I've been reading David W. Blight's massive new biography, Frederick Douglass, Prophet of Freedom. Aside from being a highly readable tour de force from one of our best historians, the book takes a comprehensive look at how the "peculiar institution" of slavery impacted both slave owner and those enslaved. That slavery is America's original sin, there can be no doubt. However, there are a few scenes from Douglass's remarkable life that linger long in the mind.
One particular scene seems to relate nicely to the current topic of reparations for Americans whose ancestors were enslaved. A quick review reminds us that after the Civil War and throughout Reconstruction, former slaves never received a proposed "40 acres and a mule." That would have helped thousands of newly emancipated freedmen reestablish their lives as working, productive members of the newly united country of which they were citizens. Instead, they became enmeshed in what became the sharecrop system, which became aptly named the "new slavery."
So here's the scene from the Douglass biography that most interestingly figures in here. After being sent to Baltimore, Douglass learned the skills of a shipyard worker. He became an excellent calker and was "hired out" by his "master" to one of the large companies in the Baltimore inner harbor. Every Friday he took home his pay: $9.00 per week. Upon arriving home Mr. Auld promptly asks for his pay. He takes the money from Fred's hands and returns 25 cents to Fred. Just imagine what that feels like. Especially given the time involved and the difficulty of the work, to be de-humanized in this way would certainly take a toll. Now just imagine that scene being repeated thousands of times over every week.
Is it too much to seek reparations given that kind of history? Just how that would be and what form it might take is another question. But to do nothing is to make no recognition of our shared history. The benefits, in whatever form, would far outweigh the costs.
A final thought: It's impossible to mention Frederick Douglass without recalling how the current occupant of the White House was not even aware that Douglass lived his life in the 19th century. "He's doing remarkable things," the accidental President said. Douglass, historian David Blight tells us was the most photographed person in the 19th century. Remarkable.
One particular scene seems to relate nicely to the current topic of reparations for Americans whose ancestors were enslaved. A quick review reminds us that after the Civil War and throughout Reconstruction, former slaves never received a proposed "40 acres and a mule." That would have helped thousands of newly emancipated freedmen reestablish their lives as working, productive members of the newly united country of which they were citizens. Instead, they became enmeshed in what became the sharecrop system, which became aptly named the "new slavery."
So here's the scene from the Douglass biography that most interestingly figures in here. After being sent to Baltimore, Douglass learned the skills of a shipyard worker. He became an excellent calker and was "hired out" by his "master" to one of the large companies in the Baltimore inner harbor. Every Friday he took home his pay: $9.00 per week. Upon arriving home Mr. Auld promptly asks for his pay. He takes the money from Fred's hands and returns 25 cents to Fred. Just imagine what that feels like. Especially given the time involved and the difficulty of the work, to be de-humanized in this way would certainly take a toll. Now just imagine that scene being repeated thousands of times over every week.
Is it too much to seek reparations given that kind of history? Just how that would be and what form it might take is another question. But to do nothing is to make no recognition of our shared history. The benefits, in whatever form, would far outweigh the costs.
A final thought: It's impossible to mention Frederick Douglass without recalling how the current occupant of the White House was not even aware that Douglass lived his life in the 19th century. "He's doing remarkable things," the accidental President said. Douglass, historian David Blight tells us was the most photographed person in the 19th century. Remarkable.
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