The first slaves in this country were British children. I'm so sick of hearing about slavery when nobody is taught the truth. Black criminality has accelerated and they awarded numerous state holidays. Unbelievable.
I decided to try following you as your comment on todays Free Press essay made me laugh out loud, startling the dog. I read your Juneteenth essay and can relate to a good bit of it. I’m just not in the same intellectual league with you but had some similar childhood experiences regarding race relations. There wasn’t segregation here but racial tension was palpable growing up. It’s not too far from your hometown, I grew up in Silver Spring Md to parents that were native to Washington DC.
I still live in Md though considerably further north.
Anyhow, I thoroughly enjoyed your writing and look forward to reading more in the future.
Apologies to the dog, but honored to have you onboard. Maryland, it is often forgotten, swirled with racial animus. Eastern Shore had a good bit of Klan activity. George Wallace did very well in the state’s presidential voting (and it’s where he was shot). And the former, longtime state song was a Confederate favorite that portrayed Lincoln as a despot and Union troops as “Northern scum.” I’ll look forward to your future comments.
It is the old line state, where the line to freedom was drawn but that line was between Pa and Md, leaving Md a solid southern state. It’s my understanding that much of the state wanted to side with the confederacy but that would have placed DC in the south which wouldn’t have worked. There are two old slave quarters on our property but one was transported here by a former owner who wanted to preserve it for the historical significance. Seeing as how there is no monument to the ppl who lived in them I feel they can be remembered by caring for them. They are nearly identical to ones still standing on Mt Vernon.
Anyway, the old tobacco plantations in southern Md probably still have a few as well.
The last time I remember seeing any open Klan activity was in 1990 and they were not well received. Before that I don’t recall ever seeing any. At the end of the street I grew up on there was an old small community of tarpaper houses where freed slaves first lived. My first best friend was a little girl whose family had lived there since the civil war ended. Her mother moved her away to Chicago in 1961.
I am two degrees separated from someone who was a slave in the German camps, and three degrees separated from someone who is now a slave of Hamas, if still living. But of course they don’t count. J.
I was one degree of separation away from a number of slaves in German camps--and a sizable number of near-slaves in Communist hellholes. And two or three degrees from the Hamas slaves. And, as you and I would certainly agree, they do count. Just not in certain depraved circles.
That I do. Richmond had a number of Holocaust survivors, and I knew several. I have loads of friends from Russia, Cuba, Vietnam, China, and other places soiled by Marx's ideological detritus.
I spent several years in Virginia at UVA in the early 90’s. The South was still different from the other places I had lived- West Coast, Southwest, the upper Midwest, and the Northeast. What struck me after a bit of time was that the Blacks I saw while working at the hospital were never at any of bars and restaurants around Charlottesville. I never observed any overtly racist behavior, but there was definitely segregated society, in the midst of a well educated and affluent community. I was subsequently appalled to learn that the city schools had fought quite vigorously and over a period of years to avoid court ordered integration in the late 1950’s- mid 1960’s, closing schools for several months in 1958-1959. I think clearly UVA is as liberal as any campus in America now.
I don’t know if racial animus will ever leave us. The country seemed to be gradually improving in race relations until identity politics from the Left became the rage (literally) with the election of Barack Obama. We seem to be regressing at the moment, which is creating an atomization of society into a tribal configuration. It’s bad for America. The answer to racism is not more racism.
The crazy thing to me about President Obama was how exciting it was to have a POC as POTUS only to have the result of deteriorated race relations. I’m rather a conservative and didn’t like his politics but was hopeful that his tenure would reap improved relations. I don’t think it was simply that there was resentment by conservatives, political tension has been around long before Barack Obama, but that any rejection of his policies was declared proof of bigotry. His remarks at times didn’t help either.
He definitely ushered in the identity politics and the whole DEI/CRT paradigm. Rather a disappointing consequence. Racial animus is probably the dumbest thing some humans harbor. Even Obama came out with the statement that systemic racism is no longer a meaningful problem in America. That’s not to say there still aren’t a few pigheaded ppl but they wield no significant power.
