Posted on 08/24/2015 11:31:40 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — One of the darkest chapters of Rhode Island history involved the state’s pre-eminence in the slave trade, beginning in the 1700s. More than half of the slaving voyages from the United States left from ports in Providence, Newport and Bristol — so many, and so contrary to the popular image of slavery as primarily a scourge of the South, that Rhode Island has been called “the Deep North.”
That history will soon become more prominent as the Episcopal diocese here, which was steeped in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, establishes a museum dedicated to telling that story, the first in the country to do so, according to scholars.
Many of the shipbuilders, captains and financiers of those slaving voyages were Episcopalians. The church, like many others in its day, supported slavery and profited from it even after the trans-Atlantic slave trade was outlawed and slavery had been banned in the state. Among the most notable Episcopalian slaveholders were Thomas Jefferson, who was active for some time in the church, and George Washington.
Over the last decade, the Episcopal Church of the United States has formally acknowledged and apologized for its complicity in perpetuating slavery. Some Episcopal dioceses have been re-examining their role, holding services of repentance and starting programs of truth and reconciliation. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Liberal white guilt on display.
I have no problem with talking honestly about Americas past history. Lets hope that this is accurate info rather then leftist garbage propaganda.
I guess all the members of this church who fought in the Civil War, volunteered for the Confederat Army instead of the Union to fight to free the slaves.
No—Rhode Island sent its troops to fight for the UNION Army—against secession!!!!
Meanwhile, the great majority of Confederate soldiers owned no slaves. They fought against the Yankee invasion—to protect their homes and families!!!!
Both North and South had a stake in slavery. Given this fact, and given the true motivations of those who fought in the War Between the States, the call to take down all the Confederate flags is wrongheaded indeed!!!!
And maybe nowadays the Confederate battle flag can stand for fighting against sodomy, atheism, obamacare, and Federal tyranny!!!!
Retroactive liberal white guilt. And propaganda for reparations.
My gggg grandfather was a slaver (privateer too) from RI, helped finance (thru a lottery) St John’s Episcopal in Providence.
I might add RI was the last of the 13 original colonies to join the Union because they were holding out against slavery - but they were forced to join as the 13th state or they were to annexed by Mass a move approved by Geo Washington.
A lot of facts are "contrary to the popular image".
My family has lived in Rhode Island for close to 400 years. My ancestors are named in the Charter from King George. We have a written history of the family. Not one, ever owned a slave. Factories, yes, slaves, no. My ancestors fought a Revolution to free us from the British, then a Civil War to free the slaves. We’ve got nothing to apologize for.
Yawn. I’ll bet this church is nearly empty every Sunday.
I was being sarcastic toward toward the current members of this RI church, NOT against all of RI in the CW.
Don’t worry, Bernie Sanders and his supporters will be coming after you and your family for owning factories. (humor, I hope)
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