Comments on: An African American-less Civil War Sesquicentennial? http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/ Reflections of a High School History Teacher & Civil War Historian Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:17:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12961 Kevin Levin Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:12:39 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12961 Mr. Roden, there is no need to get bent out of shape re: the previous comment. There is very little scholarly work on so-called black Confederates and most of the examples that can be found are, in fact, slaves who were present with the Confederate army. I've never come across an example that in the end turns out to be a legitimate black Confederate soldiers. That should come as no surprise since the Confederate army operated as the military arm of a government pledged to protect the institution of slavery and white supremacy. At this point that is not open to debate. I suggest you browse the category, 'black Confederates' for additional commentary. Mr. Roden, there is no need to get bent out of shape re: the previous comment. There is very little scholarly work on so-called black Confederates and most of the examples that can be found are, in fact, slaves who were present with the Confederate army. I've never come across an example that in the end turns out to be a legitimate black Confederate soldiers. That should come as no surprise since the Confederate army operated as the military arm of a government pledged to protect the institution of slavery and white supremacy. At this point that is not open to debate. I suggest you browse the category, 'black Confederates' for additional commentary.

]]> By: C.W. Roden http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12960 C.W. Roden Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:20:16 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12960 Averynana (cute name)<br><br>HOW DARE YOU CALL BLACK CONFEDERATES QUISLINGS?! <br>You have no damn clue what their motivations were, and yet you feel the need to condemn and trash those good Southern men, only because it doesn't fit in with your happy little delusion that Honest Abe freed the slaves in Southern States purely out of the goodness of his own heart, and that in raping the Southland, Union soldiers did not rape black slave women and children along the way. <br>As for your claim of so-called "neo-Confederates" (whatever that's supposed to mean) it would probably blow your mind to know that Black veterans on both sides are honored by Confederate historical organizations like the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who make it a point of restoring the gravesites of men in BOTH Blue and Gray, black and white and otherwise. <br><br>Keep your own personal politics out of history. <br><br>C.W. Roden Averynana (cute name)

HOW DARE YOU CALL BLACK CONFEDERATES QUISLINGS?!
You have no damn clue what their motivations were, and yet you feel the need to condemn and trash those good Southern men, only because it doesn't fit in with your happy little delusion that Honest Abe freed the slaves in Southern States purely out of the goodness of his own heart, and that in raping the Southland, Union soldiers did not rape black slave women and children along the way.
As for your claim of so-called “neo-Confederates” (whatever that's supposed to mean) it would probably blow your mind to know that Black veterans on both sides are honored by Confederate historical organizations like the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who make it a point of restoring the gravesites of men in BOTH Blue and Gray, black and white and otherwise.

Keep your own personal politics out of history.