Interesting. I went to UVa in the early to mid 70s. Racial intermingling was not unknown but, as you suggest, not common. And yes, the Charlottesville school situation was deeply lamentable. I was friends with a key figure in that mess--one who went on to play a powerful role in bridging racial divides in his later endeavors. And, I thoroughly agree with your second paragraph. I've written extensively about that era. You might enjoy this piece, in particular: https://graboyes.substack.com/p/do-not-go-gentle
Thank you for your wonderful post on Juneteenth. I also have fond memories of the woman who came to our home, helped make our food, and broke bread with us at our table. You brought back many fond memories, including the march we participated in together, many memories of the struggles of our African American friends first integrated into our school system , and how we ( you and I in our own classes and band) helped to ease some of their distress, fears, and feelings of loneliness in a sea of white kids they did not know. For many of us music was our bond, and band class was where we fused relationships. In a small way, but seemingly huge to those who were newcomers, we helped many to feel accepted and also made a huge difference in our lives and outlook on life .
From one French horn player/band conductor to another, I'd say that the musicians have a good claim to being the first fully, comfortably integrated group at the school. Our late friend Rick's parents hosted EVERYONE at their house after each football game. In a time when that simply was not done. A wonderful show of casual decency and humanity.
Interesting about "All the Pretty Little Horses." It's one of the first tunes I learned to play on the mountain dulcimer; perhaps because of that accident I always thought/assumed it was a British-Isles-by-way-of-Appalachia folk tune.
That was always my assumption. And there may be some truth to it, as well. I was revisiting the question after I posted this morning, and there are arguments among folklorists as to the provenance of the song--and the possibility that some verses originated in one places and other verses in another.
The first slaves in this country were British children. I'm so sick of hearing about slavery when nobody is taught the truth. Black criminality has accelerated and they awarded numerous state holidays. Unbelievable.
Thank you. Such a beautiful story.
And thank you for saying so.
I decided to try following you as your comment on todays Free Press essay made me laugh out loud, startling the dog. I read your Juneteenth essay and can relate to a good bit of it. I’m just not in the same intellectual league with you but had some similar childhood experiences regarding race relations. There wasn’t segregation here but racial tension was palpable growing up. It’s not too far from your hometown, I grew up in Silver Spring Md to parents that were native to Washington DC.
I still live in Md though considerably further north.
Anyhow, I thoroughly enjoyed your writing and look forward to reading more in the future.
Apologies to the dog, but honored to have you onboard. Maryland, it is often forgotten, swirled with racial animus. Eastern Shore had a good bit of Klan activity. George Wallace did very well in the state’s presidential voting (and it’s where he was shot). And the former, longtime state song was a Confederate favorite that portrayed Lincoln as a despot and Union troops as “Northern scum.” I’ll look forward to your future comments.
It is the old line state, where the line to freedom was drawn but that line was between Pa and Md, leaving Md a solid southern state. It’s my understanding that much of the state wanted to side with the confederacy but that would have placed DC in the south which wouldn’t have worked. There are two old slave quarters on our property but one was transported here by a former owner who wanted to preserve it for the historical significance. Seeing as how there is no monument to the ppl who lived in them I feel they can be remembered by caring for them. They are nearly identical to ones still standing on Mt Vernon.
Anyway, the old tobacco plantations in southern Md probably still have a few as well.
The last time I remember seeing any open Klan activity was in 1990 and they were not well received. Before that I don’t recall ever seeing any. At the end of the street I grew up on there was an old small community of tarpaper houses where freed slaves first lived. My first best friend was a little girl whose family had lived there since the civil war ended. Her mother moved her away to Chicago in 1961.
Great observations and memories.
I am two degrees separated from someone who was a slave in the German camps, and three degrees separated from someone who is now a slave of Hamas, if still living. But of course they don’t count. J.
