Many of the founders of the United States, were slave owners. The wealth of landowners and plantations was earned by the hard labors of enslaved people. It is one of the most shameful elements of early America. Slave owners came from all walks of life, all genders, all religions, and all races.
Mt Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington was a southern plantation of the colonial era, it's financial success was earned by slave labor. Over the past 40 years, since my first visit to Mt Vernon, the estate has increasingly acknowledged this legacy.
Just across from the mausoleum built by instructions left in George Washington's will, is the slave burial ground. Cemeteries continued to be segregated into the 1900's. Visiting the burial ground, I noticed rectangular patterns on the ground. Looking closer there are corner pins, and heavy string outlining what are clearly graves, unmarked graves of the people who lived and worked here. There are a couple of monuments and markers, but for the most part the string outlines from archeologists are the only acknowledgement of the humanity that is buried here.
As the marker describes, George Washington granted freedom in his will to the slaves he controlled the destiny of, but not until the death of his wife Martha. She granted them freedom before her death. The rest of the story, she had learned that the slaves had learned that they would be granted their freedom at her death, she wrote to a friend that she feared they would speed up their freedom if she didn't act.
I've been to Mount Vernon twice but it has been years and years so I know I've never seen any of this so you're talking about. And boy what a sad commentary that slaves or even buried in separate cemeteries. But I did read in a book once about Martha Washington setting the slaves free, and that letter that you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI remember being shocked by the reality of the slave quarters at Mt. Vernon the first time I was there. More shameful times in history.
ReplyDeleteProof that what is accepted as normal, sometimes shouldn't be.
DeleteInteresting. You may be aware that the English Guardian newspaper, formerly The Manchester Guardian, original owner had wealth built on the slavery, yet the paper campaigned to abolish slavery. The current paper is well aware of its past and its journalists have written about it.
ReplyDeleteToday we and our 14 year old niece visited one of our war history sites, The very grand Shrine of Remembrance. R just found it all too sad to visit. War and slavery is sad, but we need to know about it. Then to add to the misery, I read about how many innocent black people are killed by police in LA.
Racism is still rampant,
DeleteWell, that additional information puts a new light on Martha Washington's "generosity," doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteYes it does, often it is the rest of the story that is hidden to make the story sound better
DeleteStatues that glorified the confederacy have been pulled down so what about slave owner George Washington? Should Washington D.C. get a name change? And what about Washington State and the one dollar bill?
ReplyDeleteThe biggest change was Conferate war memorials that were put up 50-75 years after the war ended.
DeleteHistory that some so-called leaders are trying desperately to suppress.
ReplyDeleteLearning from the past, should make us feel uncomfortable.
Delete"Many of the founders of the United States, were slave owners. "
ReplyDeleteSay that again and again for those on the right who wish to rewrite history.
And most of the civil war memorials were erected at the beginning of the civil rights era.
DeleteEvery time the reality of slavery makes its way into my conscious mind, I feel ill. There are few greater shames humanity should feel than that of knowing one human owned another one. Disgusting doesn't come close to describing the practice.
ReplyDeleteSassybear
https://idleeyesandadormy.com/