Herbert and Blakeslee

Atrios links to a Bob Herbert column and notes that he doesn't link to Herbert often enough.

Despite my odd reticence to draw attention to his work, Herbert should be in line for every humanitarian award there is for his critical role in bringing attention to the Tulia, TX injustices. Herbert's contribution to the cause of justice in this situation cannot be overstated. One would hope that some of his colleagues would look at his example and begin to understand the power for good they have at their fingertips (cough, Modo, cough).'

And, even writing that... I've not given him enough credit. If once in my life I could claim as an accomplishment what Herbert did with the Tulia case I'd consider it a life worth living.

There's no question that Bob Herbert did a lot to bring the Tulia injustices to the world's attention, but it must be noted that the story was actually broken in June of 2000 by Texas Observer reporter Nate Blakeslee. Here's the Observer's complete coverage of Tulia, starting with the June 2000 article that got the ball rolling. However much credit Herbert deserves, Blakeslee deserves more. Herbert had the bigger microphone necessary to make people hear about Tulia, but it was Blakeslee's words that he was broadcasting.

This is all of special interest to me now. Last week I got an email from Dr. Char Miller, one of my favorite profs from Trinity. He's the editor of a just-released anthology called "Fifty Years of the Texas Observer", a review copy of which sits in my hot little hands. I plan on reading it in my copious spare time over the next two weeks or so and writing a review here. Stay tuned for more.

Here's a little taste of what you'll find. From an October 30, 1964 editorial called "This Man George Bush", about that Senate race that year:

Presenting himself as "responsible", he says his conservatism is "compassionate", yet he has so little sensitivity for the feelings of the needy aged; he wittily compares medical care for the aged with a federal program to air-condition ship holds for apes and baboons, a program which he has dubbed "medical air for the caged".

Plus ca change, eh? I'll bring more such tidbits as a go through the book. In the meantime, remember the Observer, which started publishing 50 years ago this December.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 07, 2004 to Crime and Punishment | TrackBack