Comments on: Thy Fallacy of 40 Acres and a Mule.

By: DG

DG — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:46:29 +0000

Sorry Terrance, I meant to write Torrance.

By: Terrance Amen

Terrance Amen — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:56:06 +0000

@ DG

I didn’t write the article, I made a comment below.

Black Unity means financial independence and happiness

By: DG

DG — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:37:39 +0000

Terrance, I really like your article but I disagree. While we weren’t promised 40 acres and a mule by virtue of law it was implied prior to the great compromise that newly free Blacks would be given land that was appropriated from the southern plantation owners at the time. Some estimated this would be 40 acres.

However, the great compromise ended the reconstruction period and allowed the return to power the southern states. This created the rise domestic terrorism (KKK) and Jim Crow.

In regard to radical Republicans they were for Black improvement as well as southern punishment. There is no other way to explain the level of investment they put into African American education during reconstruction. However, once the great compromise occurred they were further marginalized and ultimately lost any relevance in the Black struggle in America.

By: Ford

Ford — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 06:18:59 +0000

…Magnolia I think your right. Sherman wanted to break the back of southern power and by doing so blacks were cast loose without a means of making a living. The forty acres and a mule was put forth I think by him and some blacks came to have it. Soon Lincoln was murdered and Johnson took over stripping blacks of the forty acres and everything else and another hundred years would pass before things started to right.

By: Terrance Amen

Terrance Amen — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:33:55 +0000

I don’t think you are ignorant to believe you are owed 40 acres and a mule or that the 14th amendment was instituted to protect Black people. We are definitely owed for the free labor our ancestors provided, which made this country the wealthiest of all others. As far as the 14th amendment, it was created to protect Black people. The real issue is that we have neither been protected nor received reparations.

Part of the problem is the hypocrisy that was ingrained from the very founding of this country. The other problem which we as a people can correct is that, as a united people, we can solve most of our problems. But by not working together, we will continue to deal with the negative issues within and without our community. But there is a solution and it starts in 2014. Lookout for this positive and powerful life changing news.

Black Unity means financial independence and happiness

By: Northern_Magnolia

Northern_Magnolia — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 07:27:53 +0000

It IS in Sherman’s Special Field Orders, No. 15 — 40 acres per family, with a promise of military protection until the families could protect themselves! See the third paragraph.

However, I could not find the mule…

By: Northern_Magnolia

Northern_Magnolia — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 07:24:12 +0000

40 acres and a mule comes from General William Tecumseh Sherman in response to his needing to do something to find a way to feed the Black folks that had been displaced and had joined him on his famous march to the sea. The term comes from his special field orders for the territory he took over (it could be field order 15, or thereabouts). Although his plan was never quite implemented, it persists in our historical memory.

By: rasil

rasil — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 03:00:31 +0000

Correction…I should have stated that it is no fallacy.

By: rasil

rasil — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 02:58:57 +0000

The 40 acres and a mule is no myth. Whether or not it was a promise I am not certain. Research proves that some Blacks were given the 40 acres and a mule but it was taken back bc Whites resented it. I believe it was during Reconstruction. Google etc. and you will find this information. Black History continues to resurrect in small increments.