1 day agoA Mississippi Slave Narrative SummaryCharlie Davenport reckoned he was 100 years old when he did his interview with the Federal Writers’ Project worker in 1937. He was not sure because “all my white folks is gone”. Slave narratives provide only a glimpse into what life was like for slaves before and after being set…Slavery2 min readSlavery2 min read
2 days agoThe Slavery Bias in EducationKahn Academy has a 10 minute “Start of the Civil War” video that begins with a notion which ensures slavery be the reason for the American Civil War. “And the real basis of the Republican Party is an anti-slavery platform.” The word slavery appears in the 1860 Republican Party platform…Us History2 min readUs History2 min read
3 days agoWho are the Racists?Those who support Southern heritage are often the target of criticism regarding race. On social media it is common for them to be called racists. In his Searching for Black Confederates, Kevin Levin makes strange claims that appear throughout the book. He presents these notions about slaves and black men…Black Confederates2 min readBlack Confederates2 min read
4 days agoWhere are the “Young Contrarians”?“In a time when both rights and reason are under several kinds of open and covert attack, the life and writing of Thomas Paine will always be part of the arsenal on which we shall need to depend.” Christopher Hitchens Many people like to think of themselves as independent thinkers…Contrarians2 min readContrarians2 min read
Jan 30A Tradition of ToleranceWhat is it that makes America one of the most tolerant countries in the world? There will be some who disagree with the premise. I encourage them to travel more and consume international news. This tolerance in the United States began with the founding. Freedom of speech, assembly, and religion…Us History2 min readUs History2 min read
Jan 29Camp Life, Death, and ReconciliationSome say 100,000 people were in the Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago on May 30, 1895. Many participated in the parade on Michigan Avenue before gathering in the cemetery. There were 15 carriages, a platoon of Chicago city police, and a detachment of National Guard cavalry. …Confederate Memorials2 min readConfederate Memorials2 min read
Jan 29A Podcast Gone WrongMy son sent me a link to a Lex Fridman podcast this morning with the following short note. “I’m sure you’ll find much that is misguided here.” What an understatement! Lex is interviewing Jeremi Suri an historian at the University of Texas in Austin. He is part of the LBJ…Us Civil War2 min readUs Civil War2 min read
Jan 27A Northern Emancipation Question (Essay Four)This is the fourth and last in a series of essays that began with this quote. “The negroes from the Middle and the New-England states, who, under the emancipation laws of those states, were forced into the markets of Va. and other southern states, did not thereby become more of…Us History2 min readUs History2 min read
Jan 23A Northern Emancipation Question (Essay Three)This is the third essay in a series investigating whether there were large numbers of slaves from Northern states sold to people in Southern states instead of being set free. The last essay was a review of the 1790 and 1800 censuses. …Slavery2 min readSlavery2 min read
Jan 21Three BrothersAs she played Amazing Grace on the flute under the United States flag in the small country church, I thought about the three brothers. They were raised south of Ft. Benning in the 1930s and 40s. …Veterans2 min readVeterans2 min read
