Ironically, the
vast majority of respondents knew the Arthur Ashe monument even though
Monument Avenue was started as a memorial to Confederate Virginian
Civil War participants. Even more ironic, only one person guessed
(correctly) that Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, had
his own monument.
History can’t be under assault if the people are ignorant of it.
This reminded me of something we were talking about at work the other day and I’ve been meaning to post it all week but have been busy trying to finish up school.
We have just recently reopened the B Gift Shop and a small musuem. The two ladies who work in the gift shop were there long before Hurricane Katrina. They were saying how no one has asked the question they were asked the most prior to the storm: Which president was Jefferson Davis?
One of them told me how a little old lady once asked her that question. She responded with “The first.” The lady looked puzzled and said “I always thought George Washington was the first.” To which the other lady replied, “Me too!”
I’ve also answered the phone on occasion to hear “How are things going at the Thomas Jefferson Home?” Or there was the black lady who said “Jefferson Davis – He’s my favorite president.”
People are clueless. Needless to say, having never actually been to Richmond, I got 4 out of the 6, probably would’ve gotten the other two (esp. M. F. Maury) had I seen them in person. I probably shouldn’t admit to having to google Arthur Ashe either since it might lessen the significance of that degree I’m finally receiving Friday night, although I do know my Confederates.