which was revolutionary at the time. The summary also touches on the community organizer's role in providing cultural exposure to families and the subsequent growth of government programs aimed at addressing various social needs. However, it also discusses the backlash against the growing tax burden on the middle class and the rise of figures like Ronald Reagan who advocated for reducing the size and influence of federal agencies, reflecting the cyclical nature of public opinion on government involvement.
🔄 The Struggle for Civil Rights and the Fight Against Racism
The third paragraph focuses on the long-standing issue of racial discrimination and the fight for civil rights in America. It starts with the acknowledgment of the terror and fear associated with places like Stone Mountain, which honors Confederate leaders and was a site for Ku Klux Klan rallies. The narrative moves to the struggle of African Americans for basic constitutional rights, facing violent resistance and the contradictions of segregation. The paragraph details the impact of television in bringing national attention to the civil rights movement, particularly the events of the 1960s and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s march on Washington. It concludes with a reflection on the persistence of racial issues, as evidenced by the 1995 Million Man March and the ongoing fight against white supremacy and its implications for societal harmony.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Oklahoma City bombing
💡Federal Building
💡Terrorism
💡Branch Davidians
💡Great Depression
💡New Deal
💡Great Society
💡Ronald Reagan
💡White supremacy
💡Civil rights movement
💡Martin Luther King Jr.
Highlights
The Federal Building was at the center of the blast, causing a sudden jolt and quietness.
Priscilla, working on the fifth floor, fell unconscious through to the second floor after the explosion.
168 people were killed in the Oklahoma City bombing, including 19 children under five.
A daycare center was present on the second floor of the building, contributing to the tragic loss of life.
Many initially believed the Oklahoma City bombing was the work of foreign terrorists, but it was actually carried out by Americans.
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, both Americans, were later convicted for the Oklahoma City bombing.
The government's attack on the Branch Davidians' compound two years prior deepened the hatred held by McVeigh and Nichols.
Early 20th century Washington DC was seen as an abstract authority with minimal government intervention.
The 1929 stock market crash led to a severe economic collapse and a call for government action.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidency in 1932 marked a shift towards a more involved government.
The Great Society under President Johnson aimed to address every social need with government programs.
Ronald Reagan's presidency aimed to reduce the size and influence of federal agencies.
The perception of government's role in citizens' welfare evolved significantly throughout the century.
The Ku Klux Klan announced its rebirth in Stone Mountain, Georgia in 1915, symbolizing white supremacy.
The struggle for civil rights in the 1950s was met with violent resistance, often televised.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 march on Washington was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.
The Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan organized a gathering of 400,000 African-American men in 1995.
The concept of white supremacy was challenged and discussed in the context of American history.
Transcripts
the Federal Building had been at the
center of the blast all of a sudden it
got very I had felt a jolt my idiot and
I felt this jolt on my my cheek and
everything got very quiet I started
falling forward and I kept fighting and
trying to sit up and I didn't know what
was happening in the force of the
explosion the fifth floor where
Priscilla worked collapsed unconscious
she fell straight through to the second
floor
[Music]
anything below on the day we heard I
heard someone say we have a live one
here I'm listening because it sound like
they were way off in the distance but
the me and actually took my hand up
police officer Don hauled was among the
first to arrive on the scene what you
smelled everything being pulverized and
burned and
you know just death
I remember carrying out one little boy
and he he didn't have a face that was it
was gone I laid him down and I told my
sorry
168 people were killed 19 of them
children under five there was a day care
center on the building second floor
many Americans believed instinctively
that the Oklahoma City bombing was the
work of foreign terrorists they were
wrong our own children know that we will
stand against the forces of fear when
there is talk of hatred let us stand up
and talk against it when there is talk
of violence let us stand up two years
before the tragedy in Oklahoma City
federal agents had attacked the armed
compound of a religious cult known as
the Branch Davidians more than 80 people
were killed in an assault which ended a
51-day standoff played out on national
television the government action
deepened the hatred of federal
authorities held by Timothy McVeigh a
Gulf War veteran and Terry Nichols the
two Americans who were later convicted
of the Oklahoma City bombing radical
extremists aside many Americans do feel
that their government has become
something of an omnipresent and
intrusive Big Brother at the beginning
of the century Washington DC represented
little more than an abstract authority
back then government levied no taxes
issued few regulations and offered no
safety nets it was survival of the
fittest but it became hard for even the
fitters to survive when the stock market
crashed in 1929 and signaled the
country's economic collapse her family
felt the depression immediately
my father couldn't get a job there was
no unemployment insurance there was no
social security there was no welfare it
was the end of everything
many people were waiting in soup lines
for a bowl of soup and a piece of bread
and whole families mother father and
children with nothing to eat and no
place to spend the night it was pitiful
[Music]
and so many people felt that we were in
danger of a revolution because there
were many people who felt the government
should do something and the government
was doing nothing strikes and protests
were spreading a revolution was averted
when Franklin Delano Roosevelt became
president in 1932
we bet money
it went to foot Navy men and women
without God to work
[Music]
my father could get a job so it was only
sixty sixty-five dollars a month all
those young men sitting around they got
