Annapolis slavery 'walk'

[Sharon]

The event is expected to bring between 500 and 1,000 people to the state capital. While most of the people walking — whites in chains and blacks as the slave traders — will be from London, the event organizers said they would welcome Annapolis residents who want to join. As of now, however, they expect 20 participants who will march through the streets in chains to promote harmony between the races.

The event is scheduled to coincide with the date in 1767 that Kunta Kinte, the enslaved ancestor of "Roots" author Alex Haley, arrived at the port in Annapolis.

"This is going to be an exciting event," said event organizer Joyce Hunt, who is a black. "There is nothing to be fearful of."

Alderman George Kelley Sr., a Democrat, who is black, said that once the event was fully explained to him, he favored it. "You can't just get over [slavery]. You need to talk about it," he said.

Longtime resident Glenn Sappington disagreed.
"Americans worked toward stopping the slave trade," Mr. Sappington, who is white, told the council. "I don't think putting whites into chains and marching them up the street helps us to heal. ... We don't need to have this kind of thing here in Annapolis."

Scott Bowling, who is white, was concerned that a hate group could ride the event's coattails into town and demand the same treatment.

Read the entire artile here

 

[Bogart]

Shouldn't they be marching in England or Holland or Africa?

 

[Ken King]

Shouldn't they be marching in England or Holland or Africa?

They couldn't afford the fees in Europe so they will bring them here and get an exemption that you and I can pay for.

 

[CMC122]

I think the Slave Walk is the stupidest thing I've heard of in a while. Way to fuel the wrong fire's.

 

[Shutterbug]

I think this can only be a bad thing. I can see hate groups having a hey-day with this.

 

[geminigrl]

I also think it is not a good idea. We are trying to get rid of the slavery stuff not bring it back.

 

[Kizzy]

I might make a few people mad but here it goes. After reading the article, my first thought was

Hummm

and they think the white people hold them down, when really, they are holding themselves down. This doesn't promote harmony, only hate and bitter feelings about something we have/nor had any control over.

IMO it is a way for the blacks supporting this to say "lookie here, look what the whites did to us."


We don't have Jewish marches.

 

[Penn]

I also think it is not a good idea. We are trying to get rid of the slavery stuff not bring it back.

You said exactly what I was thinking. So, reversing the roles, chaining up whites, while blacks act as slave traders is going to make it all better?

What goes through these people's minds as they dream up these affairs?

There are some who want the US Govt. to pay reparations to those black families who were slaves, a hundred and fifty years ago.
I was curious: are any of those slaves still alive, anymore than those who enslaved them, - are they still around too?

So, I have to ask what good will it do? Except to dredge up old ugly, smoldering memories?

 

[geminigrl]

You said exactly what I was thinking. So, reversing the roles, chaining up whites, while blacks act as slave traders is going to make it all better?

What goes through these people's minds as they dream up these affairs?

There are some who want the US Govt. to pay reparations to those black families who were slaves, a hundred and fifty years ago.
I was curious: are any of those slaves still alive, anymore than those who enslaved them, - are they still around too?

So, I have to ask what good will it do? Except to dredge up old ugly, smoldering memories?

I don't understand the point of the march much either? Neither me or my family had part in the slavery days. We all gripe and moan about slavery and racism but here we are reenacting it.

Isn't there better causes to march for? Cancer, kids, research, etc.

 

[justhangn]

I think better education will be the only thing that will end racial differences.

Blacks REALLY need to open their minds and see slavery for what it was, blacks selling the losers of their wars to the colonies. There were black slave owners as well as white people helping the blacks escape slavery.

 

[Penn]

I think better education will be the only thing that will end racial differences.

Blacks REALLY need to open their minds and see slavery for what it was, blacks selling the losers of their wars to the colonies. There were black slave owners as well as white people helping the blacks escape slavery.

:shrug: Two thoughts immediately come to mind:

Better education? JH, (1)either they are not being taught American History the way you and I were, or (2)the history books they are using these days in our schools aren't like the one used when I was a kid in grades 10 through 12.

I will say the Amer. History books we studied from did not devote a lot of material to blacks owning other blacks as slaves, or blacks owning indians too, for that matter.

 

[justhangn]

Facts be damned... Bad Karma for you!

I know.


How dare me point out the obvious....

The voice of a few opportunists fuels the minds of the ignorant (the masses).

 

[justhangn]

:shrug: Two thoughts immediately come to mind:

Better education? JH, (1)either they are not being taught American History the way you and I were, or (2)the history books they are using these days in our schools aren't like the one used when I was a kid in grades 10 through 12.

I will say the Amer. History books we studied from did not devote a lot of material to blacks owning other blacks as slaves, or blacks owning indians too, for that matter.

WELL, there wasn't MUCH information in the books we used either.......BUT there was a few sentences about it in the book we did use and when I asked the teacher questions about that, he didn't know so I took it upon myself to find out more information.......I actually submitted a report to the teacher and he read it to the class at which time the blacks said it was all lies.

By the way, the teacher was a recycled English teacher.

 

[Penn]

WELL, there wasn't MUCH information in the books we used either.......BUT there was a few sentences about it in the book we did use and when I asked the teacher questions about that, he didn't know so I took it upon myself to find out more information.......I actually submitted a report to the teacher and he read it to the class at which time the blacks said it was all lies.

By the way, the teacher was a recycled English teacher.

That's a wild one!
I had an English teacher in my junior and senior year who could make Shakespeare almost come alive.

She had a knack for reading poetry, and was the only one who could do that; of course it was obvious she had a passion for it.

Now my Fine Arts teacher, Ann Marie Alberghetti - whew! She had a passion too; she could make you sit up and take notice what she was, um
well, let's say she was uh, an uplifting experience! Yeah, that was it! I remember now!

 

[justhangn]

That's a wild one!
I had an English teacher in my junior and senior year who could make Shakespeare almost come alive.

She had a knack for reading poetry, and was the only one who could do that; of course it was obvious she had a passion for it.

Now my Fine Arts teacher, Ann Marie Alberghetti - whew! She had a passion too; she could make you sit up and take notice what she was, um
well, let's say she was uh, an uplifting experience! Yeah, that was it! I remember now!

Thankfully, there are a few good teachers that strike a spark in the minds of some children.......my US History teacher was another one that made me think and enjoy the history I was being shown......

 

[Dymphna]

And what about white slavery? Huntr's got an ancestor who was sold into slavery in Maryland. He was a Scottish rebel captured by the English and was probably purchased by one of my ancestors.

Granted, the term of slavery was limited to 7 years, but all the rules of slavery applied, including being sold in chains, packed like logs in slave ships, being beat at the whim of the master and a female slave who got pregnant increased her term of servitude to compensate for being unable to work to capacity, and defying her her terms of slavery by getting pregnant. Her child was automatically a slave until adulthood because the master was expected to feed and clothe them as an infant, so the child had to pay them back with service once they were old enough. In many cases the white slaves were treated worse because the feeling was blacks were considered inferior and not fit for anything but slavery, the whites should've known better than to bring this on themselves.

Granted these people were by far the minority, but they did exist too. Hmm, maybe I should sue the federal government on behalf of my children and demand reparations for their ancestor's enforced servitude.