On today’s holiday, it’s important to recognize that enslaved people were not simply freed—they freed themselves through four years of sustained rebellion in the South during the Civil War.
The example of Dabney and his wife coming up with a genius way to pass on information about Confederate plans is such a great detail to include. It reminds us again of all the women's work that is ignored as trifles.
Thank you for this! I knew a bit, but not the full extent of it, and couldn't find a licensed photo to use on my blog last night to save my life. The rest of us depend utterly upon historians like you to keep this history accessible.
Harriet Tubman is the first woman of any ethnicity to receive a field promotion in the US armed services. Her leadership and guidance were instrumental in winning the raid of Combahee Ferry. She was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General in the Maryland Army National Guard.
“I could have freed a thousand more if they knew they were slaves.”
I’m finding this to be true in all levels of government. The elected leaders are the face of the government and take the credit for accomplishments but it is the people who show up every day and do the hard work administration after administration that make it happen. The people at the bottom with their lives on the line who make the decision to make a difference day after day.
Those slaves who were at the bottom of society decided they were indeed people worthy of change and they fought to make it happen. These are the people from “We, the people,” not the coastal elites or the power grabbers.
The picture is famous, well known and every time I see it, I wonder what was in their minds when it was taken. Chattel to soldiers in the twinkling of an eye….Pride? Hope? Relief? Uncertainty? Gratitude? We can only guess. But we do know it was a battle even to give them those rifles. They had to fight for every inch. 💕💕
I'm not a Civil War historian, but I used to teach an undergrad/grad course called The Philosophy of History. One of my main guides was Peter Novick's That Noble Dream, about the professionalization of history as an academic discipline starting in the 19th century. Academic historians after the Civil War basically came up with a sanitized version to re-build bridges between North and South. It's an amazing book.
Also of note from that course: Haiti often came up in our readings, and it's often referred to as the only successful slave revolt in history. It's true that only in Haiti did former slaves ultimately get to run their country after freeing themselves. But if I were teaching that class now, I'd also refer to the American Civil War as a successful slave rebellion, based on the interpretation above.
Everytime I read an article written by Mr. Greene I am filled with such pride and sadness-- The emotions run parallel that at times I can't even decipher which is which...
I recently saw something on PBS by the great documentarian Ken Burns that shook me to my core when the narrator stated: "Lincoln also believed that blacks were inferior and not worthy to be considered equal..." That certainly went against EVERYTHING I had been taught by a dismissive 4th grade teacher I was tasked with in 1971 (She was MORE than dismissive- but that's a story for another time). Yet it's way beyond time to dismantle the genteel teachings of slavery... the stories that 'You Know Who' is trying to obliterate and void! We need THE TRUTH-- Not some watered down version of what a racist 4th Grade teacher instructs her students about with a heinous smirk on her face-- But the stick to your ribs kind of accounts that are more than likely worse than what we've been feed and what this dictator wants erased! And to get those stories told it is of vital importance to support platforms like this!
So thank you, for sharing the real truth about Juneteenth-- The true accounts of the Tuskegee Airmen-- The ugly truth about the holiday song "Jingle Bells" and much MUCH more. It's not only Black History-- It's American history❤️💛💚
If you wanted to be a stickler for terminology (which I find myself often to be), you can argue that Lincoln's administration managed to organize the legal background needed for emancipation: the passing of the famous act and all that was needed for this. This was to a large degree a consequence of enslaved people actively fighting for freedom. Now are freedom and emancipation the same thing? Without being a legal scholar, I intuitively tend to say "no". So you can have both, but I agree that one needs to calibrate the way merit and honor are bestowed: i.e. less for Lincoln (far, far less) and more towards enslaved people.
Thank you for this important piece of history that is generally ignored or glossed over.
The example of Dabney and his wife coming up with a genius way to pass on information about Confederate plans is such a great detail to include. It reminds us again of all the women's work that is ignored as trifles.
Would it be possible to name her, too?
