| Commentary and Philosophy Non-Fiction posted March 17, 2021 |
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Let them stand as testament to shame
Alternative to Statue Smashing
by Elizabeth Emerald
My friend Scott is the town historian. He's painstakingly compiled a plethora of documents and memorabilia, dating back to the mid-1800's.
Scott built a not-so-miniature museum on his property, in the form of a replica of a historical house, in which lived one of the founding families, name of Lynde.
Last month, Scott came upon a book that documented the history of slavery in our town. The book featured a will made by the patriarch of the eminent Lynde family, an excerpt of which reads I bequeath my negro man and my mulatto girl to my wife to do with as she will.
This afternoon, Scott showed me a brass plaque he'd had engraved, which reads: "Slavery in Melrose: Never Again!"
Tomorrow, Scott will affix the plaque to his little Lynde house, after which, he will return to the engraver to obtain a supplementary plaque. It will list the names of each of the slaves mentioned in the book.
Underneath which will be engraved: A nameless "negro man" and "mulatto girl" ...
... and numerous such others.
My friend Scott is the town historian. He's painstakingly compiled a plethora of documents and memorabilia, dating back to the mid-1800's.
Scott built a not-so-miniature museum on his property, in the form of a replica of a historical house, in which lived one of the founding families, name of Lynde.
Last month, Scott came upon a book that documented the history of slavery in our town. The book featured a will made by the patriarch of the eminent Lynde family, an excerpt of which reads I bequeath my negro man and my mulatto girl to my wife to do with as she will.
This afternoon, Scott showed me a brass plaque he'd had engraved, which reads: "Slavery in Melrose: Never Again!"
Tomorrow, Scott will affix the plaque to his little Lynde house, after which, he will return to the engraver to obtain a supplementary plaque. It will list the names of each of the slaves mentioned in the book.
Underneath which will be engraved: A nameless "negro man" and "mulatto girl" ...
... and numerous such others.
Scott built a not-so-miniature museum on his property, in the form of a replica of a historical house, in which lived one of the founding families, name of Lynde.
Last month, Scott came upon a book that documented the history of slavery in our town. The book featured a will made by the patriarch of the eminent Lynde family, an excerpt of which reads I bequeath my negro man and my mulatto girl to my wife to do with as she will.
This afternoon, Scott showed me a brass plaque he'd had engraved, which reads: "Slavery in Melrose: Never Again!"
Tomorrow, Scott will affix the plaque to his little Lynde house, after which, he will return to the engraver to obtain a supplementary plaque. It will list the names of each of the slaves mentioned in the book.
Underneath which will be engraved: A nameless "negro man" and "mulatto girl" ...
... and numerous such others.
 Recognized |
#18 March 2021 |
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