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COMMENTS:
is that Al Roker in the background? It's fuzzy, but it kind of looks like him.
Voted : "It's our heritage."
This is the explanation given by a recently deceased Atlanta man, a graduate of Geogria Tech and a respected professional in his community (can't for the life of me remember what he did for a living). Whatever, he regualrly participated in Civil War re-enactments, and he said that it was his "heritage" he was honoring as a "son of the South", and that a number of Confederate soldiers were Black. Maybe, but forgive me if I don't jump in line immediately...
Yeah, that's him. Today sent him to cover that re-enactment.
To be honest, I don't mind what I see, even if it isn't exactly true to the spirit of historical accuracy, maybe in some ways it makes up in the slightest of ways for blacks not being involved like they should have been. We can't go back in time and make things right but certainly it isn't correct to try and limit african americans' involvement in reenactments now, just for the sake of historical truth, in my opinion.
I don't want this to sound like "Now everything is okay because we let you do this", that's not my point here, in no way does it make up for what happened, but it's refreshing to see how things SHOULD have been.
Quite a number of them fought for the Union.
In history, that is.
Voted : I find it strange.
Why would anyone in their right mind want to re-enact a war?
Especially the ones on the side that lost.
Truth,
WHY THE HELL WOULD BLACK PEOPLE HAVE EVER WANTED TO FIGHT FOR THE SOUTH???
by aya on Thu May 24, 07 8:47am
[+]
there were blacks fighting for the confederacy?????
I didn't know that.
and yeah, that does look like Al Roker!!!
by LCD on Thu May 24, 07 10:34am
[+]
They didn't *fight* for the South, although they were used as teamsters and cooks and so forth. Confederates didn't even try to turn them into soldiers until it was too late.
I'm not black, but from knowing a few black Americans who have ancestors who fought in the Civil War, that's always been the answer I've gotten. One of which is a man who I got to speak with a few years ago who walks along the road around a certain battle anniversary date, carrying a confederate flag believe it or not.
Some of the most interesting stories I've heard is from a local man (if he's even still alive) who's second or third great grandfater volunteered to fight after his master took ill and freed him. He'll be the first to admit that it was a very ugly time in history, but he's very proud of the fact that his ancestor was brave enough to fight for what he thought was right at the time.
There's also the "cultural healing" aspect. If you don't remember history (it's more ugly times included), you're doomed to repeat it.
Forgot to show my vote:
"It's our heritage"
There were, of course, African-American soldiers in the Union Army during the Civil War. The number and roles are in dispute, but there were there. So why not include them in Civil War reenactments? Unless of course, you are a bigot...
Voted : Cultural Healing; never forget where you came from.
I see an undercurrent of Northern White pride here, too, in the comments I've read. Yes, African Americans fought on both sides of the war. Yes, most of them fought for the North. Yes, probably the most fervent fighters among them (the African American segment) were fighting for the North. Yes, many of the African American soldiers wearing "Confederate Grey"--if they were issued uniforms at all--were undoubtedly feeling coercion in doing so. Some MAY have loved their native MS, GA, SC, NC, AL, etc. and were treated as part of the family, WHO KNOWS?
But, did the average NORTHERN white really care that much about the African American? The answer to that one, if you are really truthful, might be quite mixed. Black Infantrymen were definitely segregated from whites in the UNION army. That, in itself should dispel any notion that it was all about "equality for the black man"
Don't get me wrong. All the blood shed and American lives lost (more than all the other wars in US history COMBINED) is worth the abolition of this HORRENDOUS institution. But, Northern concern for the African American was not quite as strong as many Northern Whites would have you believe. I'm glad the North Won. I believe it was Divine Providence; but, pragmatically, they were also much richer, and held much more of the nation's REAL assets. And, cynically speaking, they could easily gain some cheap labor in their factories, while it lasted. I'm inclined to go with the first choice.
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