“Truman’s progressive civil rights record stood in some contrast with his personal prejudices. He differentiated between “political equality,” by which he meant the government’s duty to treat all citizens equally regardless of race, and “social equality,” which were code words for racial integration.” TrumanSocial EqualityRacial SegregationPolitical EqualityEquality And Attitude Book:Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard and the Awakening of President Harry S. Truman and Judge J. Waties Waring Source: Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard and the Awakening of President Harry S. Truman and Judge J. Waties Waring
“[Truman’s] consistent support for civil rights legislation was a natural consequence of his political origins as an ally of Tom Pendergast, the Kansas City political boss whose machine relied on loyal support from the city’s black wards. In explaining his vote for anti-lynching legislation, Truman told a southern colleague that the “the Negro vote in Kansas City and St. Louis is too important” to vote otherwise.” Civil RightsTrumanPolitical BossesBlack Voting Rights Author:Richard Gergel