RE: [rehfans] Howard and racism

[Mark E. Hall]

> What exactly does Gerstle say about mixed marriages in
> that book?  Does it say how prevalent they were?  I
> would think they must have been fairly frequent for
> state legislators to get involved?  Like the old Lenny
> Bruce gag about screwing chickens.  If they passed a
> law agin it, quite a few people must be doing it.

Gerstle sees the issue stemming in part from Teddy Roosevelt's blending
of "essentialism", nation building, and his philosophy of which races
(now we would say ethnic groups) were fit to be "Americans".  I think he
builds a very good case on TR's role in setting the tone for the race
issue in America from the late 1890s to 1920s.  If I find fault with
Gerstle is that he ignores the issue of Social Darwinism/Tylorism.  

Gerstle doesn't give a number for them.  That's why you would have to go
into the Census records, or better yet, the various court house and
church records for marriages.

Later, MEH