Earlier this week I shared the story of the Black Tennessee mayor who met with the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to sign a proclamation declaring April Confederate History Month.
A detail that always strikes me in these stories about African-American pensioners in former Confederate states: during the war the master enjoyed the exclusive services of the slave in camp, so surely the master's family should pay the pension? Did this not occur to the majority of Tennesseans?
Sometimes, it's difficult to click the "heart," but I do so because I appreciate the depth of research and the verification of facts. My head pounds at the thought of contemporary Black men smiling and joining in on reinforcement of the myth of the Black Confederate soldier. It reminds me of Ben Carson's repulsive reference to enslaved, imported Africans as immigrants. Sorry, Ben, no.
I can't speak for Ben Carson. What I do think it is important to remember is that for far too long the role African Americans played in the Civil War was either mythologized or minimized. I can understand why Black Americans today might find the stories propagated by Confederate heritage groups to be appealing. Who wouldn't embrace an organization that wants to celebrate your ancestor's bravery.
Harriet Tubman freed a thousand slaves and would have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves. Hey Dear Mayor Cuz did you know that Mack’s wife ( Sam’s Son and my great grandfather) GAVE AWAY 125 acres to the church? You believe that shit!?
I’m am also a descendant of Sam Cullom. It’s difficult to honor a system that, had it had its way, would want me to still be a slave. More power to you Mayor Cuz but I don’t think Sam and his son , Mack, fought and worked so hard for us to fight for a system that fights against us still to this day!!
I appreciate you taking the time to comment here. It's hard to understand why a Black mayor would align himself with an organization like the SCV for any reason.
This is the weirdest flex I have ever seen of a Black dude. Like your great great granddaddy was a slave in a war about slavery and you think he was there, because he believed in slavery? Dear gawd the ignorance is real. Just a little thought would have prevented this.
Though generations old, the Lost Cause myth, including aspects of it that this situation in Livingston relates to, persists. In 2022. The myth is just one fissure fueling the miasma of untruths spreading thick and fast--right now--while too many people, the vast majority of people, who cherish democracy and liberty remain asleep. Whether it's the lie of denazification within or oppression by Ukraine, of voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. general election, of Democratic "groomers," of Critical Race Theory oppressing America's white majority, of LGBTQAI+ people as predatory, of global warming as a scam, it's a part of a worldview that is the acutest threat to personal freedom and agency and the matrix of self-government, human rights, and the rule of law certainly since the 1930s and 1940s, and possibly since the dawn of the Enlightenment. We're at a pivotal moment in history. My hat is off to everyone like Mr. Levin who does what they can to combat falsehood wherever it is found.
Steaming mad that our people allow themselves to be used like this and possibly for the reason of “recognition”…smh. Knowledge of our enslavement shouldn’t elicit desires to be recognized for helping the enslavers. He should be embarrassed! I’m sure his family is.
I would like to hear Mayor Hayes’s opinion as to why his ancestor, a slave, would join the Confederate army. He’s probably bought into the “loyal slave” narrative, too.
My favorite response from a Black Union soldier when asked why he decided to fight for his country: “I had no country. I fought so I would.”
Sorry, I don’t have the reference, but I read this recently from a Civil War site, possibly yours?
Hi Laura. Right. Why would a slave (even if he had the power to join the army) lend his service to a nation whose goal was to keep him and his family enslaved? I am guessing he has probably bought into much of the SCV's propaganda.
It is absolutely gobsmacking to see the content of the caption at the end "Compatriots with the Sons of Confederate Veterans [. . .] urging all citizens to avail themselves of the opportunities to increase their knowledge of this important era of Tennessee's history." and contrast that with the wave of anti-CRT legislation being passed. Silencing accurate history while promoting not just falsehoods but very damaging ones. This is ridiculous.
He may not know enough to ask the right questions. One of the things that the Black Confederate myth is intended to obscure is the importance of coercion in the master-slave relationship.
A detail that always strikes me in these stories about African-American pensioners in former Confederate states: during the war the master enjoyed the exclusive services of the slave in camp, so surely the master's family should pay the pension? Did this not occur to the majority of Tennesseans?
I suspect that the vast majority of Tennesseans weren't even aware of the program, but I get your point.