I was one degree of separation away from a number of slaves in German camps--and a sizable number of near-slaves in Communist hellholes. And two or three degrees from the Hamas slaves. And, as you and I would certainly agree, they do count. Just not in certain depraved circles.
You do get around.
That I do. Richmond had a number of Holocaust survivors, and I knew several. I have loads of friends from Russia, Cuba, Vietnam, China, and other places soiled by Marx's ideological detritus.
Wow thank you for sharing.
I spent several years in Virginia at UVA in the early 90’s. The South was still different from the other places I had lived- West Coast, Southwest, the upper Midwest, and the Northeast. What struck me after a bit of time was that the Blacks I saw while working at the hospital were never at any of bars and restaurants around Charlottesville. I never observed any overtly racist behavior, but there was definitely segregated society, in the midst of a well educated and affluent community. I was subsequently appalled to learn that the city schools had fought quite vigorously and over a period of years to avoid court ordered integration in the late 1950’s- mid 1960’s, closing schools for several months in 1958-1959. I think clearly UVA is as liberal as any campus in America now.
I don’t know if racial animus will ever leave us. The country seemed to be gradually improving in race relations until identity politics from the Left became the rage (literally) with the election of Barack Obama. We seem to be regressing at the moment, which is creating an atomization of society into a tribal configuration. It’s bad for America. The answer to racism is not more racism.
The crazy thing to me about President Obama was how exciting it was to have a POC as POTUS only to have the result of deteriorated race relations. I’m rather a conservative and didn’t like his politics but was hopeful that his tenure would reap improved relations. I don’t think it was simply that there was resentment by conservatives, political tension has been around long before Barack Obama, but that any rejection of his policies was declared proof of bigotry. His remarks at times didn’t help either.
He definitely ushered in the identity politics and the whole DEI/CRT paradigm. Rather a disappointing consequence. Racial animus is probably the dumbest thing some humans harbor. Even Obama came out with the statement that systemic racism is no longer a meaningful problem in America. That’s not to say there still aren’t a few pigheaded ppl but they wield no significant power.
Ah well, hope springs eternal..
He was/is The Manchurian Candidate come to life.
Interesting. I went to UVa in the early to mid 70s. Racial intermingling was not unknown but, as you suggest, not common. And yes, the Charlottesville school situation was deeply lamentable. I was friends with a key figure in that mess--one who went on to play a powerful role in bridging racial divides in his later endeavors. And, I thoroughly agree with your second paragraph. I've written extensively about that era. You might enjoy this piece, in particular: https://graboyes.substack.com/p/do-not-go-gentle
Thank you for your wonderful post on Juneteenth. I also have fond memories of the woman who came to our home, helped make our food, and broke bread with us at our table. You brought back many fond memories, including the march we participated in together, many memories of the struggles of our African American friends first integrated into our school system , and how we ( you and I in our own classes and band) helped to ease some of their distress, fears, and feelings of loneliness in a sea of white kids they did not know. For many of us music was our bond, and band class was where we fused relationships. In a small way, but seemingly huge to those who were newcomers, we helped many to feel accepted and also made a huge difference in our lives and outlook on life .
From one French horn player/band conductor to another, I'd say that the musicians have a good claim to being the first fully, comfortably integrated group at the school. Our late friend Rick's parents hosted EVERYONE at their house after each football game. In a time when that simply was not done. A wonderful show of casual decency and humanity.
Very touching.
Thanks so much, Sandy.
Interesting about "All the Pretty Little Horses." It's one of the first tunes I learned to play on the mountain dulcimer; perhaps because of that accident I always thought/assumed it was a British-Isles-by-way-of-Appalachia folk tune.
That was always my assumption. And there may be some truth to it, as well. I was revisiting the question after I posted this morning, and there are arguments among folklorists as to the provenance of the song--and the possibility that some verses originated in one places and other verses in another.
Beautifully written.
Thanks, Gene.
Just wonderful, Robert.
So glad you liked it, Ehud.