Post by Tamrin on Aug 15, 2010 10:51:21 GMT 10
Black Women Freemasons, by Paul Rich and Guillermo De Los Reyes (excerpts):
Professors Paul Rich and Guillermo De Los Reyes
The irony of white Masonry's claims to brotherhood in the face of the adamancy with which it has remained resolutely segregated has largely been ignored by Masonic scholars, just as the fact that Brother George Washington owned slaves is ignored when his Masonic leadership and high-mindedness is praised. That, as the year 2000 approaches, the matter of Masonic Jim Crowism has finally become a major embarrassment to the white grand lodges in the United States deserves neither gratitude nor commendation, any more than does any other simple act of decency and honesty. It is akin to praising motorists for not running over pedestrians at intersections. Should one really gives awards for members of a moral and altruistic organization actually behaving according to its precepts? In any event, much of the concern and motivation on the part of white Masonic bodies is not over the hypocrisy of running fraternities without brotherhood but rather anxiety about keeping tax exemptions and avoiding scandal in the press that will force members in public service to resign.
That history is used selectively to discredit the role of Prince Hall or to misinterpret the role of women in the lodges should not be surprising. Masonic historiography is not exempt from the prejudices displayed by historians in general. Indeed, it suffers from all the problems in extenso.
That history is used selectively to discredit the role of Prince Hall or to misinterpret the role of women in the lodges should not be surprising. Masonic historiography is not exempt from the prejudices displayed by historians in general. Indeed, it suffers from all the problems in extenso.
Masons are not all yahoos and good old boys and we would not conclude by leaving that impression. Discussion of the place of women and blacks viz the oldline white grand lodges is at an alltime high. While mainstream Masonry in America remains a male and white organization, Masonry is not an expression of a rude and crude male chavinism and racism as so many of the male movements were or even are. Freemasonry displays considerable evidence of its Enlightenment roots. In the initiation there are injunctions to temperance and prudence, along with the imparting of considerable esoteric knowledge. When that is considered in conjunction with the usually elaborate lodge room where the degree is communicated, and the fact that the officers often are in formal dress, one sees that there is considerable residual sophistication.
In ways, the ultimate test of the American society will be when black women Masons are freely accepted by their white male counterparts. Then one will be able to say that old prejudices have truly expired.
In ways, the ultimate test of the American society will be when black women Masons are freely accepted by their white male counterparts. Then one will be able to say that old prejudices have truly expired.
Professors Paul Rich and Guillermo De Los Reyes