National Park‘s ’Slave for a Day’ Event Draws Outrage
- Posted on June 22, 2012 at 10:45am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Image source: historichampton.org
“Work in the fields with actual hoes and scythes.”
“Carry buckets of water with a yoke on your shoulders.”
Want to be a “slave for a day”? You can at a national historic site in Maryland at a special event next month.
That was at least the idea until this week, when the Hampton National Historic Site in Towson, Md. raised plenty of eyebrows for the name of its July 8 program: “Slave for a Day.”
Park ranger and event organizer Angela Roberts-Burton told the Towson Times the name was meant to draw attention and get people to come to the one-day program at the site, located in Baltimore County.
“By no means am I trying to, or are we the Park Service, trying to assimilate the atrocities that slave African-Americans endured,” Roberts-Burton said. “This is just a glimpse of the hard work, being out in the heat and sun,” she said.
Image source: historichampton.org
The name certainly drew attention, including from the Baltimore Fishbowl blog, which noted not only the title, but the “awkwardly jaunty tone” in the event announcement.
“Hampton promises to let kids ‘[e]xperience what it may have been like being enslaved. Work in the fields with actual hoes and scythes. Carry buckets of water with a yoke on your shoulders!’” blogger Rachel Monroe noted. “It’s that last exclamation point that really pushes it over the edge for me….Some things are too profound to playact.”
Roberts-Burton told the Times she received more than 50 calls and emails about the title in just two days, prompting a fast name turnaround: It was changed Tuesday to “Walk a Mile, a Minute in the Footsteps of the Enslaved on the Hampton Plantation,” and the description was changed to remove the exclamation points.
“We didn’t want people to be upset because of the title of the program,” National Park Service ranger Vincent Vaise, who oversees Hampton and nearby Fort McHenry, told the newspaper. “But we want people to see the purpose of the program, to tell the story and empathize with people of that era.”
Anthony Fugett, vice president of the Baltimore County chapter of the NAACP and nearby resident, told the Times he supported the spirit of the event but said the initial title was a problem.
“The event was well-intentioned, but the name may have been inappropriate, and I’m glad to see they changed it,” Fugett said.
Roberts-Burton said she still has the backing of the National Park Service to continue with the event, and noted the park’s website says, “Black History Month is every month at Hampton.”
“People who are complaining about this are people who don’t even come here,” she said.
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Comments (78)
blackyb
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 2:04pmThey are using Federal land to divide this country and promote racism. These people are the ones who are causing trouble in this land. This Fed Land Bureau falls under the US Department of Agreculture, Department of Health Education and Welfare as well (DHEW) which is the ones who are being used to promote Obama care. These people are using the Federal land to promote political ads. This must stop. This is nothing less than a leftist political ad at the expense of using taxpayer land.
Report Post »DisgruntledInClinton
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 3:53pmThose of us who pay average taxes “slave” 2.5 days a week to pay the federal, state and local taxes.
Report Post »wayner4162
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 10:44pmslavery has been long gone in the US, the price was paid for in blood for the punishment of the country, and the price of freedom for slaves has been paid for in blood, the Civil War was a huge blood letting, this kind of deceit, manipulation and stupidity of those who partake is disgusting. If the Union Soldiers who died for the freedom of the blacks could see what goes on now in this country, rape, murder, robbery, random beatings, not to mention the drugs, prostitution, gangs and so much other trash that goes on directly connected to blacks in this country they would, those Union Soldiers, if it were possible, run over and get on Bobbie Lee’s side to defeat Lincoln. Crime against whites is out of control in this country and it is largely going un-reported by the media, but any crime against blacks is an outrage and it is red meat for the press. White men ban together, Stand together and Survive together, otherwise kiss your … goodbye.
Report Post »raybaker35
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 1:52pmAll white people are racist right? You betcha! What a nation we have become.
