Upon the announcement that he would resign, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder left his supporters dismayed and sad; those unfamiliar with his work, scratching their heads; and his enemies, enthusiastically reciting “good riddance.”
As I spoke with others about Holder’s resignation, one question kept surfacing: “Why?”
Why did Holder resign? Why not wait until the end of President Barack Obama’s term? Why now – just when momentum seemed to be picking up in regards to the criminal justice system? Why?
My thoughts: Perhaps Holder is tired. Maybe he no longer wanted to fight with those Congressional members who questioned his policies and critiqued him as being overly political. Or maybe Holder accomplished in nearly six years all that he sought to accomplish in the position.
The latter is probably the most realistic reasoning for Holder’s departure.
Earlier this year the nation’s first Black attorney general said this of when he would step down, “In terms of my own thinking of how long do I stay … I talk about tasks and trying to see certain things through,” Holder said. “I want to try to get a few things done before I ultimately leave.”
I respect Holder for what he has been able to accomplish and his efforts toward civil rights reform.
Holder will be remembered for his efforts toward racial and social justice.
He advocated for voting rights reform, aggressively fought mandatory drug sentencing, supported amendments to the U.S. Sentencing Commission in an effort to shorten incarceration for nonviolent inmates and keep thousands of people out of prison for extensive time periods, and Holder also exposed and boldly criticized the country’s school-to-prison-pipeline that is a harsh reality in most minority and underserved communities.
Many people, however, have and will continue to criticize Holder for his views on racism – citing him as “angry,” or “Obama’s race translator.”
A comment Holder made in 2009 seemed to incite those who viewed his perspectives on race as offense, even more.
During a public speech he said, “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.”
When Obama was elected president I knew the topic of race relations in America would be one that would either seed dialogue and progression, or aggression and disagreement. I also knew that as the nation’s first Black president, Obama would have to approach the subject with care.
I believed the same to be true for Holder when he was appointed. Because both are Black, I knew that some would be less receptive to any of their views on race. However, if either Obama or Holder were white and held their current positions and expressed their current perspectives on race relations; both men would probably be commended and viewed as progressive.
One commentator previously stated that Holder “turned the power of the Justice Department into a racially motivated turnout machine.” And Chief Justice John Roberts believed “the path to ending racial discrimination is to give less consideration to the issue of race altogether.”
Such perspectives will never move this country forward, which is why Holder’s tenure as attorney general was so significant. The perspective of equality naysayers is also why Holder’s resignation is so unfortunate.
While some rejoice because Holder has resigned, I rejoice that he accomplished so much. Moving forward, the key is for his successor to continue to fight for true justice for all people.
*****
I want to personally offer my heartfelt sympathy to the family of Louise Terry Batties.
Mrs. Batties as most people called her was a true woman. She embodied grace, sophistication and charm.
She was the “it” woman of her time and any longtime Recorder reader remembers seeing the countless photo spreads of Batties’ social functions in the paper.
I came to know Batties early in my career at the Recorder and she often reminded me of her contributions to Indianapolis, youth, and the Recorder Women’s Auxiliary in which she founded many years ago.
I thank God for the life of Mrs. Batties and the peace she now has.
I’m sure she’s now in heaven, dressed immaculately in some beautiful ensemble and wearing a pair of her signature high heels. God bless her and her family.
