I have been interested lately in the debate about the New York Times 1619 project and the Critical Race Theory proponents’ attempt to teach this “Theory” in our K-12 classrooms. I have re-examined my understanding of American Slavery.
In my readings and research on this subject I have come across an article in the October 2012 issue of Smithsonian magazine entitled, “The Dark Side of Thomas Jefferson”. Jefferson never was my favorite founding father partly because of the paradox that the man who penned, “…all men are created equal” owned slaves his entire life and only freed a few of them at his death. The rest were sold as chattel much like a horse or a mule.
In his early years Jefferson was definitely an abolitionist. He penned the Declaration at 33 years old. In the first draft he denounced the slave traded as an “…execrable commerce …this assemblage of horrors, a cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberties.” But somewhere between then and the 1790’s he changed. He became silent on the subject as his time was more and more taken up by the management of Monticello which needed slaves to work it. His supporters became confused. I quote from the Smithsonian article, “The Virginia abolitionist Moncure Conway, noting Jefferson’s enduring reputation as a would be emancipator, embarked scornfully, ‘Never did a man achieve more fame for what he did not do.’ ”
In fact it almost seems like Jefferson later in life embraced the slave trade at one time writing to an acquaintance who had suffered financial setbacks that he, “…should have been invested in negroes.” He even added that if they had any cash left, “…every farthing of it should be laid out in land and negroes, which besides a present support bring a silent profit of from 5 to 10 per cent in this country by the increase in their value.”
And this brings me to a plantation report for Jefferson from Colonel Thomas Randolph, Jefferson’s son in law, that was written in the 1790’s and suppressed until 2005. Randolph reported to Jefferson in that report that his nail factory was running very well because the small ones were being whipped for truancy. By small ones he means boys between the ages of 10-16. Jefferson did not respond.
This report was found by historian Edwin Betts in 1953 and not published as part of Jefferson’s Farm Book. The full text was not published until 2005. This will sound like I am changing direction but what I want to know is what else has been hidden from us average every day people for 55 years or longer? What history have we been taught that is fraud? And where do we go to find the truth?
My dad who served in the Navy during WW2 believed in a supposed conspiracy that Roosevelt knew about the coming destruction of Pearl Harbor and did not notify the Pacific Command because he wanted the US involved in the war. Is that true? Many people believe that Bill and Hilary Clinton had numerous people murdered who were set to testify against them. Is that true? Does this rumor mill sometimes contain the truth that is being deliberately suppressed?
Back to Jefferson. He disappoints me. All politicians do. They speak with forked tongues. But unlike the rattler slithering in the grass, you can’t hear them coming.
God bless Jefferson. He helped form and define America. It’s too bad that he couldn’t practice what he preached.
The Racinian 