Vendor Writing

Take it Down — NOW!!!

BY JEN A.

On July 9, 2020, the esteemed Tennessee Capitol Commission, in a 9-2 vote, agreed to allow the removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bronze bust from its niche of honor between the chambers of the Tennessee House and Senate. Dissenting were Sen. Jack Johnson, R Franklin, and Rep. Matthew Hill, R Jonesborough, representing what they said was the will of both houses of the legislature.

Activists who had repeatedly been set upon by law enforcement as they peacefully called for the removal of the racist relic, cheered the news

of the vote with an enthusiastic call and response, “Take it down — NOW!” But it will likely be some time before ol’ Nathan takes his rightful place on the trash heap of history — if at all.

The vote by the Capitol Commission is just the first step in the long and winding legislatively-mandated road to the bust’s eventual removal. The ultimate decision now rests with the Tennessee Historical Commission. And while the commission met the day after the removal vote was approved at the Capitol, the matter was not taken up.

The Historical Commission, which only meets quarterly, was then expected to discuss removal at its October meeting. However, it is now widely reported that the issue will not reach priority until February 2021. Nathan Bedford Forrest still holds sway in the house of all the people of Tennessee.

The bust of the former slave trader and first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan has been controversial since it was first placed at the Capitol in November of 1978. Representatives from minority groups offended by the state sanctioned insult the bust represents implored then Gov. Lamar Alexander to order its removal. He passed the buck and told them it was up to the legislature.

There is a photograph in the archive of The Tennessean from October of 1980 that shows a group of men in full Ku Klux Klan regalia standing in front of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust. It is reported that they were there to make plans for the coming race war. Who would believe back then that 40 years later, in 2020, the war would still be raging? Surely, in all that time, the better angles of the fine citizens of Tennessee would have wanted to repair this blatant assault of their Black sisters and brothers.

So now, the buck has been passed again. It is up to the Tennessee Historical Commission to decide on removal of this offensive hunk of bronze. I hope that there are enough fine Tennesseans who the commission actually cares about who will speak up in support of removal. It’s past time to restore the dignity the past 40 years of state support for Nathan Bedford Forrest has stolen from our Black neighbors.

No more passing the buck. Take it down — NOW!

Dear Mr. Mysterio

“Dear Mr. Mysterio,

Hi! My name is Jen A. and I’m an avid follower of your “Hoboscope” column that appears bi-weekly in The Contributor.

I’m also a vendor of the paper so I suppose you have to know that I’m not looking to your astrological advice to make life decisions. The choices I’ve made are pretty much cast in stone at this point. And on the whole, I have to admit, I’m fairly content. The Contributor has afforded me the opportunity to make a living and I’ve met some very kind, wonderful people along the way.

When the global pandemic made landfall in Nashville, I’ll admit it knocked me off my pins. I hunkered down. I stopped selling my papers and stood for months watching the world through window glass. As I watched; the usual crush of cars on the highway gave way to endless caravans of FedEx and Amazon tractor trailers, and the smokey brown haze of pollution that usually hangs over our town disappeared. Bare trees sprouted lush green foliage and previously unnoticed birdsong greeted me each morning and lulled me to sleep each night. OK, that was a little annoying at first.

But then, I ran out of the great unequalizer — money — and developed a serious case of dermatillomania from the extreme stress that desperation brings. I hadn’t gotten a stimulus check because I don’t make enough to have to file taxes and I don’t receive any type of social security. I was told that I qualified for unemployment but that never materialized. I don’t think that the Tennessee unemployment system was set up to actually help anyone. I wrote to Rep. Jim Cooper to ask if he could help me with the stimulus. All these months later, I’ve only received campaign fliers from him. No help there. I was running on fumes — going down for the third time.

I don’t have a television — haven’t for many years. But when I heard on my magic radio box that George Floyd had been murdered, something inside me broke. In the early days of the lockdown, because of a heart condition and my type A blood, I was afraid if I went outside I’d get COVID-19 and die. After the horror of hearing George in the throes of death call out, “Mama”, I was now afraid that I wouldn’t die. I could not remember any event in my life that was more heartbreaking than that. And I’ve had some heartbreak.

So I’ve gone back to work. I don’t go out as much as I used to — just enough to pay my bills. It isn’t as much fun as it used to be because my customers are reluctant to take the paper. Having them drive off with a paper is my favorite part of the sale. I try to protect myself and them as best I can. I’ve designed a notouch device for the exchange of paper and money and encourage them to take it. I guess there just isn’t much trust in America these days. Unfortunately, I understand.

All this is to say: now that I’m buying papers again and have ready access to your column, I have a question. I’m usually able to puzzle out your clever astrological anecdotes to fit their wisdom into some aspect of my life that might need attention. You always make us work for our own truth. But this week, with your “Haikuscope”, I was stumped. If I had left the hose on, there would be no build up of pressure. The water would merely run free. Was that the point? Or did you mean that there’s a huge water bill in my future? Just curious.

Please be well and take good care. We need you now more than ever!

XO,

Jen A.”

Hi there, Jen

It’s always good to hear from a loyal reader. Better still, a reader who’s willing to share such a profound portrait of her own life. I feel like I got more from your story of 2020 than I’ve been able to glean from all the wisdom of the skies as of late. I’m so glad you’re able to sell papers again and I hope the fun comes back soon.

But, to your question about your haikuscope I would first say that even I can’t always puzzle-out the messages that I receive from The Stars. Sometimes it’s just an idea or a phrase other times it’s an image. I pass on what I can and I have to trust that a thoughtful Aquarius such as yourself can decide if it means anything.

What I can tell you is that the hose I was picturing when I wrote that ‘scope was the hose in my backyard when I was a kid. On the end of that hose there was a nozzle. My favorite thing was to shut the nozzle all the way off and let the pressure build up for just a few seconds. Then I’d turn it on and blast my unsuspecting sister who was on the back porch listening to the radio and flipping through magazines.

So. The hose is on but the pressure still builds. Maybe it’s just a question of where we point the nozzle when we finally let it out. I don’t recommend aiming it at your sister. She kicks.

Thanks for writing.

Mysteriously, — Mr. M.