A Mother Jones analysis.
“To get a better sense of the legislative push that most famously included Arizona’s draconian SB 1070, Mother Jones built a database of the 164 (often curiously similar) anti-immigration laws passed by state legislatures in 2010 and 2011. As you can see, the number of restrictive laws jumped last year, when five states—Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Utah—passed Arizona-style bills.”
But new law clinic could spur reforms.
“For years, lawyers, faith-based groups and students have helped file petitions for inmates seeking to cut short lengthy prison sentences. But there have been no comparable resources for felons who sought pardons after serving their time.
That may soon change. In response to stories published in December by ProPublica and The Washington Post, former Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich (R) plans to launch the nation’s first law school clinic and training program devoted to pardons.”
Romare Bearden did. Before he became famous “for his colorful collages, he was offered a chance to play in the major leagues. Here’s why he turned it down.”
“Like many other gifted black baseball players of fair skin, Bearden became a product of the times. His pitching for the Tigers soon caught the eyes of recruiters from the Philadelphia Athletics and the owner offered him a position on the team. For most, this would have been a dream long realized: a prized spot in the major leagues. But the offer came at a price—and for Bearden, one too high. The Athletics would grant Bearden access into the majors with one stipulation. He would have to pass for white. Bearden proudly declined. Soon after he would leave Boston, only after two years at BU, and return home to New York. He never played professional baseball again.
The end of Bearden’s short semi-pro career was perhaps the singular turning point for Bearden as an artist. Bearden’s one chance to make it in the big leagues, to actually cross over and make a career out of playing baseball (and a successful one at that), came at a price. He would have had to pass for white and turn his back on his family and his race. If Bearden hadn’t rejected the offer from the Philadelphia Athletics, it is uncertain if he would have ever become the visionary painter and collagist he did.”
