(ThyBlackMan.com) Very few of the many, many thousands of Confederate soldiers who died defending slavery actually owned slaves. Most were just poor farmers. Not only were the slave owners few and far between, they were clustered in swiftly moving cavalry units that suffered far fewer casualties than the plodding infantry which fell in droves under the relentless hail of rifle fire and deadly, exploding cannon balls.
Afterwards, during the brief period of Reconstruction, the formerly enslaved Africans and the poor white farmers worked together in a spirit of cooperation to make life better for all, instituting the first free public school systems in the South and vastly improving roads and infrastructure. However, all of that ended when the former plantation owners, led by the ex-Confederate cavalry commander, Nathan Bedford Forrest, formed the Ku Klux Klan.
This terrorist organization convinced poor whites to make common cause with them in oppressing African Americans. And so the South retrogressed as Blacks were put into the semi-bondage of sharecropping and the outright slavery of the chain gang. Not only were Blacks not allowed to fully participate in the economy, many whites were enlisted to maintain the processes of oppression on a full-time basis. Thus, for generations the South languished as an under-developed, disease-ridden backwater until the Civil Rights Movement.
Though the white community fought the Civil Rights Movement tooth and nail, with Southern governors standing in schoolhouse doors to prevent integration and white mobs and white police killing and maiming many hundreds, the Civil Rights Movement eventually prevailed. Ever since, the South’s economy has been booming. Nonetheless, today, as before, we see many poor whites, not just in the South, but all around the country, consumed with hatred of our Black president, bitterly opposed to the very policies, like the Affordable Care Act, that were constructed with their welfare in mind.
Just like they fought for slavery when they did not have slaves, and then fought to maintain the system of Jim Crow that was crippling the South’s economy, they are today eager to shut down and destroy the government that is trying desperately to give them the health care that they cannot afford.
So we see that what is going on now is nothing new. The current conflict is as old as the nation. The struggle to end oppression and the ignorance that fuels it is an ongoing crusade, as America forever strives to attain a more perfect union. Rest assured the current stalemate shall be broken, but future battles surely loom in the months and years ahead as America continues resolutely marching on…
From the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement to the War Over Obamacare.
Staff Writer; Arthur Lewin
This talented author has just published a NEW book which is entitled; AFRICA is not A COUNTRY!.
For more articles written by this talented brother click on the following link; https://thyblackman.com/?s=lewin.
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Arthur,
You claim that the preponderance of racists are Republican.
Which conservative platform initiative is “inherently” racist against black people?
Which liberal platform initiatives are “pro-black” and how are they working?
Whites were fighting for slavery.
Whites foiled Reconstruction with the KKK
Whites crippled the South’s economy with Jim Crow Laws
Whites fought against civil rights
Whites want to destroy the country
Whites hate the president
Whites oppose Affordable Care Act that was constructed for their own welfare
Whites, you do assume much about.
White you are about one statement,
“…but future battles surely loom in the months and years ahead…”
LOL
You concede that slavery could have lasted up until today. But you say it probably would not have. No matter. It would have lasted far longer. That is no incidental detail for people who are descended from those who were enslaved.
As for the States Rights Issue, the only really relevant states rights issue was the issue of the right to leave the Union which was an issue because it ensured their right to continue to enslave people. Despite Northern assurances that they did not want to end slavery, there was reticence to admit slave states to the Union and as the Southern States became more and more outnumbered, they felt that slavery would soon be outlawed nationwide.
Hence, no matter how you slice the war was fought to maintain slavery and the vast majority of soldiers from the South died for the right of the planters to maintain slavery.
As for reading the Proclamation, I have read it. As for offering up Eric Foner, I have met him on more than one occasion and have attended his lectures and read some of his works as well as the work of his father. As compared to W. E. B. Du Bois, Du Bois was the Father of American Sociology graduate of Harvard and attended the University of Berlin and studied under the founders of the discipline of Sociology.
As for Black History beginning in 1619, nothing could be further from the truth. African civilization is thousands of years old.
I assume that you are a knowledgeable well-educated individual. Why do you assume anything less of the people who are here corresponding with you?
Arthur,
“So let us suppose there had been no Civil War. Then the institution of slavery would have continued indefinitely, maybe right up until today? Don’t you see that?”
The quick answer of agreement would be “yes, it could.”
I said could because I don’t believe it would.
I think President Lincoln believed that slavery would die a slow death causing less problems than an abrupt execution of slavery. Who knows? I don’t have an answer, only a story with my own ending.
The “North” country would be a mix of free Blacks and Whites, with a small slave population. Lincoln would be president of a very poor North nation, with no real desire to change the status quo. Slavery would die slowly with little or no notice from state to state. The North nation today would be 72 % Mixed 12% White and 16% Blacks.
The White and Black minorities will be complaining about being treated like shit by the Mixed Majority.
The “South” country would be Whites, Free Blacks, and a large slave population.
Lee would be the president of a very wealthy South nation. It would continue to develop and expand as the USA today, minus the North nation. Due to technology, war…slavery would give way to the same circumstances as did sharecropping.
The South nation today would be 72% White, 12% Black, 16% Hispanic.
The Black and Hispanic minorities will be complaining about being treated like shit by the White Majority.
Make your own story.
As I said before “To the negro, “Black history” always starts in 1619 with slavery”
So let us suppose there had been no slavery.
Then you would continue to be in the country of your ancestors indefinitely, maybe right up until today? Don‘t you see that?
