"History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are." by David C. McCullough
I met a man today - James Cameron of Williamsburg. Nearly seven feet tall, he has a commanding presence and the kind of deep, resonant voice any man would envy. Ensconced in a small, dimly lit colonial style restaurant, after hours, my husband and I sat enthralled as actor Cameron, garbed in the clothing of the time, brought John Rollison, a Revolutionary War era African-American to life.
In the hour that followed I gained a more accurate understanding of the life of that time, with some myths dispelled and some previous gaps in history filled in.
Myth #1 - Originally, captured blacks were brought over from Africa to provide slave labor for the colonists.
Fact: The first blacks brought to Virginia were not slaves, but indentured servants who earned their freedom over time. The theory now suggests that Portuguese ships carrying captured Africans who were destined for sale elsewhere were themselves taken by British privateers and brought to Virginia. At that time, since slavery was not allowed in the area, the newly arrived Africans became, instead, indentured servants, eventually earning their freedom. It should be stated here that anyone, black or white, could be indentured in Virginia.
Myth #2 - There were no free blacks.
Fact: Upon fulfilling the terms of indenture, blacks and others who were indentured, were set free and given a pound and a half to go out on their own. Actually, slavery did not exist, as we think of it, until a law was passed allowing the practice in 1672. According to the Black Patriot, this law made it possible for any non-Christian arriving in the area to become a slave for the rest of his natural life.
Myth #3 - Blacks did not own slaves.
Fact: Rollison was born a free black man in 1725. He acquired great wealth and owned several slaves himself who helped to manage his various properties and businesses.
During a question and answer period after Mr. Cameron's portrayal of a Black patriot, we posed some "what ifs" to him about how our forefathers would have felt about modern day American life. Shock? Awe? Disgust? It was interesting to hear his conjectures. Simply put, he thought it would not be that much different, i.e. Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry would probably have been more conservative, although differing in their religious views. Samuel Adams and Benjamin Franklin would probably have been more liberal.
It would seem that insults and fear mongering were as prevalent then as now. As an example he cited one rumor reported in the newspaper that President Adam's White House would be turned into a den of prostitution. We have certainly witnessed many scandals and rumors about today's political figures. This seems to be the way of politics, as each party candidate attempts to disparage the other in an effort to help his own party win office. However, actor Cameron deplores the growing lack of respect and civility we show to each other today in our daily communication.
In the next few weeks I hope to discuss the Historic Triangle and how visiting Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown has given me a truer reading and understanding of an important time for all Americans. An additional visit to Appotomax, which signaled the end of the Civil War, was also a profound experience to be shared.
When it comes to history, which today will be tomorrow, it is up to teachers to have a good background and understanding of that history, and to bring the past to life in an exciting way with as much truth as possible. Furthermore, it is up to today's writers and talking heads to keep the record straight, report and repeat the facts, and to do so with civility. Hopefully this will enable future generations to view their past with a degree of accuracy that I certainly missed.
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BOOK NOOK
Free African Americans of North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina by Paul Heinegg. This book contains information from the Colonial period until about 1820.
The American Revolution and Slavery - A Digital History
www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?...72
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