Blacks Join Confederate Group to Honor Heritage

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | Jul 13, 2002 | MARIA SANMINIATELLI

[catfish1957]

bumpity bump

[aomagrat]

Historians have largely shied away from researching blacks in the Confederate Army and precise numbers are hard to come by, said Gary W. Gallagher, who holds a chair in Civil War history at the University of Virginia.

Some people don't want the to know the truth.

[Dawgsquat]

Thanks for the ping.

At the Old Court House Museum in Vicksburg, Ms there is a display honoring blacks who served in the Confederate armies. I took a pic of one of the photos. As soon as I upload it I'll post it here.

[Dawgsquat]

[Ligeia]

Hooray for the Holland brothers!

And sister, too! She's applied for membership in the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. A friend of mine is the current treasurer of her chapter in a town in southside Virginia. And for those who think southerners can't also love America, she flies the Stars and Stripes on her porch.

[Ligeia]

there were many 'unwilling' Americans serving in many of our wars. Do they not deserve the honors and pride?

Excellent point, thanks for making it.

[Ligeia]

I usually catch some of Virginia Festival of the Book when it airs on BookTV (CSPAN2). Almost none of the professors from UVa. have Virginia or even southern accents.

[Ligeia]

About 30% of the confederate army was conscripted...I suppose that Mr. Gallagher think's that their ancestors shouldn't join either?

And as nanny rightfully pointed out in her post, following this logic, no one's service in any other war would be honored if the soldier had been drafted.

[Ligeia]

Interesting photo, thanks!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

To Ben Holland, the Confederate flag isn't offensive. Many of his school friends displayed it on their cars and outside their western Virginia homes.

I remember about 15 years ago, a young Black janitor where I worked came to work in a car with New Hampshire plates and a Confederate (i.e., Battle) Flag. I thought it a bit odd, but I think for a lot of Blacks there is an identity with the South that they don't feel for the North. In the Army I noticed that Southerners, Black and White, shared an affinity that neither group was quite conscious of, much less understood. Northern whites and Blacks did not exhibit any such tendency. Southern Blacks actually seemed to have a stronger affinity with Southern Whites than Northern Blacks.

[lodwick]

bttt

[Ligeia]

Your observation is absolutely true. I will have an immediate bond with the black woman from Texas, usually a Baptist, sitting to my one side, while nothing in common with the white woman from a northeastern state sitting on the other. Those living outside the South rarely know or understand that reality. Thanks for your comments.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I will have an immediate bond with the black woman from Texas while nothing in common with the white woman from a northeastern state sitting on the other

I may be the exception that proves the rule. I was from Queens (New York City). My section chief was a full- blooded Cherokee E-7. He used to rib me that he couldn't believe that I was a "Yankee". I thought it was funny that the only person who ever called me a Yankee to my face was a full-blooded Cherokee from Oklahoma. I suppose I have some kind of grievance I could file, but I won't. BTW, you could tell who the good soldiers were and who weren't. Looking back I was probably the only Yankee who I'd put in the good soldier category in my section. (I worked in battalion HQ, so wasn't in a Platoon.) If I was raising an Army, I'd do some serious recruiting South of the Mason-Dixon line.

[sweetliberty]

"is Dixie fighting back on many fronts"

I certainly hope your perception is correct. I for one am sick to death of these NAACP bullies and their ignorant blatherings. Funny how they don't seem to find slavery in the north as offensive.

[Twodees]

Yes ma'am, I've noticed the same thing. There are some professors from elsewhere such as Dr. Walter Williams at G.Mason who have become Virginians and who are proud to be considered as such, but many don't love the state or her history and don't belong here.

Off subject a little, the bookstore in the Library of the Virginias had that sorry little pamphlet, "Confederates in the Attic" by Tony Horowitz in its display of books by "Virginia Authors". I had a discussion with them about that. Horowitz isn't a Virginian at all and is definitely not a "Virginia author". IMO, he doesn't really even qualify as an American.

[Black Agnes]

Cherokee from Oklahoma bump! in the post this is a reply to.

[stand watie]

NOT just your PERCEPTION! and we will, in the longterm WIN!

for dixie,sw

[stand watie]

returned, sister MINE!

our ancestors are honored as HERO-MARTYRS by true sons & daughters of the southland! too bad the damnyankees often REFUSE to honor their Indian ancestors that served in BLUE!

BTW, our family had 2 boys who went north and were NOT too popular after they came back to Delaware County, I.T. they were buried OUTSIDE the cemetary wall by the other tribal members!

FREE dixie NOW,sw

[Ligeia]

If you ever decide to give up that lonesome place, come on down...we'd move over and make room for you. Even make you a biscuit with Virginia ham.

[Ligeia]

I went hunting for the Walter Williams column I read a few years ago about the flag. Lo and behold, I found 444 references. This is the one I was looking for: Misplaced Priorities. Dr. Williams has been vocal on the subject and reports in another that he displays the battle flag in his office. Bet that sets the president of George Mason University on his head.

Good for you and speaking up at the library. You're right, the author of "Confederates in the Attic" is no Virginia author. Your story reminds me of my visit to the Museum of the Confederacy when I spoke to a docent about the lack of a Bible in General Lee's private tent. That was during the previous curator's term and I understand the museum is greatly improved. We're rabble rousers!