That which seems bad doesn’t always produce bad and that which seems good doesn’t always produce good.
Here at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty for our ancestor’s slavery! We are here and free at last.
@ C.D SMITH THE answer to your question whether black’s will receive equal treatment under OBAMACARE is simply we don’t know.
IF you remember NANCY PELOSI said [ we have to pass it to see what’s in it]; this is like signing a contract without reading it.
JUDGEING from the initial roll out of OBAMACARE I see nothing but disaster if this thing even get’s off the ground.
AFTER the initial cost of 97 million dollars and ending up 3 1/2 years later at 650 million dollars the enrollment website HEALTHCARE.GOV is being described as fatally flawed.
THE funny thing is the state’s who set up their own enrollment website’s aren’t having any problem’s ;which should tell you something about the competence of this government.
WHAT sane person would entrust their health or the health of a loved one to a government who can’t put up a simple enrollment website?
I understand that Lincoln did not want to free the enslaved Africans and only did so when he saw that he needed Black soldiers to defeat the Confederacy. I understand that the Constitution sanctioned slavery. I understand all that. I understand that there is no provision in the Constitution forbidding the states from leaving the union. I understand all that.
So let us suppose there had been no Civil War. Then the institution of slavery would have continued indefinitely, maybe right up until today? Don’t you see that?
The preponderance of racists are blacks.
I don’t care who runs the health care system. The whole health care system is flawed no matter who administers it. The Health Care System also includes the Food and Drug Administration which is allowing the agricultural industrial complex and the drug industry to poison the American people. Furthermore, hospitals and doctors perform innumerable dangerous unnecessary procedures and tests. Neither party deals with these fundamental issues.
I am not defending Obamacare or the current system. They both stink. I think either system is equally good and equally bad. What I was noting is how whites of modest means have for centuries been used by extremely wealthy whites for their own selfish reasons. The man with the Confederate flag represents all the haters who have congregated in the Republican party. Everyone in the Republican Party is not a racist, but the preponderance of racists are Republican.
To the negro, “Black history” always starts in 1619 with slavery -“20 and Odd Negroes.”
Many of you never experienced segregation. None of you ever experienced slavery, nor did your fathers or grandfathers. Some of you are not descendents of slaves and some of you are descendents of slaves with negro slave masters. History is funny that way.
1619-2013, 394 years of distorted black history told to uneducated blacks by distorted black scholars. The best lies are always wrapped in some truth. Take the blue pill and wash it down with kool-aid.
In response to paragraph 1:
“I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861.
The Confederates had no need to defend slavery. It was lawful and supported by the constitution. That sounds familiar.
Slavery was a catalyst but, Sovereignty of the states vs. preservation of the Union; Freedom of the people vs. power of the government was the fight.
That sounds familiar too.
The Emancipation Proclamation was just an added war tool to gain a more secure victory.
You should read the Proclamation to understand what’s in the Proclamation.
Interesting
More to come.
You make some false assumptions concerning my position..
The conservative position is that we should help people who are “actually” poor and need help. In other words, fiscal responsibility by the government and personal responsibility by the citizens.
Some forms of corporate welfare is excessive and questionable. However, for the sake of jobs and opportunity some of it is necessary.
But, we are being lead into a situation where “everyones” freedom is threaten.
Please answer my question concerning whether blacks will get equal treatment under a system where the government has total control of their health care choices..I have never seen that explained or defended on this website.
We can agree to disagree. You would like to end Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, School lunches, etc.. I think they should be kept. And I think taxes should be raised on the 1 percent and big corporations should not be allowed to declare their taxes overseas. These things are social welfare for corporations and the very rich that do not need it. Why should only the rich get social welfare, but everyone else be denied it?
I would like to refer you an acclaimed book on the period name “Reconstruction” by Eric Foner.
I have never read a reference to the effect of southern poor farmers and freed slaves working together in mutual cooperation unless Dubois was referring to the “sharecropping” model.
The constitution does not state that the government is responsible for providing Social Security nor health care. It was a system that was put into place by the people of the period because it “seemed” like the right thing to do..You know the saying that the road to Hell is often paved with “good intentions”.
Eighty years later, we see that is more of a sophisticated Ponzi scheme that is on the verge of collapse.
There are certain principles that guide the universe that cannot be changed, namely:
1. You can’t get something for nothing.
2. You should not take what does not belong to you.
3. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
One last question, once there is a complete take over of our health care by the government, why as a black person should I feel that the government will treat us just as equally as any other group?
Thanks for your response.
I would cite as reference the book Black Reconstruction by W.E.B. Du Bois.
The KKK threatened any Black person who tried to vote period. And the Democratic party was the party of the racist elements in the South, as long as the Democratic Party looked the other way as Blacks were systematically excluded from voting. However, when Lyndon Johnson and the Democrats passed the Voting Rights Act, whites in the South began flocking to the Republican Party where they have remained ever since.
Does the Constitution say the government is responsible for providing Medicaid or Medicare or Social Security or school lunches? So should we drop them too?
The writer here is a student of the Wattree academy of the misguided, Socialist writers.
Please cite a valid historical reference that backs up the comment in the second paragraph concerning poor farmers and blacks working together after reconstruction??
You forgot to mention that the KKK threatened any black person that did not vote “Democrat”…Enlighten me with the answer to that question..
Where is it in the constitution that the government is responsible for providing you health care?
More importantly why is my responsibility to provide you with health care?