Evil or not: Ross Barnett (D-MS)

[Greedo punched first]

One-term Mississippi Democratic governor, evil or not?

[Dr. MB]

The worst governor during the civil rights era, hands down. He didn’t change his views afterwards, even though he lived until 1987.

[darklordoftech]

Evil

[Greedo punched first]

The most evil governor of the time.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

Definitely evil. he was a racist POS.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Definitely evil. he was a racist POS.

[TheLeftwardTide]

Obviously evil. Probably the worst of the 60s segregationist Dixiecrats, and that includes George Wallace.

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Evil as hell.

[Greedo punched first]

Who picked not evil?

[smoltchanov]

Evil, of course. But so were 90% of white citizens of Mississippi of his time (the only one, who voted then). So - understandable. His predecessor as Governor, James Coleman, was only somewhat less agressive segregationist, and he was already considered to be "a very moderate" by Mississippi standards of that period.  Fielding Wright? Hugh White? Paul Johnson? John Bell Williams?  Essentially the same with some variations. No racially progressive (or even a moderate) person could be elected Governor of this state until early 70th, when Blacks began to vote "en masse", and became a political force to be reckoned with... But even now Blacks have real difficulties gaining white votes there...

[Greedo punched first]

Evil, of course. But so were 90% of white citizens of Mississippi of his time (the only one, who voted then). So - understandable. His predecessor as Governor, James Coleman, was only somewhat less agressive segregationist, and he was already considered to be "a very moderate" by Mississippi standards of that period.  Fielding Wright? Hugh White? Paul Johnson? John Bell Williams?  Essentially the same with some variations. No racially progressive (or even a moderate) person could be elected Governor of this state until early 70th, when Blacks began to vote "en masse", and became a political force to be reckoned with... But even now Blacks have real difficulties gaining white votes there...

I know that everyone elected in Mississippi then was a staunch segregationist, but Barnett was easily the most radical.

[smoltchanov]

Evil, of course. But so were 90% of white citizens of Mississippi of his time (the only one, who voted then). So - understandable. His predecessor as Governor, James Coleman, was only somewhat less agressive segregationist, and he was already considered to be "a very moderate" by Mississippi standards of that period.  Fielding Wright? Hugh White? Paul Johnson? John Bell Williams?  Essentially the same with some variations. No racially progressive (or even a moderate) person could be elected Governor of this state until early 70th, when Blacks began to vote "en masse", and became a political force to be reckoned with... But even now Blacks have real difficulties gaining white votes there...

I know that everyone elected in Mississippi then was a staunch segregationist, but Barnett was easily the most radical.

In 1967 election John Bell Williams accused Barnett (who ran then as well) of "secretly colliding with Washington's administration to bring desegregation to Mississippi", so - not sure. Williams was elected governor that year, BTW, defeating moderate William Winter. Surely, Barnett was one of the most radical, but not sure about the most...  Simply: 1967-1971 (Williams term) were somewhat different from 1959-63 (Barnett's term). After all - most Civil Rights laws were already in effect by that time.

[Greedo punched first]

Read this article about "rashist" comments he made.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

Read this article about "rashist" comments he made.

How surprising. a racist says racist things.

[smoltchanov]

Read this article about "rashist" comments he made.

No one disputes that Barnett was a racist, and - one of the staunchest's to boot. But - the staunchest? Here i doubt, because i don't see a big difference between him and Williams. And there were other "strong racists", like speaker of Mississippi House Walter Sillers, congressmen Rankin, Colmers, Abernathy, and many other at that time (plus - famous Judge Cox, a.o.). Mississipi didn't "suffered" from the lack of "pure racists" then....