Posted on Jan 17, 2019
The Dangers of Whitewashing Black History | David Ikard | TEDxNashville
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Racism
Education
American History
Slavery
Posted 6 y ago
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••••••••••My Disclaimer••••••••••
Some may get mad at me for what I am about to share, but it is historically validated.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
On that note, let’s begin.
“America’s Original Sin” by Jim Wallis is a study into our Country’s original sin: racism.
When the colonies decided to fight for their freedoms, they needed all of the manpower they could get. History tells us that the slaves and other Black Americans had gone to the British and requested freedom in the United States because of Somersett’s Case ruling that slavery on English soil was not supported. This occurred in 1772, and shortly after, Black Americans approached the British requesting the same.
The answer was no, and this paved the way for the Revolutionaries to enlist help, by promising freedom for Black Americans after a year of service to the American Revolutionaries.
After the United States became a free Country, they decided that slavery was a “necessary evil”, and they justified this by concluding that the Black Americans were considered “less than human”, and so slavery continued.
The Civil War, while abolishing slavery, did not solve the underlying issue: Black Americans were still looked at as “less than equals” by the vast majority of White Americans.
The Civil Rights movement was successful, but after the death of Martin Luther King, it became more violent, because the very symbol of hope had been destroyed. Martin Luther King was not simply a great person and natural leader, he was the voice of love and compassion. When he was assassinated, the hope that peace and love would fix things was assassinated as well.
Our Declaration of Independence was great, our desire to interpret the following to meet our own needs (slavery) was off.
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...”
This is our Declaration of independence’s second paragraph, preceded by the one which explains why the document is important.
Where we messed up, and continue to mess up, is in “men”. The Founding Fathers terminology, either intentionally or accidentally did not choose to specify this meaning, because it is vague.
“Mankind” or “humans” would have been choice words.
This is our original sin that started with a lie about freedom after fighting.
The only way to fight back is through peace, education, and what I believe to be the most important; love.
If you’re a white American and this offends you, please reach deep inside and ask yourself why this offends you. The answer may surprise you.
Thank you for sharing this video SGT (Join to see), great lesson on history and opening your eyes to other people’s pain and how we CANNOT tell how a person feels because we have not walked in their shoes.
In this Nation, we will always be divided if we cannot address America’s original sin.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs,SPC Douglas Bolton,Brig Gen Jim Jaeger,CPT Jack Durish,Maj Marty Hogan,SPC Christopher Smith,Lt Col Charlie Brown,Cpl Scott McCarroll,SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth,SP5 Mark Kuzinski,SGT Elizabeth Scheck,PFC Jacob Wrubel,MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy,SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL,SSG William Jones,TSgt Joe C.,SSgt Robert Marx,SGT Robert George, LTC Stephen F.
Some may get mad at me for what I am about to share, but it is historically validated.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
On that note, let’s begin.
“America’s Original Sin” by Jim Wallis is a study into our Country’s original sin: racism.
When the colonies decided to fight for their freedoms, they needed all of the manpower they could get. History tells us that the slaves and other Black Americans had gone to the British and requested freedom in the United States because of Somersett’s Case ruling that slavery on English soil was not supported. This occurred in 1772, and shortly after, Black Americans approached the British requesting the same.
The answer was no, and this paved the way for the Revolutionaries to enlist help, by promising freedom for Black Americans after a year of service to the American Revolutionaries.
After the United States became a free Country, they decided that slavery was a “necessary evil”, and they justified this by concluding that the Black Americans were considered “less than human”, and so slavery continued.
The Civil War, while abolishing slavery, did not solve the underlying issue: Black Americans were still looked at as “less than equals” by the vast majority of White Americans.
The Civil Rights movement was successful, but after the death of Martin Luther King, it became more violent, because the very symbol of hope had been destroyed. Martin Luther King was not simply a great person and natural leader, he was the voice of love and compassion. When he was assassinated, the hope that peace and love would fix things was assassinated as well.
Our Declaration of Independence was great, our desire to interpret the following to meet our own needs (slavery) was off.
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...”
This is our Declaration of independence’s second paragraph, preceded by the one which explains why the document is important.
Where we messed up, and continue to mess up, is in “men”. The Founding Fathers terminology, either intentionally or accidentally did not choose to specify this meaning, because it is vague.
“Mankind” or “humans” would have been choice words.
This is our original sin that started with a lie about freedom after fighting.
The only way to fight back is through peace, education, and what I believe to be the most important; love.
If you’re a white American and this offends you, please reach deep inside and ask yourself why this offends you. The answer may surprise you.
Thank you for sharing this video SGT (Join to see), great lesson on history and opening your eyes to other people’s pain and how we CANNOT tell how a person feels because we have not walked in their shoes.
