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The History and Politics of Slavery

According to this Yahoo News story:

Archaeologists unearthing the remains of George Washington's presidential home have discovered a hidden passageway used by his nine slaves, raising questions about whether the ruins should be incorporated into a new exhibit at the site.

The underground passageway is just steps from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. It was designed so Washington's guests would not see slaves as they slipped in and out of the main house.

"As you enter the heaven of liberty, you literally have to cross the hell of slavery," said Michael Coard, a Philadelphia attorney who leads a group that worked to have slavery recognized at the site. "That's the contrast, that's the contradiction, that's the hypocrisy. But that's also the truth."

Washington lived and conducted presidential business at the house in the 1790s, when Philadelphia was the nation's capital.

The findings have created a quandary for National Park Service and city officials planning an exhibit at the house. They are now trying to decide whether to incorporate the remains into the exhibit or go forward with plans to fill in the ruins and build an abstract display about life in the house.

Read the whole thing here.

Posted by Ann Bartow on June 8, 2007 08:25 AM |

Comments

This is the part that irks me:

"Before the ruins were unearthed, officials had planned an exhibit without archaeological findings. The planned design included a framework of the house, LED screens and other audiovisual elements explaining its history, including stories of Washington's slaves."

That part, the disneyfied, technified part, could be done anywhere. I don't care if they spend the money on it but why there? Why don't they put that part somewhere else where the parking is better? It is the height of absurdity to cover an archeological site only to build a virtual reconstruction of the site above it. Why replace a direct experience with a virtual one. It reminds me of teenagers who sit in their living rooms playing basketball on their x-box. I'm like why don't you get a basketball and go play for real?

Posted by: Jardinero1 [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 8, 2007 10:44 AM

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