C.W. Roden

]]> By: Averynana http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12956 Averynana Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:26:30 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12956 Hi Kevin:<br><br>I want to briefly respond to your concerns about the inclusion of African Americans in the Sesquicentennial and the comments of some of your posters. Let me add, that I've referred your website to some of my colleagues, black and white. We need more voices like yours. <br><br>With all due respect, I interpret the word "inclusion" (not like an affirmative action corporate target), but a very needed worldwide education on the contributions of the Union Army's US Colored Troops in the Civil War. I view the heroism of these 180,000 plus men and approximately 500,000 women and men contrabands as strategic members in defeating the confederate army. I'm not interested in a sidebar that mentions a US Colored Troop regiment at a decisive battle. Rather, a discussion of all units engaged in battle.<br><br>Yes, the Civil War was certainly about slavery. But these same enslaved and free people of color should not be confined to, or characterized as, passive blacks waiting at the gates of Tara to be liberated by Northern troops.<br>The majority of the US Colored Troops came from the south. They liberated themselves. They fled the "loving arms" of the confederacy, joined the Union Army and helped to liberate the enslaved. My colleague and friend, and noted US Colored Troops scholar and author, Bennie McRae calls them "Freedom Fighters." You can read his documented histories at the link below:<br><br><a href="http://www.lwfaam.net/cw/" rel="nofollow">http://www.lwfaam.net/cw/</a><br><br>Although some of us, black and white, memorialize the heroics of the 54th Mass. US Colored Troops, there were many more "Denzel's" who need to be remembered. The First Colored Kansas, Louisiana's "Corps D'Afrique" at Port Hudson and many many more.<br><br>It's estimated that approximately 6 million African Americans today are descendants of the US Colored Troops. Sadly, most don't know it. <br><br>If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm African American, a descendant of a soldier who served in the Corps D'Afrique. <br><br>Many of us have had the unpleasant experience of being contacted by neo-confederates. Unfortunately for them, we've confused their arguments with facts. Their shameful black supporters who love the history of the confederacy, accept the title of "Uncle" as a loyal confederate "Soldier?", and drape themselves in the confederate flags, are self-serving or paid quislings. <br><br>One last comment on quislings. These neo-confederates and their black supporters continue to put forth the myth of free and enslaved people of color who rushed to join the confederate army . (To guarantee their life-long employment) Hmm. they sound like traitors. Those selfish guys in the Louisiana Native Guards, the Creoles of Color in the Gulf Coast region, and the black Virginia confederate Regiments who willingly were mustered seconds before the end of the Civil War, are absolutely untrue. Historians present us with documented evidence that their motivation was the fear of confederate revenge, re-enslavement and worst of all, death. <br><br>I refuse to participate in discussions with the above. I'm too busy working to promote the memory of the US Colored Troops. <br><br>I welcome everyone to visit Mr. McRae's website. <br><br>Averynana Hi Kevin:

I want to briefly respond to your concerns about the inclusion of African Americans in the Sesquicentennial and the comments of some of your posters. Let me add, that I've referred your website to some of my colleagues, black and white. We need more voices like yours.

With all due respect, I interpret the word “inclusion” (not like an affirmative action corporate target), but a very needed worldwide education on the contributions of the Union Army's US Colored Troops in the Civil War. I view the heroism of these 180,000 plus men and approximately 500,000 women and men contrabands as strategic members in defeating the confederate army. I'm not interested in a sidebar that mentions a US Colored Troop regiment at a decisive battle. Rather, a discussion of all units engaged in battle.

Yes, the Civil War was certainly about slavery. But these same enslaved and free people of color should not be confined to, or characterized as, passive blacks waiting at the gates of Tara to be liberated by Northern troops.
The majority of the US Colored Troops came from the south. They liberated themselves. They fled the “loving arms” of the confederacy, joined the Union Army and helped to liberate the enslaved. My colleague and friend, and noted US Colored Troops scholar and author, Bennie McRae calls them “Freedom Fighters.” You can read his documented histories at the link below:

http://www.lwfaam.net/cw/

Although some of us, black and white, memorialize the heroics of the 54th Mass. US Colored Troops, there were many more “Denzel's” who need to be remembered. The First Colored Kansas, Louisiana's “Corps D'Afrique” at Port Hudson and many many more.

It's estimated that approximately 6 million African Americans today are descendants of the US Colored Troops. Sadly, most don't know it.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm African American, a descendant of a soldier who served in the Corps D'Afrique.

Many of us have had the unpleasant experience of being contacted by neo-confederates. Unfortunately for them, we've confused their arguments with facts. Their shameful black supporters who love the history of the confederacy, accept the title of “Uncle” as a loyal confederate “Soldier?”, and drape themselves in the confederate flags, are self-serving or paid quislings.

One last comment on quislings. These neo-confederates and their black supporters continue to put forth the myth of free and enslaved people of color who rushed to join the confederate army . (To guarantee their life-long employment) Hmm. they sound like traitors. Those selfish guys in the Louisiana Native Guards, the Creoles of Color in the Gulf Coast region, and the black Virginia confederate Regiments who willingly were mustered seconds before the end of the Civil War, are absolutely untrue. Historians present us with documented evidence that their motivation was the fear of confederate revenge, re-enslavement and worst of all, death.

