Thanks for reminding us that the more things change, the more they seem to remain the same.
Or is it more of the Ken Burns' "history doesn't repeat itself; but it rhymes" kind of thing?
Darren Wang has a novel called the Hidden Light of Northern Fires which was about abolitionists in the Buffalo area. It's based on the story of a historical abolitionist. I never associated that Buffalo was also a hotbed of Southern partisanship and a place where slave catchers worked (as it was a last chance before the refugees got to Canada). When I heard about the massacre, I thought about that part of the story/history too.
It’s hard to believe that these things are still taking place. Brings to mind Faulkner’s oft quoted saying. Unless the effort to suppress the truth is reversed, unless we come to grip with our history, these things will continue to take place.
These stories are disheartening.
I can’t even articulate what I’m feeling right now.
The Washington Post article was very helpful. This one is, as well. When will we make the effort to stop these hate crimes before they’re committed? It can be done. https://theconversation.com/accused-buffalo-mass-shooter-had-threatened-a-shooting-while-in-high-school-could-more-have-been-done-to-avert-the-tragedy-183455
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reminding us that the more things change, the more they seem to remain the same.
Or is it more of the Ken Burns' "history doesn't repeat itself; but it rhymes" kind of thing?
Darren Wang has a novel called the Hidden Light of Northern Fires which was about abolitionists in the Buffalo area. It's based on the story of a historical abolitionist. I never associated that Buffalo was also a hotbed of Southern partisanship and a place where slave catchers worked (as it was a last chance before the refugees got to Canada). When I heard about the massacre, I thought about that part of the story/history too.
http://darenwang.com/
Thanks for the comment and link. Historian Chad Williams sketches out the relevant historical context of the Buffalo shooting in this piece. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/05/17/two-historical-trends-that-explain-buffalo-shooting/
It’s hard to believe that these things are still taking place. Brings to mind Faulkner’s oft quoted saying. Unless the effort to suppress the truth is reversed, unless we come to grip with our history, these things will continue to take place.
It is certainly complicated, but I remain an optimist at hear, in large part because I have faith in the next generation.