more I know it is said it really didn't
cure the depression but it sure cured
the depression in our house Chanel that
revolutionized the perception of what
government owes the people and what its
role is that government should be
responsible for its citizens welfare was
a revolutionary idea but it helped to
shape modern America and it reached its
Apogee in President Johnson's Great
Society
my mother she sent me down to the table
and she laid out all of the bills in the
house and she laid out the water bill in
the gas bill and what we plan to buy
groceries and she said this is all the
money that we have
one day the community organizer came to
our door to share information about the
programs they wanted to give you some
exposure to culture we obtained a first
airplane ride or to see a play or the
Opera the Great Society and the programs
of the Great Society made you feel
special they wanted to encourage you to
let you know that you are important and
that you can make it there seem to be a
government program for every social need
many people benefited but the government
grew enormous and so did the tax burden
on the middle class those who had had
enough saw a champion in Ronald Reagan
he vowed to reverse the trend started by
President Roosevelt I believe it is
clear our federal government is
overgrown and overweight indeed it is
time our government should go on a diet
without giving up their benefits
Americans wanted to reduce the size and
influence of federal agencies similar to
the beginning of a century a time when
people had fewer taxes and government
was less obvious the pendulum swings
back and forth there's a time when
people look to the government to do a
lot and then their ties it they want the
government to get out of their lives
what people expect from their government
stayed in flux throughout the century it
is one of those constantly evolving
principles which influence President
Roosevelt when he called American
democracy a story without an end
[Music]
in 1903 the social philosopher w eb de
bois wrote the problem of the 20th
century is the problem of the color line
every decade since has proven him right
Stone Mountain Georgia has its own
version of Mount Rushmore a monument
honoring the leaders of the Confederate
side in the Civil War
[Music]
my aunt she was instrumental in that car
being being on the mountain they got up
money to start it is magnificent
and when I stand there and look at it I
didn't have tears in my eyes because
they were wonderful men and it was
something they thought they were doing
that was right
they believed in white supremist that
was that philosophy it was just a way of
life in the south in 1915 when the Ku
Klux Klan announced its rebirth it did
so in Stone Mountain Georgia my uncle
worked for the Grand Wizard of the
Knights of the Ku blanket and as a child
I had the privilege of being carried to
his home and he treated me very nice for
every year until 1990 the Ku Klux Klan
held a rally in Stone Mountain on the
Saturday before Labor Day and they were
go up and down their streets and they
would just be blowing their horn and
thus would be just everywhere and we'd
be saying all that kind of clueless here
come the cold
[Applause]
[Music]
it was fascinating and amazing to us
it's true
they was covered all in white and the
only thing that we saw his children was
these little brown things when they saw
under their eyes they used to burn
across it was just remarkable and they
had the loudspeakers turn up loud enough
and we could sit on the porch and hear
everything that they said it was
anything knit it was everything that it
was that was that thing the methods of
rule there terroristic and they are
thugs Chuck Burroughs grew up in
Louisiana Stone Mountain to people of
African descent who didn't live here but
it heard about it was a place of terror
and fear not only took people of African
descent but to Jewish people to
Catholics it basically stood for white
anglo-saxon Protestant male dominated
society every minority group in this
countries had to fight for itself but
none so long as African Americans as
they struggled for basic constitutional
rights they were faced with the terror
and the dizzying contradictions of
segregation
in the 1950s black Americans began to
push more fervently for their civil
rights the response resembled a new kind
of civil war even had the Governor of
Alabama George Wallace spewing forth the
politics of separation and dissolution
of our unity as a nation so I saw
elderly men and women and children
fire-hosed and beaten and having dogs
attack them sicked on them by the police
because they wanted to register to vote
they wanted to drink out of a water
fountain in a public park they wanted to
be able to sit in a lunch counter like
everyone else simple things in life
black kids being beaten up in the south
there was nothing new about that what
was new about it was that it was filmed
and people saw when you see the blood
running out of someone's head for no
other reason than they are asking the
United States government to obey its own
laws then it becomes a national or an
international event there there was a
very simple reason for why so many
things happened so quickly in the early
1960s and that reason was television let
freedom reign in 1963 civil rights
leader Dr Martin Luther King jr. led a
march on Washington he spoke to a crowd
of more than 200,000 people it was so
many black people there but then it was
so many white people that was going to
be part of us accomplishing this freedom
I just I was just told when to just
start flowing down because that let me
know that I was gonna be a part of that
freedom that was gonna take place the
Moses had a rise of the black people and
we were gonna be late
but more than 30 years later not much
has changed for many african-americans
on October the 16th 1995 400,000
african-american men came from every
state in the Union to the nation's
capital
Deon Warner a lawyer made the journey
from Houston Texas the gathering was
organized by the Nation of Islam leader
Louis Farrakhan the real evil in America
is called white Supremes because the
idea of white supremacy mean you should
rule because your wife that makes you
sick
[Applause]
[Music]
I'm certain that there are many people
who felt as though there would be some
negative repercussions from having all
those black males in one place at one
time
[Music]
and and I think some of that is because
what they see on the news everyday when
they see people getting arrested people
doing drugs or black men black man you
don't have to bash white people all we
gotta do is go back home and turn our
community's interpreter
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