Report Post »I’m almost to the point where i am ashamed of being an American.
blackyb
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 2:00pmThere were many black slave holders. These people who are doing this with the help of the U.S. dept of agriculture need to be reprimanded. These lazy azzes would not work in a pie factory for 20 dollars an hour. They have nothing to do better than this, then go get a hand out or make out like they are working for federal pay? They need to be fired and those “slaves” need to get a real job.
Report Post »Dano.50
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 2:29pmIf you think white people, specifically white Americans, have cornered the market on racisn, you need to get your brainwashed butt out of your momma’s basement.
If you are white, start with India. It’s fairly safe for tourists, and markets still run on the barter system.
A world of advice.
If you’re white, the price of anything immediately jumps to about 6 X what they’ll settle selling it to white people for, and that’s still higher than non whites pay.
One day, when unable to deal with one merchant, we were puzzled that we were having no better luck with any of the following merchants.
Until we discovered a kid had been sent ahead by the first merchant, to point us out to everybody.
So don‘t yap it’s just us whities who pull stuff.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 7:32amMany WHITE people lived the same….they were not ‘owned’ by Masters…but many white people who were share croppers lived the same kind of life…….even in the early 20th century. Elvis Presley even told about his mother having to ‘pick cotton’ all day…..‘slave work’ was not only done by Black people.
Report Post »KingCanon
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 1:46pmDon’t forget…
Report Post »This too is politically motivated to render affection.
Smart people encompassing 1600 Pennsylvania Ave!
PROSECUTE_PUBLIC_SERVANTS__FOR_CONSTITUTIONAL_TREASON
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 1:24pmDENIAL. Americans are already slaves. Banker interest and gov. taxes and you, the people, refuse to elect righteous leaders like R. Paul. Accept your judgement for voting in vile, wicked, evil leaders. It’s your fault people.
Report Post »Glenn_S
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:53pmNote the park ranger/event organizer’s name.
Now go watch and listen to the bottom clip on this page. http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/11/28/on-time-november-27-2011/
So, it can’t be racist. Right? I don’t know any more; it’s too hard to keep up with the ever changing rules.
In case there are DISQUS hyperlink restrictions on displaying the web page above:
Report Post »http[colon+2fwdslashes]baltimore[dot]cbslocal[dot]com[fwdslsh]2011[fwdslsh]11[fwdslsh]28[fwdslsh]on[dash]time[dash]november[dash]27[dash]2011[fwdslsh]
PROSECUTE_PUBLIC_SERVANTS__FOR_CONSTITUTIONAL_TREASON
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 1:20pmWe are already slaves. Americans are in DENIAL. Homes, boats, cars, education, credit cards enslave us to banker interest and the gov. enslaves us to taxes. You will work your ass off and be lucky to end up with a home and a little savings. Then you pat yourself on the back for raising somemore slaves in your family – sons and daughters to pay banker interest and obsurd gov. tax. We are not freemen. We are slaves. You are conditioned to believe you are free. Your no more free than a free range chicken. Everyday the chickens eggs are taken and eventually the chicken is killed and cooked. That’s you. You are at fault for electing thieving criminals to office. Vile, evil, wicked leaders rule and now you are going to elect them again in Nov..
Report Post »I say this because you rejected the only moral choice – R. Paul. God will give you what you vote for……more judgement to come by your wicked choices. Don’t blame Obummer or Romney, it’s you who are at fault. And Christians you have not been salt and light. Christians are hiding and nothing but jello for the most part.
RightPolitically
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:25pmHow about putting every able bodied chronic welfare and government entitlement recipient out into those fields with a hoe in hand and a yoke around their necks to see how it feels to the taxpayers who support them year in and year out, REGARDLESS of skin color. And…… WHY NOT?
Report Post »BradLee
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:25pmThey should modernize it!
