Jacob K. Javits, the liberal Republican senator from New York who,
incredibly, just a year after the integration of Central High School
in Little Rock, predicted that the first black president would be
elected in the year 2000. In an essay titled "Integration from the Top
Down" printed in Esquire magazine in 1958, he wrote:
"What manner of man will this be, this possible Negro Presidential
candidate of 2000? Undoubtedly, he will be well-educated. He will be
well-traveled and have a keen grasp of his country's role in the world
and its relation****ps. He will be a dedicated internationalist with
working comprehension of the intricacies of foreign aid, technical
assistance and reciprocal trade. =85 Assuredly, though, despite his
other characteristics, he will have developed the fortitude to
withstand the vicious smear attacks that came his way as he fought to
the top in government and politics =85 those in the vanguard may expect
to be the targets for scurrilous attacks, as the hate mongers, in the
last ditch efforts, spew their verbal and written poison."
In the same essay, Javits predicted both the election of a black
senator and the appointment of the first black Supreme Court justice
by 1968. Edward Brooke was elected to the Senate by Massachusetts
voters in 1966. Thurgood Marshall was confirmed in 1967. Javits also
predicted that the House of Representatives would have "between thirty
and forty qualified Negroes" in the 106th Congress in 2000. In fact,
there were 37 black U.S. representatives, among them 12 women.
http://www.theroot.com/id/48731
--
Ben
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