Representative Tommy Benton of Georgia Lectures on Black Confederates

This video is from the Georgia state assembly on April 20, 2007.  I assume that it is part of the overall discussion concerning a state proclamation that would acknowledge and apologize for the state’s role in slavery.  Rep. Benton estimates that 65,000 blacks fought for the Confederacy.  He compares their service with the large numbers of blacks who fought with the colonies against Britain during the Revolution.  At one point he makes the claim that blacks would never have thought about joining ranks with the British.  I guess he never heard of Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation.  Anyway, enjoy the silliness.

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3 comments… add one
  • Rebecca Jun 18, 2007 @ 11:04

    Lord Dunmore’s proclamation was only the first of many British military directives geared towards getting slaves to cross over to British lines. The most believable and recent estimates put the number of slaves who chose to do so at between 20 and 30K, prompting one historian to call the American Revolution the largest slave rebellion in American history–and one that ultimately resulted in freedom for 5-10K people. what a goofball.

  • Brooks Simpson Jun 6, 2007 @ 1:38

    A fine man. 🙂 You can share your opinions with him by clicking on the following:

    http://tommybenton.com/

  • John Maass Jun 5, 2007 @ 23:12

    Blacks also served in Hessian regiments in the South during the Rev. War.

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