#JFK #SammyDavisJr #Inauguration #InterracialCouple #DeanMartin
Did you know that John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, didn’t invite Sammy Davis Jr. to his 1961 inauguration because Sammy had married a white woman? 🤯 It’s true! JFK was worried that the presence of an interracial couple at his inauguration would upset Southerners. This decision by JFK not only shed light on the racial tensions of the time, but it also had repercussions in the entertainment industry.
Sammy Davis Jr. was a trailblazer in the entertainment industry. As a Black man in the 1950s and ’60s, he faced numerous challenges and discriminations. Despite this, he became a successful entertainer, known for his singing, dancing, and acting talents. However, his marriage to Swedish actress May Britt caused quite a stir.
May Britt was a white woman, and their union was controversial in the racially charged climate of the time. Despite this, their marriage was a testament to their love and an act of defiance against societal norms. In a time when interracial marriage was still illegal in many states, their love was a bold statement.
Unfortunately, not everyone was supportive of their union. When JFK decided not to invite Sammy Davis Jr. to his inauguration, it was a clear indication of the racial prejudices that were deeply ingrained in society at the time.
Even other entertainers took notice of JFK’s decision. Dean Martin, close friend of Sammy Davis Jr., was angered by the news and refused to attend the inauguration in solidarity with his friend. Martin’s refusal to attend was a strong statement against the racism and discrimination that Sammy and May faced. It was a moment of solidarity within the entertainment industry and a reminder of the power of standing up for what is right.
In hindsight, it’s clear that JFK’s decision was reflective of the racial tensions of the time. However, it’s important to recognize that we have come a long way since then. Interracial marriage is now legal and accepted throughout the United States. While there are still challenges and prejudices to overcome, the progress that has been made is undeniable.
The story of JFK, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin serves as a reminder of the struggles faced by those who dared to challenge societal norms. It also highlights the importance of standing up against discrimination and racism. Their story is not just a part of history, but a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and justice.
Today, it’s important to reflect on how far we have come and the work that still needs to be done. The fight against racism and discrimination is ongoing, and it requires continual effort and action from all of us. We can look to the example set by Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin as a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a more just and equal society.
As we reflect on the story of JFK, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin, it’s important to recognize the power of solidarity and allyship. Dean Martin’s refusal to attend the inauguration in solidarity with his friend was a powerful statement. It showed that standing up against injustice is not just the responsibility of those directly impacted, but of all of us.
In today’s world, it’s essential to be mindful of the ways in which we can support and uplift those who are marginalized and oppressed. Whether it’s standing up against discriminatory policies, speaking out against racism, or educating ourselves and others about the history of oppression, there are countless ways in which we can be allies in the fight for equality.
The story of JFK, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin serves as a reminder of the power of allyship and the importance of standing up for what is right. It’s a reminder that our actions, both big and small, can make a difference in the fight against discrimination and injustice.
It’s also a reminder of the progress that has been made. While there is still work to be done, we have come a long way since the 1960s. Interracial marriage is now legal and accepted, and the fight for equality continues to gain momentum.
As we continue to push for progress and change, it’s important to remember the stories and struggles of those who came before us. The story of JFK, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin is just one example of the challenges and injustices faced by marginalized communities. By learning from their experiences and standing in solidarity with those who are oppressed, we can continue to work towards a more just and inclusive society.
In conclusion, the story of JFK, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin is a powerful reminder of the racial tensions and discrimination of the past. It serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made and the work that still needs to be done. By standing up against discrimination, supporting those who are marginalized, and educating ourselves and others, we can continue to push for a more just and equitable world. Let’s not forget the lessons of history and use them to guide us in our ongoing fight for equality and justice. #Equality #CivilRights #Allyship #SocialJustice #Progress
Source: https://www.theknowledge.com/2021/11/26/the-rat-packs-reluctant-boozer/
And yet, JFK is directly responsible for the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Which, in turn, drove the racists in the Democratic Party into the Republican Party where they remain to this very day.
Rat Pack should be everyone’s squad goals 😎
And before anyone calls Dean an alcoholic – just remember, it was *all* a persona.
From the article:
*”Drinking – that was his gimmick,” his daughter Deana tells the New York Post. Martin faked his boozy persona by filling his glass with apple cider and pretending it was whisky. Behind closed doors, the father of eight was a straightforward family man – most of the time, he just wanted peace and quiet. At Deana’s rowdy 18th birthday party in 1966, Martin called the police, pretending to be an angry neighbour. He hoped they’d crash the party so he could get some sleep. But the police recognised his voice immediately. “They just said, ‘OK, Mr Martin, we’ll be right over.’” To which Martin replied: “No, I’m not Mr Martin, I’m an irate neighbour.”*
When Dean was asked in 1961 how much he *really* drank, this was his response:
*”About one-tenth as much as I pretend to. I used to really knock the hookers of sauce back, but I gave that up some time ago. Take a typical day here in Vegas. I get up at 11:30 every morning. By 12:30, I’m out on the first tee with three guys I play around with. I’m through about 15 minutes to four. Then I come in and have a sandwich and a bottle of beer. I’d be at the blackjack table and play until about 5:00.*
*“All that time I’d have nothing to drink except that one beer. Then I go to the health club. A guy gives me a massage, and I say, ‘Wake me at 7:30.’ He wakes me. I put on my clothes while I’m having four cups of black coffee and sugar, no cream. About 8:15 I’m in the casino playing a little more blackjack. I play until 8:30. Then I walk into the dining room, they announce my name, I get up on the stage, and I invariably overhear somebody at a ringside table say, ‘Look at his eyes! You can see how drunk he is.’”*
*”I’ll have a slug of a liquid in an Old Fashioned glass that looks like scotch right in front of everybody, but it’s really apple juice. Then, in the middle of my act, I have a real drink. When I’m through with the act, I go someplace and eat some good Italian food. I have a little wine with that meal, then I get back on stage for the second show. When that’s over, I have three or four or five drinks and maybe a sleeping pill. So that’s your alcoholic for you.”*
Then, the interview told Dean that he’s a “legendary drinker to the public.” Dean replied by saying:
*“I’m responsible for that,” he said, “because I’ve joked about it so much on the stage. I don’t want to disillusion people, but it’s been years since anyone has seen me really stoned. I don’t want to throw bouquets at myself either, but I’m 43, and I couldn’t look as young as I do and play as much golf as I do if I drank and cavorted as much as the public thinks.”*
How did not pissing off the southern whites work out for him?
