The Enslaved of Washington at Mount Vernon | History Traveler Episode 122
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- History is complex. The reason that history is complex is because people are complex. That includes the history of some of our great leaders, like George Washington. In this episode, we're diving into the story of the enslaved people who lived at Mount Vernon.
For more on Mt. Vernon, visit their webpage at mountvernon.org.
You can learn more about Mt. Vernon by subscribing to their CZcams channel here: / @mountvernon
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I love this channel. Although I have never been there yet myself, I would recommend going to Oyster Bay, New York and filming a segment on Theodore Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill. Just down the road is his burial site at Youngs Memorial Cemetery. And if you ever get out to North Dakota, visit Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I have been out there, as well as to his Elkhorn Ranch site north of Medora and it is well worth the visit.
@@agh6250 You people? I’m no more of a lyncher than you are a slave Have you been to any lynchings lately? Seen any recent lynching post cards? Yes there was great harm inflicted on black people in this country but we have fixed that You live under the same constitution and bill of rights that I do Quit whining about the past get yourself educated and make a good life for yourself Or you could go live in China Russia Iran or North Korea I know you would be begging to come back to the USA Is that better JD or CZcams whoever is doing the censoring here! Talk about stepping on first amendment rights!!!
I know you want to cut Washington some slack because it was just the "times" How about saying to the audience that that kind of mindset is NEVER OK. Not then and not now. That mindset of not only enslaving people was a mindset over 300 years. The slave quarters are exactly like the Nazi encampment quarters where the Jewish people were kept. The slavery was a never ending nightmare for those people and still up into the 1960s where lynching continued to go on and those Black people were still spit on and not protected by the government or White society. We must tell the story not to glorify Washington behavior but to learn from his ignorance. He got rich off the suffering of the innocent. They all did. Lets learn so it doesn't happen again.
@@EdWood1st Im going to put it to you this way. Do you have an abusive family member? Say if you were abused by your Dad, because he was abused by his Dad and so on...The pain keeps moving down generation after generation. It becomes apart of your DNA after awhile. You have no idea because it didn't happen to your family. the 1960s were not that long ago. And I know people who suffered from fire hoses and white supremacy. It goes on today but in different ways.
@@theangendeavor9910 Hello Ang I appreciate your input Yes I did have an abusive father He would punch me, kick me and even bounce me off the wall Do you know what a razor strop is? It’s a thick leather belt used to sharpen straight razors Yeah, he used that on me a few times And yes he had an abusive parent But it wasn’t my grandpa It was my grandma Also dad was a Korean War Vet Today we know he suffered from PTSD but back in the sixties we just thought dad was an asshole! But move forward to today My life as an adult, I have two grown children who are both very successful in life I’m so proud of both of them And guess what? I never beat them like my dad did me I did spank them when the need arose But only with my hand on their bottom over my knee The last time I had to spank my daughter was when she was four years old My son, seven years old My point is you don’t have to keep repeating the past As the most adaptable creatures on earth we humans have the ability to right wrongs and make life better It is my opinion that only a fool keeps making the same mistakes I consider myself to be very blessed and life is good indeed But it doesn’t just happen You’ve got to make it so. Sorry to ramble
I have always loved history. We should never forget the past or try to erase history. If you forget or try to erase it, it will just repeat itself.
This part of our history can be a sensitive subject and seems to be even more so lately. You covered it with the respect and thoughtfulness it deserves.
Appreciate that.
Nothing sensitive about the slave history of the USA. The country could not be founded unless slavery remained unsolved (brought to us by the Brits, remember, Washington was born a Brit subject as were the other founders). Still, slavery only lasted another 60 years in the US. Slave importing halted in 1805. But slaves already inside the country were still bought and sold and some were emancipated as Washington did upon the owners deaths (Jefferson too). The Civil War was the final solution (not counting Jim Crow) and that cost half a million 'white' lives to unravel and get the 13th amendment. Slavery is STILL practiced in our so-called modern world, not in the US, but in Africa, Mexico, and Asia.
Slavery was not just part of our history it was all of our history. It was how this nation was build and its commerce. It was everything and the White Anglo got filthy rich and all of his wealth passed down to his sons. But he did not earn that wealth...he did nothing to earn it. He stole it.
@@theangendeavor9910 You sound like a person unable to compete in the market, sour grapes. If you want to succeed in life the first thing ya gotta do is dump the excuses. Until you do that...you will remain obscure, ignorant and angry.
@@speedomars3869 wow that is a load of judgment. I am a success in my life. You have no idea who you are talking to. Putting me down for having empathy for 300 years of a horrific nightmare for the Black people at the hands of White Supremacy really just speaks to who you are and your lack of concern for humanity. I’m sorry you judge others for caring. I pray that your heart will be changed. That mindset you carry has continued to keep this country from healing.
