Today, as you’re drinking way past your limit and just before you start doing shit you will seriously regret tomorrow, toast this day in Florida history.

December 7, 1918
Sidney J. Catts, Florida’s only Prohibition governor, called the Legislature into session to ratify the amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.

That’s right kids, not 90 years ago it was actually illegal for you and me to get our fade on. Can you imagine that shit? I most definitely would have either gone postal, or suicidal, or shat in my boss’ desk drawer if it weren’t for my beloved stash of the good stuff.

Now, that could be the end of the story, but no, our beloved Sidney J. Catts was notable for a few other things as well. You know, stuff like the fact he was sort of famous for his anti-Catholic and anti-black stance. I’m sure it was all just a misunderstanding, but he was actually quoted as referring to black residents of Florida as “an inferior race” and was Governer when two lynchings occurred in 1919, neither of which he seemed to be terribly troubled by. When the NAACP complained about these lynchings, Catts wrote denouncing the organization and blacks generally, declaring that “Your Race is always harping on the disgrace it brings to the state by a concourse of white people taking revenge for the dishonoring of a white woman, when if you would . . . [teach] your people not to kill our white officers and disgrace our white women, you would keep down a thousand times greater disgrace.” ( Colburn and Scher, Florida’s Gubernatorial Politics, 222.) .

Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for the brilliant Sidney J. Catts. Bro, this Milwaukee’s Beast is for you.