Three Squares a Day

As I have spent the last couple months immersed in the study of America’s colonial beginnings, I spent a great deal of time pondering issues related to the influence of early European slave trading.  I was saddened to learn that the practice threatened peace in this nation from our very opening moments, when slave traders embarked in the kidnappings of Native American Indians.

As I pondered the effects of slave trading down through our history, starting with how it made for colonizational difficulties in the early 1600’s, then nearly squelched the Declaration of Independence in 1776, then went on to ignite the great Civil War of 1861-65, and still collectively and psychologically held us captive come the 1960’s Civil Rights movement, I realized its influence was incredibly long-standing, and that it has robbed me, personally, even now in the year 2007.

2007!  …And I’m still not able to freely enjoy Martin Luther King, Junior’s beautiful, beautiful dream.

I wonder what is taking us so long?  Why, in 2007, isn’t there greater healing and peace between ethnicities?

Oh, I do understand that there’s competition in any society for that region’s resources, as explained in Martin Marger’s book, Race and Ethnic Relations.  He does an excellent job of explaining how it is “standard procedure” for a society’s dominant ethnic or class group to make it hard for non-dominant ethnic or class groups to secure their fair share.

But what I don’t get is why, after all the anti-discrimination laws that have been enacted during my lifetime (I was born in 1964), why are there still so many voices of hate, hurt, and aggression?

I theorize - and I mean I’m only guessing here - that our problem is a lack of healthy facilitation for discussion between ethnic groups.  Perhaps what we need as a nation is a platform where highly revered, culturally aware, well-educated facilitators can help us talk it through in a safe, trusted environment.  

I say this because it seems to me that Americans flat out haven’t done a good job of talking our issues through, and dealing with the over generalizations and irrationalities that naturally result from social injustice, (or any) trauma, including slavery. 

This is why I believe a good starting point would be to create a national museum dedicated to the historical study of the slave trade, and our resulting American black history, and interracial relationships.  I, for one, would LOVE the opportunity to speak honestly and openly with African Americans and culturally educated Anglo-Americans about the lingering social issues that can all be traced back to the slave trade.

As it is now, discussion is seemingly too heated and sparce (insufficient), and there isn’t a central place to turn for highly qualified commentary.

For example, as I did my research of late, one of the commentaries that I came across was that of Michael Medved (www.michaelmedved.com). 

Now, for those who know him, don’t get me wrong.  I esteem Michael Medved as a very smart man, and I happen to think highly of his relevant commentary. 

It’s just that I don’t see Michael Medved, and other radio talk show hosts as “highly qualified” to provide final authority commentary.   I would even venture a guess that Michael Medved would agree.

At any rate, for those who don’t know Michael’s recent story, he (a white American)recently got himself into public hot water by repeating some unpopular historical information about the slave trade, which he learned from the writings of Nathan Irvin Huggins (1929-1989), an award winning black history professor who taught at Harvard University.   

In examining what it was that he repeated, it seemed to me the criticism was unfounded.  And, it also seemed to me, that if Nathan Huggins himself had been able to share the information on Michael’s talk show, it would have been much harder to reject, simply because Nathan Higgins was a man highly revered, and qualified to speak on the issues.

I guess it’s like anything else that’s new food for thought:  somebody influential in the “opposing” camp is bound to spit out the first bite of a new taste sensation.

That doesn’t mean the food is necessarily bad, though.

But where can we go to be sure we’re being fed healthy food for thought, even if we don’t like the taste?

What social ”V.A. hospital” exists for survivors of this cultural trauma? 

Again, America has no permanent, national museum, or any kind of center dedicated to the continuing historical study of the slave trade, and the cultural impact it has had at home, and abroad. 

We have a national WWI museum, and a national WWII museum (currently in the works).  We have a national Vietnam War museum, and a couple of “national” colonial era museums.  

But, while we do have a number of southern plantation museums, and a traveling slave ship exhibit, we do not have a national museum covering the slave trade. 

Yet it seems equally important, if not more important in some ways, to America’s cultural good health.

Even England has recently opened a national, and international slave trade museum (http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/), which I am very happy to see.  It’s a start.

But I maintain that we also need the cultural facilitation here in America that a national slave trade museum could potentially offer.   We are what we eat, and without scholarly research, and the “nourishment” it provides, we’re not healing as fast as we could.

And this is why I’d like to help raise money for such a museum, through the sale of my personal titles offered in the LetsPlayHistory University.    

Although it doesn’t really matter where the museum is located, I think it would be extremely fitting to locate it at Plimoth Plantation, in Massachusetts.  I say this because America dealt with the issue of slavery from practically the first day of our founding, and Plimoth Plantation very adequately represents our colonial founding.

Also, the slave trade was carried out by sea and ship.  Plimoth Plantation is already set up with the Mayflower II floating ship museum.  Adding a reproduction slave ship museum along side Mayflower II would be a natural, not only in practical situation, but in historical significance, since this practice touched the lives of the Native Americans represented there.

Additionally, the folks at Plimoth Plantation are seasoned professionals at dealing with inter-cultural issues.  They may not specialize in slave trade history as yet, but they could integrate this specialization about as easily as anyone.

No matter what others may think about this issue, I’ve decided it matters to me.  

I love our cultural diversity.  Human beings are beautiful, and so very interesting!

I hope you’ll agree, and that you’ll join your voice in this call for a National Slave Trade and Slave Ship Museum, including special services for African American history awareness and multi-ethnic cultural mediation. 

Please feel free to post your response here at the blog - but be forwarned:  I will not tolerate abusive behaviors, nor allow abusive commentary.  If I do not approve a hot-headed post you have submitted, you are welcome to re-write it in greater civility, and try again.

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Carrie Franzwa, Founder and Volunteer

LetsPlayHistory.org