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Reflecting on 2019
This year, as the nation attempts to address the history and experiences of Americans of African descent, the focus has been primarily on healing and commemoration. On June 19th, there was a call for a national day of healing and … Continue reading
Posted in reparations
Tagged 400th Anniversary of Slavery in Virginia, Congressional hearing, drumming, healing, juneteenth, Maafa, reconciliation, reparations
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Sensational Headlines
The MPCPMP has taken historical facts and made them into news headlines. Unfortunately, none of these headlines is followed by fake news or fabricated history. Instead, under each sensational headline, we present the truth — a brief historical fact or … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Primer on U.S. Slavery for Secondary Teachers
Slavery is often seen as a generally accepted traditional and necessary evil. Images of the happy-go-lucky slave, the enslaved child who was taught to read, or was remembered in the will of an owner survive today because they help many … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Quarterly Newsletter: April-June, 2017
The spring quarter was productive and encouraging. A marker was dedicated in Galveston, Texas; networking and promoting the Project were ongoing, especially along the Gulf Coast and at the CLAW Conference in Charleston; and production has begun of a documentary … Continue reading
Posted in newsletter
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Reparations or Civil War
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s protagonist, Ivan Ilyich, was once asked, “What is the most revolutionary way to change society: Is it violent revolution or is it gradual reform?” He gave a careful answer: “Neither. If you want to change society, then you … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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End of Year 2016
Four years ago, when this blog started, MPCPMP provided a quarterly reading list for those who were interested in delving deeper into the background of issues related to the posts. Unfortunately, that practice fell by the wayside as demands to … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Historical Parallels: Déjà Vu
Post-election texts, emails, and conversations are filled with anger, angst, disbelief, and finger pointing. How did this happen? How did Donald J. Trump — crude and inexperienced, arrogant and uninformed — become the 45th President of the United States? For … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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From Independence Day to “We the People”
This is the traditional season to celebrate U.S. patriotism. Many people have been taught the nation’s history in the ringing phrases and the lofty ideals of colonial documents we memorized in parts as school children, for example, from the Declaration … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Trace
Periodically we respond or address issues that surface from our reading. Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape is a recently published work by Mount Holyoke earth science professor Lauret Savoy that merits attention. Her writing is lyrical and … Continue reading
Posted in African American History, ancestors, ethnic studies, Native Americans, slavery, Uncategorized
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Birth of a Nation: Another Creation Angle
From time to time those of us working with the Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project (MPCPMP) find ourselves re-emphasizing several points about U.S. history as the country addresses the day’s pertinent issues. These themes bear repeating: The nation’s … Continue reading
Posted in American legal system, American politics, descendants of slaves, ethnic studies, gun control, weapons
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