“Destroy Capitalism! Take $50,000,000.00 vacations a month! Send your little sand monkeys on Spring break for $12,000,000.000! Play more golf than Tiger Woods…heck…play golf WITH Tiger Woods! Spend nearly $200,000.00 an hour privately flying wherever you want while eating at 5 star restaurants and hob-knobing it with some of the most powerful Socialists and Terrorists in the world! Lie constantly and the be best part? You don’t even have to be American! Fly a mile on Air Force One’s wings on your way to anywhere you want in the world!
Report Post »BubbaSC
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:07pm“By no means am I trying to, or are we the Park Service, trying to assimilate the atrocities that slave African-Americans endured,” Roberts-Burton said. “This is just a glimpse of the hard work, being out in the heat and sun,” she said.
Report Post »YEP YEP YEP sho thing only darkies “WORKED” hard in the 16-17-1800′s Right? Yep no lilly white person EVER did that kind of work, EVER. What about the Chinese or the Irish, guess they never worked hard during that time either.
I have the natural right to offend you as long as I do not physically harm or injure you!
“Sticks & Stone will break your bone, BUT words will NEVER HARM YOU!
Are you offended NOW! The 12% needs to wipe their own butts and move on!
blackyb
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 2:08pmI only saw white people in the picture I saw, but we will work. It has been proved. If it was not for white people, black people would have starved. Many of them didn’t and still do not want to produce anything but babies. Now that we have a white generation of drug abusers they are of about the same status of non-working people. Look at California. It does need leveling out and restructuring. Send all who refuse to work to islands and see how well they do.
Report Post »yonah
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 2:14pmAll kinds of people worked hard in the 18th and 19th century,but were they bought and sold at auction like a horse or a pig?Could they work themselves out of their situations or were they owned generation after generation?.Were the Irish and Chinese peoples children sold from out of their parents care to spend their entire lives in bondage?Were their wives sold away from their husbands and were their families broken up because they were deemed subhuman and their families not considered real enough to be kept intact?Were the Chinese and Irish forbidden to practice their religions,keep their original names and speak their original languages?If so,then their slavery was comparable to Black chattel slavery that went on for close to 400 years.If not,then STF up and sit down.You have nothing to say!
Report Post »ICEDRAGON
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:06pmGet over it. The whites were slaves to the blacks during the Dark Ages . DO we need to keep crying about yesterday or get moving on to today and tomorrow?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:13pmWell said Iceman, get over it. The Jews were slaves for 500 years and persecuted for thousands of years afterward. They’ve done pretty well for themselves, haven’t they?
Report Post »forthepeople
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 1:21pmThe Egyptians were black ( dark skinned ) and had white slaves !
We want reparation , free food, easy jobs and first in line to bitch .
Report Post »theblazerunner
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 5:52pmwere many slaves…indentured servants.
irish, german, pols, chinese…etc
why are blacks glorified,horrified?
Report Post »NLN
Posted on June 23, 2012 at 1:06amI am still a slave. Owned by my customers and creditors.
Report Post »rpp
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:54amGosh people are thin-skinned. Sounds like it might actually be interesting and educational.
Report Post »muffythetuffy
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:01pmThis is a good idea and only could have been created in an Obama Park Service.
Will the Master wipe the slaves? Will the slave women be taken by the Master to slave row and honored inside the sleeping room.
Report Post »Wannabee
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:35amSlavery existed from the beginning of human existence. It takes many forms. Why would this government offer the slave experience? Absurd, and simply means this government is giving its citizens an opportunity to experience slavery before we realize we have become Modern Days Slaves beholden to politicians and government.
Report Post »All humans should resist slavery. What happened in our family or our nation’s history should not be and for most Americans is not a concern for most Americans, except to watch for and fight to prevent current enslavement. Slaves came in all colors and were often very poor, victims of wars. They were also called servants or indentured workers.
Tri-ox
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:34amUh, “hard work, being out in the heat and sun“ as well as working ”in the fields with actual hoes and scythes” and “carry buckets of water with a yoke on your shoulders” are all tasks that have been performed by both free and and enslaved peoples throughout history.