“If there’s one person you can’t trust in this life, it’s millionaires’ kids.”-Jimmy Hoffa
the US has a very deep white supremacy problem and doesn’t want to admit it.
we should have listened to Sherman.
If you are proud of your confederate great grandpa you are the problem and the best argument against democracy.
everyone who downvotes this comment should be deported. Trump supporters are the most anti-American people in existence.
IIRC, Harry Belafonte and his wife Julie Robinson attended. My I understanding is that Sammy Davis Jr.’s marriage to May Britt was still new and attracting a lot of attention in the news.
At the end the of the day no president worked harder to really make civil rights a thing than JFK, and if not inviting Sammy Davis Jr to his inauguration party helped him win any amount of favor with southern politicians (at least some who probably eventually voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, JFK’s baby that LBJ made sure could get passed after the assassination) then it was well worth it. It’s easy to judge by today’s standards. But if JFK was hated by all the south on day 1 then segregation would probably have lasted a few more years at least.
Remember that at the time Peter Lawford was a member of the Rat Pack, and also JFK’s brother-in-law…
I know racism is very far from over. I know that people suffer systemic injustice, and outright oppression. I know people of color are still regularly subjected to anything from harassment to outright murder from police.
But goddamn, it’s still wild to me when I read about just how out in the open it was, only a couple of generations ago.
Take note. Racism has always been cringe and dumb as hell
Apparently JFK’s father, Joe Sr., was most of the way to a Nazi in being both rabidly anti-Semitic and racist, and Sammy having married a “Nordic” woman *really* pissed him off.
Teddy Roosevelt was the first white to invite a black to eat at the white house
How do we know JFK himself was behind this decision, and this is not just another attempt to besmirch him in his grave?
I think Frank Sinatra’s daughter Nancy said something similar about her dad. If Sammy wasn’t invited he wasn’t gonna go.
Country has been walking on eggshells to appease the worst of the US for decades.
yeah, JFK was kinda the inverse of LBJ. kennedy was smooth, looked cool, people loved him. privately he was a dick. his policies were often pretty fucked, and even his good policies got carried out by others
johnson was ugly, bad manners, a huge bully, no one liked being around him. publicly he was a dick. but with the exception of vietnam, his policies were straight fire and he absolutely annihilated nixon by just straight up doing better laws than that ass
I wonder what America would look like now if all the things that were done so as to ‘not upset Southerners’ were not done.
I’m going to go with ‘better’.
It’s so fucking crazy that 100+ years later we’re still dealing with a section of the country that just won’t get over the Civil War and the loss of their slaves and still carry such hatred for a people that haven’t done anything to them other than having a different skin color.
Just wild.
So what ai am getting here is that the “fuck your feelings” crowd have been fragile little snowflakes that we have been protecting for way too fucking long.
And how has walking on eggshells around southern prejudice worked out in the long term?
Times has changed. Clarence married a white woman and the south loves him
Not surprised a man who was okay with his lobotomised sister being abandoned and left to rot in an asylum, with no visitors for over 20 years, cared more about his reputation than anything else
I’ve heard a bunch of stories like this about the Rat Pack.
If you can’t accept *all* of them, then you get fucking none of them.
Ain’t that a kick in the head?
tbf Kennedy’s suspicions that people hated him enough to kill him turned out to be right
I really hate how everyone walks on eggshells to not upset racists and bigots.
Yes, this sounds bad.
But in the context that Loving v. Virginia wasn’t decided until 1967. The Supreme Court decision that declared laws banning interracial marriage unconstitutional. In 1961, there was very little support for interracial marriage, and this carried on long past Loving v. Virginia.
[Anti-miscegenation laws in the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-miscegenation_laws_in_the_United_States)
Disrespectfully, fuck the south.
Every state south of the Masin Dixon lone was solid democrats until LBJ signed the ERA. The next election and all following they voted republican. Mitch McConnell has ruled the senate for decades and has done absolutely nothing for his district’s unemployment crisis. They
Vote him in purely on his party affiliation and claim every republican is a godsend and democrats drink baby blood in satanic rituals. Republican underfunding schools works, for politicians
And here we have a great example of why this country is so dogshit. Decades upon decades of stupid, gullible, milquetoast democrats leaning over the aisle and doing their best to make racist dogshit people happy.
The Rat Pack had a rule that if Sammy wasn’t allowed then they wouldn’t play the gig
God forbid we anger those cousin fucking uneducated bigots. Fuck southerners
Fucking catering to Southern bigots. And look where that’s got us