These recollections originally were published on Gerald Blessey’s Substack page and can be linked at geraldblessey333.substack.com. It is part of Mississippi Today Ideas’ effort to provideMississippians a platform for thoughtful, fact-based ideas about our state’s past, present and future. You can read more about the section here.
Mississippi’s Legislative Black Caucus filed House Bill 1446 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to enact a state Voting Rights Act, named in honor of my friend, the late Rep. Robert G. Clark, Jr., who in 1967, became the first Black Mississippian elected to the Mississippi Legislature since the 1800s. Robert was a very courageous, fearless gentleman. His decision to seek election in the 60s was in itself a profile in courage. In the 70s, I represented Biloxi in the House and served with Robert for 10 years.
Loyalty test
In February 1974, the House Rules Committee put on the floor a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to repeal the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. The resolution was a test of members’ loyalty to the old order.
Four shocked the House
Robert went to the podium and spoke eloquently against the resolution.
As soon as Robert finished, I stood up. The speaker asked, “For what purpose does the gentleman from Harrison seek recognition?” I answered, “To speak against the Resolution.” Suddenly, you could hear a pin drop. No one expected any white members to oppose it. I walked through the hush to the podium.
Here’s the gist of what I said: “Just a few short years ago, I was in the mountain jungles of Viet Nam, where many of my friends, Black and white, gave their lives to protect the right to vote, for their families and future generations. On the street where I grew up in Biloxi, two of my neighbors, one Black and one white, 19-year old infantrymen who were not even old enough to vote, were killed in Viet Nam. I will not dishonor their sacrifice by voting for this sham resolution!”
At the time, I was the only Viet Nam vet in the Legislature, but there were many WWII and Korean vets in the House. I looked straight at my friend, Rep. Charlie Capps, a WWII vet and former sheriff of Bolivar County, and said: “Many of you fought for these rights, too. You know that a repeal of the Voting Rights Act would mean Black people will be kicked off the voting rolls in many places, and Mississippi will retreat to a darker past. You know this is wrong. Vote against this awful resolution.”
I sat down. Then, more shocks to the Old Guard: young Walter Brown of Natchez spoke forcefully against the measure, and my fellow Biloxian, Jerry O’Keefe, Jr., passionately condemned it. Yet, it passed, 97-4. A sad day for Mississippi. However, there was some hope. After adjournment, many of the younger members came up to me to say they agreed with the four opponents but feared a “no” vote would defeat them in the next election.
Years later
In 2018, it was my honor to join Rep. Willie Bailey of Greenville in introducing Robert Clark as the recipient of the Champions of Justice award given by the Mississippi Center for Justice at the Jackson Convention Center. We spoke about Robert Clark’s distinguished career. See the speeches on YouTube here.
2026: Rep. Bryant Clark picks up the torch
Robert’s son, Rep. Bryant Clark, is a co-sponsor of the new bill. On the day of filing, he said, “[M]y daddy taught me one thing. He taught me when democracy is threatened, you don’t give up. You fight harder.”
Bio: Gerald Blessey was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, mayor of Biloxi, president of the Mississippi Municipal League and Mississippi Coast Housing director after Hurricane Katrina. He is a graduate of Biloxi High, Ole Miss B.A. & J.D. and Harvard Law School; Vietnam veteran, Bronze Star recipient, 1st lieutenant Army, military intelligence. He and his wife, Paige Gutierrez, live in Biloxi.
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