I revisited the site today, and I’m more impressed now that before. See previous blog comments and today’s Times-Dispatch article.

I will post a full slideshow for our Statue Tours page tomorrow, but I wanted to include this tidbit for readers. (Sunday update: Here is the slideshow)

There were flowers and a lighted candle at the base of the statue when we visted this morning. During the 20 minutes we were there, maybe 10 people came by. The cascading fountain behind the statue in this photo carries this inscription:

Liverpool, England
The Benin Region of West Africa
Richmond, Virginia

During the 18th Century, these three places reflected on of the well-known triangles in the trade of enslaved Africans.

Men, women and children were captured in West and Central Africa and transported from Benin and other countries. They were chained, herded, loaded on ships built in England and transported through the unspeakable horrors of the Middle Passage.

They were imported and exported in Richmond, Virginia and sold in other American cities. Their forced labor laid the economic foundation of this nation.

Yes, we wouldn’t understand, we should just keep handing out money, and keeping our mouths shut about Black on White crime, and wallow in our guilt.

As far as I’m concerned the statue was a waste of time, energy, and money.  The previous comments “discover the facts”, “cynic”, “no remorse”, they each have a clouded, one-sided, and blatantly european influence on the facts.  discover states that “90% of whites couldn’t afford slaves and worked their butts off to build….“ please, share where you got that bit of misinformation?  Comments such as that are a true indicator of why that statue is a waste.  America in it’s heart of hearts has no regret from slavery.  If it did the citizens of New Orleans wouldn’t have had to wait 2 weeks before the Resident at 1600 “dropped by” for a visit.  Not to mention the fact that the vast majority were herded outside of LA like cattle (just like when slavery was in existance) whole families were divided (just like when slavery was in existance), even the Resident’s mother had to add insult to injury by saying something to the effect that these people are better off now than they were before the hurricane.  And as far as “us not trying to return to Africa” keep in mind that America’s influence is world-wide.  it’s a you can run but you can’t hide kinda thing…..you wouldn’t understand.

I’m with “sad”- it’s these comments that make me hate living here.  So much hatred, misunderstanding, and genuine disinterest in making this community better.  And to discover the facts, you should learn your history about how this monument was created before trying to berate others for not knowing their history.  This began as an african movement to apologize.  Sheesh.  The text says “captured” - it doesn’t implicate anyone in particular- white black or otherwise.  And read Built By Blacks (just published by ACORN) if you think Europeans built this country. 

As for me, I think I’m moving somewhere more enlightened.

Blacks are benefiting from slavery as well.  If their ancestors hadn’t been enslaved, then they would be living in Africa right now, instead of in the U.S.  And for all the talk about the Glory of Africa, and how Africa is the cradle of civilization, and how they were Kings and Queens back in the motherland, I don’t see alot of Blacks relocating.

By some of the reactions you’d think the monument included a demand for reparations (which may be justified, but that’s another issue).  The defensiveness of those who say that slavery has been talked about too much shows how much we still need to talk about it.  It’s acknowledged by many people who go on to insist that it has nothing to do with them.  It does have something to do with you: if you want to claim Jefferson (not to mention Lee and his gang) and the rest of American history that is typically glorified, then you have to accept slavery as part of _your_ past too.  And by the way, all of those non-enslaved Americans who didn’t own any slaves still benefited immensely from the slavery-based economy.

I deeply regret that they were brought over here in the first place. Looking back with the hindsight provided by centuries it was obviously a big mistake. But I have no personal remorse. Especially since my ancestors did not come to this country until long after slavery was ended. European people built this country, period.

Thank you for your outstanding coverage of this historic event in the life of the City of Richmond.

This event coming at this moment when the world is focused on acknowleging these wounds of history that cause division and hate between people is a challenge to
us here in Canada.

We particularly appreciated the fact that a Richmond friend sent us this link from your paper. The slide show was most moving in its editing and presentation.
best wishes, Chris and Anne Hartnell

I wish people would learn the true history of America and who laid the foundation for this country.  No it is not mentioned in the text books, but if you do your research you will find that the majority of slaves who were enslaved and brought here to this country were artisians, carpenters, well skilled laborers and yes this country was built and some city designed by African American slaves.  Discover the facts, get your facts straight before you made ignorant comments.  Learn the history.  Slaves were used as breast feeders for white mothers, breeding, and I don’t recall seeing many whites picking cotton or being whipped day and out because of the color of their skin.  And yes, slavery (blatant slavery still exists).  They are busy digging up burial sites of slaves in New York, NC, VA, WVA and other places.  Thousands of slaves, free slaves, learn VA history (This is the mason/dixon line).  Reconcilliation needs to shake and wake up America. Take a good look at your country, look at your rights being ripped away from you, look at how the media portrays your brother or sister.  I am sick to death of people and their condemnation of others, I being an african american woman want to know when is it going to stop. Stop pointing the finger and take the blame for what your ancestors did long ago.  It is time for us to make a change for the future of our youth.

I especially like the sign in the slideshow that says “regret is not enough”, I guess once again opening the wallets of whites is the desired end result of all this.

Where is the outcry against the current slavery going on in Africa and the Mid East?  Where are the statues and memorials built by the “African American” community thanking the Union soldiers that died in the Civil War?

In my opinion the statue is rather unattractive. As for the whole slavery issue, I feel it is wearing a bit thin. That was in the past, the present shows no slavery. Well, if you count being a corporate slave that is.

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