Getting past our History of Slavery

On this, the third day of February 2011, Black History Month, it is quite fitting that we address the recent revisions of slavery that we have heard from a few of our elected leaders.  If we ever intend on getting past this divisive history, it must first be presented correctly by those who we choose to lead.

We all should be aware by now, the news that Michele Bachman made when she informed us that the founding fathers had abolished slavery.  Many can remember what Governor Hailey Barber said about how bad things were for blacks growing up in Yazoo, Mississippi.  There have been others as well but those were the most recent ones to memory.  We can all admit that it was a time which has stained this country for generations and probably will for generations to come but there is coming a time when we are going to have to let this stay in the past and not regard it as something of a third rail and untouchable.

Many suffered during this time and that suffering was not limited to just blacks.  There were marchers who were white that also endured the same treatment and in some cases worse because they were viewed as “N”-lovers.  It must also be clear that slavery was not limited only to the south; there were slavery in the northern states as well except they may have been called maids, butlers and drivers.  These same individuals may not have been treated not as bad as those in the south but they were still viewed through the same lens and paid much less than they were worth.

Just as one color can not claim the abuses of slavery all its own neither can one part of the country.  We have to come to grips with this and deal with it as adults.  We must only use this knowledge to learn from and not repeat it.  Many suffered and some died to get us to this very point and the last thing we need to do is let their suffering and death be in vain.