Kahlil, thanks again for putting the perspective where it belongs. Happy Juneteenth!
Thank you for this! I knew a bit, but not the full extent of it, and couldn't find a licensed photo to use on my blog last night to save my life. The rest of us depend utterly upon historians like you to keep this history accessible.
Great post, as always. Many thanks. Let's all celebrate one of the most important days in our tragic history.
Thank you! This provided a different look from what was taught to me (unfortunately not a surprise). I appreciate your work!!
Happy Juneteenth!
Harriet Tubman is the first woman of any ethnicity to receive a field promotion in the US armed services. Her leadership and guidance were instrumental in winning the raid of Combahee Ferry. She was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General in the Maryland Army National Guard.
“I could have freed a thousand more if they knew they were slaves.”
WEB DuBois was really instrumental in connecting these dots. “Self Emancipation” is the blueprint fr 💯✊🏿
I’m finding this to be true in all levels of government. The elected leaders are the face of the government and take the credit for accomplishments but it is the people who show up every day and do the hard work administration after administration that make it happen. The people at the bottom with their lives on the line who make the decision to make a difference day after day.
Those slaves who were at the bottom of society decided they were indeed people worthy of change and they fought to make it happen. These are the people from “We, the people,” not the coastal elites or the power grabbers.
Thanks for educating me with this article! Will be sharing this widely.
The picture is famous, well known and every time I see it, I wonder what was in their minds when it was taken. Chattel to soldiers in the twinkling of an eye….Pride? Hope? Relief? Uncertainty? Gratitude? We can only guess. But we do know it was a battle even to give them those rifles. They had to fight for every inch. 💕💕
I'm not a Civil War historian, but I used to teach an undergrad/grad course called The Philosophy of History. One of my main guides was Peter Novick's That Noble Dream, about the professionalization of history as an academic discipline starting in the 19th century. Academic historians after the Civil War basically came up with a sanitized version to re-build bridges between North and South. It's an amazing book.
Also of note from that course: Haiti often came up in our readings, and it's often referred to as the only successful slave revolt in history. It's true that only in Haiti did former slaves ultimately get to run their country after freeing themselves. But if I were teaching that class now, I'd also refer to the American Civil War as a successful slave rebellion, based on the interpretation above.
Fantastic piece, Kahlil. Happy Juneteenth!!
Everytime I read an article written by Mr. Greene I am filled with such pride and sadness-- The emotions run parallel that at times I can't even decipher which is which...
I recently saw something on PBS by the great documentarian Ken Burns that shook me to my core when the narrator stated: "Lincoln also believed that blacks were inferior and not worthy to be considered equal..." That certainly went against EVERYTHING I had been taught by a dismissive 4th grade teacher I was tasked with in 1971 (She was MORE than dismissive- but that's a story for another time). Yet it's way beyond time to dismantle the genteel teachings of slavery... the stories that 'You Know Who' is trying to obliterate and void! We need THE TRUTH-- Not some watered down version of what a racist 4th Grade teacher instructs her students about with a heinous smirk on her face-- But the stick to your ribs kind of accounts that are more than likely worse than what we've been feed and what this dictator wants erased! And to get those stories told it is of vital importance to support platforms like this!
So thank you, for sharing the real truth about Juneteenth-- The true accounts of the Tuskegee Airmen-- The ugly truth about the holiday song "Jingle Bells" and much MUCH more. It's not only Black History-- It's American history❤️💛💚
If you wanted to be a stickler for terminology (which I find myself often to be), you can argue that Lincoln's administration managed to organize the legal background needed for emancipation: the passing of the famous act and all that was needed for this. This was to a large degree a consequence of enslaved people actively fighting for freedom. Now are freedom and emancipation the same thing? Without being a legal scholar, I intuitively tend to say "no". So you can have both, but I agree that one needs to calibrate the way merit and honor are bestowed: i.e. less for Lincoln (far, far less) and more towards enslaved people.
Thank you for your post