In this Nation, we will always be divided if we cannot address America’s original sin.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs,SPC Douglas Bolton,Brig Gen Jim Jaeger,CPT Jack Durish,Maj Marty Hogan,SPC Christopher Smith,Lt Col Charlie Brown,Cpl Scott McCarroll,SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth,SP5 Mark Kuzinski,SGT Elizabeth Scheck,PFC Jacob Wrubel,MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy,SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL,SSG William Jones,TSgt Joe C.,SSgt Robert Marx,SGT Robert George, LTC Stephen F.
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CPT Jack Durish
History is the study of events. Psychology is the study of feelings and motivations. They don't mix well. Whereas the history you have cited is accurate, the assignment of motivations is purely guesswork. Was the promise of freedom a "lie"? To answer that would require evidence that simply does not exist. However, there is some interesting evidence that can be found simply by reading the Founding Documents. "Man" has a long history of being used in place of "human" or "people". Thus, it is simple to infer that rights and freedoms are guaranteed to all so long as you're willing to read them in that light. Yes, men in those times did not equate those of different races as being equal to "man" (at least not men of their sort). The same can be said for interpretations being inclusive of women. However, (and here comes the "but"), nowhere in the Declaration or Constitution is there any specific mention excluding different races or women. Rights could be attributed to blacks and women without any rewriting. Indeed, the "three-fifths" clause was instrumental in granting freedom to slaves. Without it, the South could have counted their slaves for the purposes of apportionment and thus held sway in Congress to block any future attempts to free them. Therefore, it seems that the authors of those documents sneaked one past the slave owners to gain ratification without permanently enslaving blacks. That brings me back to your implication that anyone was lying. Seems to me that the only lies told ultimately enabled the freeing of slaves, the enfranchisement of women, and equal rights for all. The Founders only focused on creating a new form of government. They left it up to us to insure equal justice for all which is only possible so long as we enable there vision of limited government, one which cannot suppress or oppress individuals of any sort.
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SGT Michael Thorin
I see what you are saying CPT Jack Durish. To take a step back and then, from a completely objective point of view, and without “inferring” ulterior motives is impossible to guess.
I still believe that at first those fighting for our Country wanted to give the slaves a reason to fight.
The motivation may have been honest and sincere when this war began.
Thanks for giving the “other perspective. I still believe that, whether it was accidental or intentional, it is America’s original sin.
One thing I believe we can agree on is that racism and bigotry is a biproduct of hate. We cannot regulate hate, the best we can do is try to educate.
Thank you brother, your input is greatly appreciated.
I still believe that at first those fighting for our Country wanted to give the slaves a reason to fight.
The motivation may have been honest and sincere when this war began.
Thanks for giving the “other perspective. I still believe that, whether it was accidental or intentional, it is America’s original sin.
One thing I believe we can agree on is that racism and bigotry is a biproduct of hate. We cannot regulate hate, the best we can do is try to educate.
Thank you brother, your input is greatly appreciated.
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CPT Jack Durish
SGT Michael Thorin - No question that slavery is America's original sin, but when do we accept repentance? No one alive today was born into slavery. And those born into Jim Crowe prejudice are passing on. What purpose does it serve to continue a battle fought and won? Does prejudice still exist? Absolutely, but it no longer has a legal foundation. Those who practice prejudicial behavior are no longer accepted in polite company. And, tarring the innocent with the stigma of this "original sin" is counter productive, isn't it?
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SGT (Join to see)
CPT Jack Durish - The focus should be on learning and educating Americans on the true complex history of slavery and its relationship with our country.
A battle has been won, yes. Racism is illegal. But the battle on true history education is seemingly being lost. And the war on equality in USA continues as we've slowly narrowed our inferiority status to exclude Africans, women, disabled folks. LGBT and religious groups are still there.
Generalization, stereotypes, racism, and sexism are all different shades of ignorance and arrogance. A big step in diffusing it is a combined effort in honest caring communication and educating ourselves on our country's past.
The war is to continue progressing forward. Being able to understand and communicate about such American history helps prevent us from reverting. Understand your history or you're doomed to repeat it, right?
A battle has been won, yes. Racism is illegal. But the battle on true history education is seemingly being lost. And the war on equality in USA continues as we've slowly narrowed our inferiority status to exclude Africans, women, disabled folks. LGBT and religious groups are still there.
Generalization, stereotypes, racism, and sexism are all different shades of ignorance and arrogance. A big step in diffusing it is a combined effort in honest caring communication and educating ourselves on our country's past.
The war is to continue progressing forward. Being able to understand and communicate about such American history helps prevent us from reverting. Understand your history or you're doomed to repeat it, right?
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