I refuse to participate in discussions with the above. I'm too busy working to promote the memory of the US Colored Troops.

I welcome everyone to visit Mr. McRae's website.

Averynana

]]> By: Craig http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12861 Craig Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:18:05 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12861 The African-American community already has a fairly well developed commemoration called Juneteenth, the day that the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in Texas, the last of the Confederate states to acknowledge it. Ralph Ellison's long awaited second novel is named after that commemoration. His first novel, Invisible Man, has strong ties to the Civil Rights movement. My understanding is that many of the people involved in organizing Juneteenth celebrations have an abiding interest in documenting African-American history. The African-American community already has a fairly well developed commemoration called Juneteenth, the day that the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in Texas, the last of the Confederate states to acknowledge it. Ralph Ellison's long awaited second novel is named after that commemoration. His first novel, Invisible Man, has strong ties to the Civil Rights movement. My understanding is that many of the people involved in organizing Juneteenth celebrations have an abiding interest in documenting African-American history.

]]> By: Ed Harcourt http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12862 Ed Harcourt Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:25:42 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12862 The emotional alienation is understandable given the lamentable history of forgetting and disparagement toward African American experiences by dominant historical groups and institutions. The task for historians during the seisquicentennial is surely one of restoration - taking the evidence and stories from recent scholarship out to black communities and speaking in churches and at local community and genealogy groups. One of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences I had studying the legacy of the civil war in tennessee was in taking Black Union soldier pension records into the towns of Middle Tennessee and speaking to largely black audiences. 40% of black men of military age in Tenessee were wearing the blue by 1865 - and most had been slaves in 1861. It's a great Republican story of gaining liberty by fighting tyranny, and the groups I spoke to were captivated by the personal connections they were able to reestablish via the pension rolls and records. The art of recovering their stories is still in its infancy - but there was certainly no lack of interest from the communities I spoke with! But we can't expect a sizable black audience to attend a marque event at the, say, Va Historical Society or at Hollywood Cemetery, or even at the University of Richmond - let alone the SHA. Historians needs to draw on Douglass' sense of a 'stupendous contest" over Civil War memory. The emotional alienation is understandable given the lamentable history of forgetting and disparagement toward African American experiences by dominant historical groups and institutions. The task for historians during the seisquicentennial is surely one of restoration – taking the evidence and stories from recent scholarship out to black communities and speaking in churches and at local community and genealogy groups. One of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences I had studying the legacy of the civil war in tennessee was in taking Black Union soldier pension records into the towns of Middle Tennessee and speaking to largely black audiences. 40% of black men of military age in Tenessee were wearing the blue by 1865 – and most had been slaves in 1861. It's a great Republican story of gaining liberty by fighting tyranny, and the groups I spoke to were captivated by the personal connections they were able to reestablish via the pension rolls and records. The art of recovering their stories is still in its infancy – but there was certainly no lack of interest from the communities I spoke with! But we can't expect a sizable black audience to attend a marque event at the, say, Va Historical Society or at Hollywood Cemetery, or even at the University of Richmond – let alone the SHA. Historians needs to draw on Douglass' sense of a 'stupendous contest” over Civil War memory.

]]> By: Craig http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12095 Craig Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:18:05 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12095 The African-American community already has a fairly well developed commemoration called Juneteenth, the day that the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in Texas, the last of the Confederate states to acknowledge it. Ralph Ellison's long awaited second novel is named after that commemoration. His first novel, Invisible Man, has strong ties to the Civil Rights movement. My understanding is that many of the people involved in organizing Juneteenth celebrations have an abiding interest in documenting African-American history. The African-American community already has a fairly well developed commemoration called Juneteenth, the day that the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in Texas, the last of the Confederate states to acknowledge it. Ralph Ellison's long awaited second novel is named after that commemoration. His first novel, Invisible Man, has strong ties to the Civil Rights movement. My understanding is that many of the people involved in organizing Juneteenth celebrations have an abiding interest in documenting African-American history.