Thank you brother for taking the time to acknowledge the enslaved at Mount Vernon! I was impressed when I visited years ago that the museum in particular addressed this issue upfront with their exhibits
As someone who has major physical limitations and not get around...I’m incredibly thankful for all of these videos! These are incredible! The Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln are especially great as I’m related to Mary Todd! So thank you! thank you!
Same here. In a chair myself. Channels like this are a link to places I will never see with my own eyes. I always try to tell them what they mean to people like us.
Yup, I know how you feel. JD has taken me to many wonderful places. This is one of my fave channels. ;-)
Same here I’m glad there’s someone like this so I can get a feel for it my self. Thank you for what you’re doing. Keep up the good work. Need some pacific theater stuff soon when u get a chance lol
I am also related to Mary Todd according to my grandfather. My dad and uncle both looked through every record they could find and were not able to prove it though. I did find records at one time that one of her ancestors moved from the same obscure town in Pennsylvania to the same obscure town in Kentucky in the same year as my ancestor-but it was late one night after a long trip down the rabbit hole of genealogical research and I haven’t been able to find it since. Out of curiosity, is your family related at all to Robert E Lee? That same branch of my family are almost directly descended (odd considering my grandfathers were all known abolitionists). If you’re not, it would indicate that my grandfather was likely just making it up. 😁
Very well done! It makes me proud to do what I do there at Mount Vernon. When we know better we must do better.
Thanks! Definitely an amazing place.
I believe you once said that you are a Highschool History teacher. I would have loved to have you as my history teacher. Granted, I was rebellious at that age and didn't start caring or respecting history until many, many years later. I still think I would have been drawn to the way you tell history with such passion. Thanks for sharing all your travels with us. Truly an amazing channel.
My wife and I visited My. Vernon a few years ago. One fascinating place. George Washington was genius in the layout and function of this estate. This visit was definitely on my bucket list. Loved all the history, all of it. The slave cemetery is definitely was an emotional experience. I would HIGHLY recommend everyone visit and learn what is and was never taught on school about our history!
Really? Is the slave trade not taught in America? It’s taught all over Europe so people never turn into racists to that extent again.
You can't learn the full story of Slavery, without going to the source! You must go to real African historian to get the true story!
When visiting Africa, we heard the story of Slavery!
Africa doesn't understand why people in the United States don't understand real history!
Slavery started with criminals, in the village's crimes were committed. People were arrested and poor village's would have to house and care for those who had been encarcerated! It wasn't something they could easily afford to do.
So they sold the criminals, to other countries! For profit to help and care for the people in the village's.
This alleviated the expenses of the African people. They would finish out their jail sentences in other countries!
African people laugh at Americans, not knowing the real history of Slavery!
African historians in African are very happy to finally tell American visitors the history of Slavery!
Slavery isn't something America invented. It has gone on all around the world 🌎 since Biblical time's!
So many people have gone through Slavery including white people long ago! But it seems to have originally started in the middle east! It was western civilizations that actually put and end to Slavery! With that being said, I wonder why people that are so against Slavery, continue to vote for the Democrats/ Confederate army who fought to Keep Slavery, they also started the KKK, and Jim Crow segregation law's! So many hypocrites in America 🇺🇸
Great video, it is important to keep these stories alive.
History is just that history. Not how things should have been. Or how we wanted it to be. But history of how it was really was. Excellent video, I always learn something on the videos.
@@agh6250 Nobody is ignoring the evil of slavery. The point is as a people we continue to learn from the mistakes and misdeeds of those who came before us. The danger I'm seeing in current society is that we seem to be trying to rewrite history instead of studying it and learning from it.
@@agh6250 The reason there were slaves in America is because tribes in Africa were fighting with and capturing each other and selling them to the whites. Therefore Africans were making money from slavery also. Look up the history of slavery in Africa.
@Mary : Lets not also forget all the European countries that robbed AFRICA of all it natural resources and took the imports back to their countries and fueled their economies and got rich! I guessed AFRICA asked to get invaded and be Colonized right ? You people sound ridiculous!
Thanks again for a fantastic video, JD! You are always respectful about touchy subjects. Our history is our history. We own it, good or bad. Should not be forgotten, so we do not make the same mistakes again. But history does repeat itself, if the lesson is not learned!Thanks, again, JD!
I like that you point out the stone marking the “colored” people’s grave area was made in the 20s and should be accepted for its language. One thing I hate being a history buff is when people look at the past through today’s eyes. We have an issue with people doing that these days they forget you have to look at it through the eyes and minds of that time. So then I’m that time the language wouldn’t have been problematic I LOVE that you explain this. Really drives me crazy when people are quick to attack not understanding that back in time people thought and spoke differently. Kudos to you I’m subbing just found this channel through this video
👍🏻
Well said. Another thing that annoys me is when slavery is mentioned, only America and Europe is thought of. The Arab/Ottoman slave trade was just as bad, if not worse.