Unfortunately, many people are easily confused by the fact that not everyone in a Confederate camp can be called a "soldier."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zMczzbllGU
Absolute nonsense. I referenced Al Arnold's book in *Searching for Black Confederates.*
Sometimes, it's difficult to click the "heart," but I do so because I appreciate the depth of research and the verification of facts. My head pounds at the thought of contemporary Black men smiling and joining in on reinforcement of the myth of the Black Confederate soldier. It reminds me of Ben Carson's repulsive reference to enslaved, imported Africans as immigrants. Sorry, Ben, no.
I can't speak for Ben Carson. What I do think it is important to remember is that for far too long the role African Americans played in the Civil War was either mythologized or minimized. I can understand why Black Americans today might find the stories propagated by Confederate heritage groups to be appealing. Who wouldn't embrace an organization that wants to celebrate your ancestor's bravery.
Thanks for the comment.
Harriet Tubman freed a thousand slaves and would have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves. Hey Dear Mayor Cuz did you know that Mack’s wife ( Sam’s Son and my great grandfather) GAVE AWAY 125 acres to the church? You believe that shit!?
I’m am also a descendant of Sam Cullom. It’s difficult to honor a system that, had it had its way, would want me to still be a slave. More power to you Mayor Cuz but I don’t think Sam and his son , Mack, fought and worked so hard for us to fight for a system that fights against us still to this day!!
Hi Pamela,
I appreciate you taking the time to comment here. It's hard to understand why a Black mayor would align himself with an organization like the SCV for any reason.
This is the weirdest flex I have ever seen of a Black dude. Like your great great granddaddy was a slave in a war about slavery and you think he was there, because he believed in slavery? Dear gawd the ignorance is real. Just a little thought would have prevented this.
🤦♂️
Though generations old, the Lost Cause myth, including aspects of it that this situation in Livingston relates to, persists. In 2022. The myth is just one fissure fueling the miasma of untruths spreading thick and fast--right now--while too many people, the vast majority of people, who cherish democracy and liberty remain asleep. Whether it's the lie of denazification within or oppression by Ukraine, of voter fraud in the 2020 U.S. general election, of Democratic "groomers," of Critical Race Theory oppressing America's white majority, of LGBTQAI+ people as predatory, of global warming as a scam, it's a part of a worldview that is the acutest threat to personal freedom and agency and the matrix of self-government, human rights, and the rule of law certainly since the 1930s and 1940s, and possibly since the dawn of the Enlightenment. We're at a pivotal moment in history. My hat is off to everyone like Mr. Levin who does what they can to combat falsehood wherever it is found.
Hi Grant. Thanks for taking the time to comment and for the kind words. I very appreciate it.
Keep up the good fight.
Steaming mad that our people allow themselves to be used like this and possibly for the reason of “recognition”…smh. Knowledge of our enslavement shouldn’t elicit desires to be recognized for helping the enslavers. He should be embarrassed! I’m sure his family is.
they are not embarrassed. Read the article. They all attended a grave marking. This is a chase for clout.
I would like to hear Mayor Hayes’s opinion as to why his ancestor, a slave, would join the Confederate army. He’s probably bought into the “loyal slave” narrative, too.
My favorite response from a Black Union soldier when asked why he decided to fight for his country: “I had no country. I fought so I would.”
Sorry, I don’t have the reference, but I read this recently from a Civil War site, possibly yours?
that's what I say. Like what kind of books did they read in Overton High School or Roane Oak College. Perhaps that's why he dropped out.
Hi Laura. Right. Why would a slave (even if he had the power to join the army) lend his service to a nation whose goal was to keep him and his family enslaved? I am guessing he has probably bought into much of the SCV's propaganda.
It is absolutely gobsmacking to see the content of the caption at the end "Compatriots with the Sons of Confederate Veterans [. . .] urging all citizens to avail themselves of the opportunities to increase their knowledge of this important era of Tennessee's history." and contrast that with the wave of anti-CRT legislation being passed. Silencing accurate history while promoting not just falsehoods but very damaging ones. This is ridiculous.
Hi Andrew. It's disturbing on a number of levels. Thanks for the comment.
He may not know enough to ask the right questions. One of the things that the Black Confederate myth is intended to obscure is the importance of coercion in the master-slave relationship.