]]> By: Ed Harcourt http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12094 Ed Harcourt Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:25:42 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12094 The emotional alienation is understandable given the lamentable history of forgetting and disparagement toward African American experiences by dominant historical groups and institutions. The task for historians during the seisquicentennial is surely one of restoration - taking the evidence and stories from recent scholarship out to black communities and speaking in churches and at local community and genealogy groups. One of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences I had studying the legacy of the civil war in tennessee was in taking Black Union soldier pension records into the towns of Middle Tennessee and speaking to largely black audiences. 40% of black men of military age in Tenessee were wearing the blue by 1865 - and most had been slaves in 1861. It's a great Republican story of gaining liberty by fighting tyranny, and the groups I spoke to were captivated by the personal connections they were able to reestablish via the pension rolls and records. The art of recovering their stories is still in its infancy - but there was certainly no lack of interest from the communities I spoke with! But we can't expect a sizable black audience to attend a marque event at the, say, Va Historical Society or at Hollywood Cemetery, or even at the University of Richmond - let alone the SHA. Historians needs to draw on Douglass' sense of a 'stupendous contest" over Civil War memory. The emotional alienation is understandable given the lamentable history of forgetting and disparagement toward African American experiences by dominant historical groups and institutions. The task for historians during the seisquicentennial is surely one of restoration – taking the evidence and stories from recent scholarship out to black communities and speaking in churches and at local community and genealogy groups. One of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences I had studying the legacy of the civil war in tennessee was in taking Black Union soldier pension records into the towns of Middle Tennessee and speaking to largely black audiences. 40% of black men of military age in Tenessee were wearing the blue by 1865 – and most had been slaves in 1861. It's a great Republican story of gaining liberty by fighting tyranny, and the groups I spoke to were captivated by the personal connections they were able to reestablish via the pension rolls and records. The art of recovering their stories is still in its infancy – but there was certainly no lack of interest from the communities I spoke with! But we can't expect a sizable black audience to attend a marque event at the, say, Va Historical Society or at Hollywood Cemetery, or even at the University of Richmond – let alone the SHA. Historians needs to draw on Douglass' sense of a 'stupendous contest” over Civil War memory.

]]> By: msimons http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12092 msimons Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:03:24 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12092 Kevin I see lots of things about the CW that should attract all types of folks. This war affected all of America at that time and the resistance to the changes brought about by it is still active in our culture today. As you state who will come remains to be seen. My Hope is that we can look at this period of history in a clam civil manner and that the remembrance of this time will not bring any disharmony to our nation. Kevin I see lots of things about the CW that should attract all types of folks. This war affected all of America at that time and the resistance to the changes brought about by it is still active in our culture today. As you state who will come remains to be seen. My Hope is that we can look at this period of history in a clam civil manner and that the remembrance of this time will not bring any disharmony to our nation.

]]> By: Dan Wright http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12089 Dan Wright Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:42:59 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12089 Good point about the SCV working within communities.<br>In a recent letter to an editor, the commander of a local SCV referred to the Civil War as "the Second War for American Independence." He then expressed his willingness to help in the "honest education about our Southern heritage." The SCV is dedicated. And at times they're just weird. Good point about the SCV working within communities.
In a recent letter to an editor, the commander of a local SCV referred to the Civil War as “the Second War for American Independence.” He then expressed his willingness to help in the “honest education about our Southern heritage.” The SCV is dedicated. And at times they're just weird.

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/11/11/an-african-american-less-civil-war-sesquicentennial/#comment-12085 Kevin Levin Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:58:15 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=5402#comment-12085 Thanks for the kind word and for the link. Thanks for the kind word and for the link.

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