The liberal belief that only slaves knew what hard work was is a typical liberal rewriting of history – one does not have to be a “slave for a day” to understand the meaning of physical labor.
Report Post »RedDirtTexas
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:04pmExactly! I wish the liberals could step into my shoes for a day. Once my wife puts the Vulcan mind-meld on them they would be content to work in the blazing hot oil fields! lol
Report Post »Jezcruzen
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:26amKids don’t have to go there to experience what enslavement is like. They just have to wait until they get a job (if there are any) and have this criminal government squeeze taxes out of them!
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:20amHas everyone that works for the Gov. totally lost thier minds?!?
They would NOT let an outside group come in and hold any event with that name but they think they can pull it off in good taste?
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:19amSlaves. Everyone in this world has a relative that was a slave to somebody. It could have been centuries ago, but it happened. I tired of hearing about ‘poor us…we be slaves at one time’. Slavery is NOT the reason they are behind in almost everything. It is them.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:18amEncinom is a slave to stupidity, so what do we do about him?
Report Post »KingCanon
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:17amSLAVE:
1 the work was done by slaves: historical serf, vassal, thrall; archaic bondsman, bondswoman
AFRICAN AMERICANS NO LONGER EXIST. OXYMORONIC TERM. SLAVES NO LONGER EXIST.
Report Post »ONLY BLACK AMERICANS DRIVING MERCEDES OR THOSE THAT ARE TOO SORRY
TO ACHIEVE SAID STATUS.
sWampy
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:31amSlaves do still exist in the Mid East and in Africa. Few also realize that many of the largest slave owners in the US were blacks that owned slaves.
Report Post »KingCanon
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:53pmGranted.
Report Post »I‘m sure there’s a nest here or there. My point
was meant to be in correlation with the past.
BeingThere
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:16amDummies!!! LOL You could accomplish the same thing with a tour of the IRS.
Report Post »Indymaverick
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:10amI`m my wifes slave, but there are benefits. ; )
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:08amWhat??? In Maryland??? A solid dembocrapic state???
BwaaaaHaaaHaaa …
You guys are a RIOT….
Maybe barry could be a house slave???
I mean Senator Harry Reid Refers to Obama’s “***** Dialect” and Light Skin…
Bwaahahhaaa
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:06amThis is a blatant attempt to add fuel to the already inflamed fires of racism. Don‘t think for a minute that the Obama administration isn’t behind this stupid stunt…Van Jones, NBPP, Sharpton, etc…
Report Post »Itsnakemo
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:03amRemember, there were other slaves who were not black. But we are not told this story. We still have slavery in Africa among the muslims in that country.
Report Post »USACommoner
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:23amMy thoughts exactly. Read about the Melungeons, if you’re interested. There isn‘t anything mentioned about them in any history books I’ve read…
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 10:56amCan the Master have Sex with a Slave… or Cut Off a Limb?
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:21amYes but socially unacceptable and yes common practice for theft or running away.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 10:55amWe‘re all slaves to government so what’s the problem?
Report Post »booger71
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:04amSo true
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 10:52amIf you don’t like the event, then don’t go to it. Pretty simple is it not? I guess now they want to outlaw the word “slave” huh. Screw them. If you don’t like it , don’t go. Folks, we have to quit tip-toeing around 13% of the population. If they don’t like something, tough crap.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:17amI agree.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:19amAgree
Report Post »BacktotheFounders
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:36am“If you don’t like the event, then don’t go to it.”
WRONG. If you don’t like the event, write to your congressman and ask him why your tax money is being appropriated to support this attempt to promote hatred and cause divisiveness. Tell him or her that if the National Park Service has enough money to create this kind of garbage, then that appropriation should be cut back. Don’t waste my money on this kind of thing when we need to use every cent of taxpayers money to reduce the national debt.
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