I Didn’t Know the Klan Kept Daytime Hours
Things sure look bad for William “Hootie” Johnson, Chairman of
Augusta National. Supposedly a good guy on civil rights, and a
proponent of expanding Augusta National’s membership, he has been
forced into a polar position on the issue of admitting women
because Martha Burk, a career opportunist who has put grabbing
headlines ahead of advancing legitimate causes for women, has
insisted on hanging his scalp from her belt. A good definition of
“trouble” is when the Klan comes to your defense.
But appearances are deceiving. Johnson can use the KKK’s
appearance on the scene to resolve the issue and heap scorn, rather
than credit, on Martha Burk. Hootie, this is the announcement you
should make:
“The Masters golf tournament, apart from benefiting Augusta
National financially, benefits the Augusta economy, the tens of
thousands of patrons who travel from around the world to enjoy the
tournament, and local and national charities that have received
over $15 million over the last five years.
“Martha Burk knew that announcing an intention to picket The
Masters would create a disruptive atmosphere. The Ku Klux Klan
followed her to announce that it, too, would picket. Ms. Burk said
to the media, ‘They are going to have a real circus if this goes
on.’
“Martha Burk’s scorched earth policy apparently knows no bounds.
Not content with harassing Augusta National’s members with letters
and at their places of business, she has delighted in making this
sporting event, which has nothing to do with our membership
policies, an uncomfortable and possibly even threatening
environment for patrons and members of the Augusta community and
charitable organizations that benefit from the tournament.
“We would rather capitulate than let her hold those innocent
people hostage to her agenda. Augusta National will invite a woman
to join by the end of 2003. We will not negotiate with Martha Burk
or make any further announcements regarding our membership.”
My Picks for Augusta National and The Masters
In the event Hootie Johnson doesn’t follow my advice and issue
the announcement as recommended, Martha Burk will move ahead,
though I truly believe that she will be unable to gather
significant support to picket the tournament.
Martha’s group, the National Council of Women’s Organizations
(NCWO), doesn’t have the manpower. (Should that be “personpower” or
“womanpower”? Anyone?) It represents a network of 100
organizations, and those organizations have six million members,
but the members of those organizations don’t answer to her. In
fact, I bet a bunch of them think she’s a gasbag: Center for the
Child Care Workforce? Institute for Health and Aging? National
Black Women’s Health Project? League of Women Voters? Wages for
Housework Campaign? African-American Women’s Clergy Association? I
don’t see Martha Burk whipping up a bunch of support from those
groups to go to Augusta in April, beautiful though it is, and
picket. Unless the picketers come from Central Casting — they
won’t be Augusta residents, I bet — I don’t know who would go
through the trouble.
By the way, if you want an eye-opener, check out the NCWO’s
website. If you
want to join that organization, your organization has to be
composed “predominantly of women.” That sounds discriminatory if
you ask me, especially with Martha trying to perform the
quasi-public function of Queen of Equality. Wanna picket?
On the other hand, if Hootie does follow my advice, I’m picking
Judy Bell as the first female member. Bell had a long and
distinguished career as an amateur golfer, was President of USGA in
1996-1997 (the first woman to so serve), and has been a successful
entrepreneur in Colorado. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of
Fame.
Just call it a hunch.
Lawyers As Heroes, Part II
If you don’t want to concede that the Ku Klux Klan has helped
resolve this mess, at least recognize, as a continuing part of our
debate
about the role of lawyers in America, that lawyers get the credit
for putting the Klan out of business.
• In 1987, an Alabama jury held United Klans of America
responsible for the 1981 lynching of Michael Donald, awarding his
family $7 million. The Klan had to turn over all its assets,
including its national headquarters.
• In October 1988, an interracial group marching to honor
Martin Luther King won a verdict of $1 million against two Klan
organizations and eleven Klan members. Investigators traced the
assets of the Invisible Empire, a major Klan defendant in the case,
over a five-year period and, in 1994, its leader was forced to pay
damages and disband his organization. The group’s office equipment
was given to the NAACP.
• In 1998, a South Carolina jury ordered the Christian
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Grand Dragon Horace King, and four
other Klansmen to pay $37.8 million for conspiracy to burn down the
Macedonia Baptist Church. (The court reduced the award to $21.5
million.)
A word to the wise on marketing: to most of the world, “Ku Klux
Klan” automatically means bad news, but if you’re part of that
minority that wears masks and burns crosses, you obviously feel
otherwise. If, however, you are trying to pass in decent society
and trick people into believing you’re just another private club,
the name “Invisible Empire” sticks out like a sore thumb. Bypassing
the “Chairman” title for “Grand Dragon” is also a tip-off that you
are out of step with the rest of the world.
And, thanks, lawyers, for the great job!