Male slaves unlucky enough to find themselves bound for Arabia would often be relieved of their eggs and giggle-stick before reaching their final destination. Castration was often performed by Ethiopian Christians as it was considered ' unclean ' for a Muslim to do so.
@@sharonrigs7999 I am right there with you!! What makes it an even worst or harder topic to talk about is the minute you bring up facts like we both just did 9 out of 10 times the person your speaking to will just jump to “oh your racist” when that couldn’t be further from the truth! The fact is slavery is wrong and bad PERIOD. There is no caveat. However I think it’s important for people especially the youth, which will one day grow up to run the country, to know the past and learn from it. That way it isn’t repeated. The hard to swallow fact is that back in history the weaker we’re controlled by the stronger and slavery was made. And america and all just caught the VERY VERY tail end of that practice. But since it’s close in time it’s remembered the most, Nevermind that EVERY race had slaves for hundreds of thousands of years. The first humans to pick up a stick learned if they beat a weaker human they can make that human work for them. I’m rambling now haha but anyway thanks for the awesome conversation you rock!
Immoral actions using people for labor by force has always been known to be wrong. Don't make excuses for that mentality. Control, Ego, and Narcissism feed the Greed.
@@sharonrigs7999 whataboutism doesnt help in this matter at all
Well done JD, the topic is one that is sensitive but must be talked about as it is history and you are correct in saying that it was an evil institution.
I appreciated the two episodes both with their different and thoughtful approaches.
Love knowing that there are other History nerds who find these videos so interesting. I love learning the way they live,talked, values, food all of it . IDK Why people think I’m so weird and say these videos ( not your in particular just history in general) are boring !!! Love it!!!
You are a fantastic educator. Thank you!
Thanks 🙏🏼
Thank you for your thoughtful coverage of Mount Vernon.
I truly appreciate how you include all persons involved in the historic places you cover. Thank you for your work. The research and behind the scenes efforts we do not see. Keep traveling.
Wow. I am really enjoying your episodes on History Traveler. Especially #122 about George Washington. You are very respectful with your views and very informative. Watching your episodes sometimes reminds me of the Ken Burns documentary on the Civil War. Thank you.....from Canadian Gal
Another fantastic job, JD. Thank you for the analysis of Washington and his evolving views on slavery! This will be very helpful with my students as they tackle the issues of the founding generation being great leaders who also participated in the institution of slavery. It's not always easy...
great leaders and slavery do not go together. it's not easy to explain that because everyone is still enslaved.
Thank-you history underground for another great episode. This story is sad and very true & this is why history should not be forgotten or dismissed by any means. It's important people know the truth about all our backgrounds.
Let's explore your background James
Well done covering such a sensitive topic. This place is amazing telling the whole story.
Can't explain how much I enjoy your videos, keep them coming.
Thanks! I really do appreciate that.
Not to take away from your excellent take on the enslaved people at Mt. Vernon (which thank you for doing a video on that aspect of Mt. Vernon), but when you showed the fingerprints of the slave on the brick used to reconstruct the greenhouse, it reminded that the last time I was at Mt. Vernon, I was shown that there are initials of Civil War soldiers from both sides of the war etched into some of the bricks on the front facing side of Washington's current tomb (not the original tomb).
New viewer. Thoroughly enjoying your engaging, enthralling, educational and entertaining historical videos. Places I will most likely never get the chance to visit, but thanks to your hard work, I can see the story of America take shape. Ireland here.
Awesome, thank you!
We must study all of our history in order to understand who we are--thanks for doing your part to educate us all. I pray that rather than tear down and remove what bothers us, we instead try to understand and in your words perhaps "extend grace" to those born into a different world.
Appreciate that.
I really enjoyed this video. And I have to compliment you on your respectful narrative about George and his enslaved people. We all know that slavery is a horrible thing. But, as you stated, this was the world he was born into, NOT the world he created. We took many very difficult actions to abolish slavery. When we think about the murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust, we still see countries where genocide is occurring today. Unfortunately, these horrible things are part of human history and we need to be reminded as to not repeat or continue.
Thousands upon thousand of years of slavery and only America fight to end it. God bless America.
@@Tracywhited2 not just USA.
The only issue is the Jews were compensated and given a whole country is “Israel” Black Americans were given nothing. That’s a crime against humanity. Black Americans deserve reparations. What a insult to black Americans then after slavery Blacks had to go through 100 more yrs of Jim Crow laws and racial covenants inserted into home deeds preventing the sale of homes to blacks families. I could go for hrs the atrocities committed against Black Americans.
Washington should have known better than to own humans. It’s not right to say it was the world he was born into. Slavery is evil.
Well done!! I appreciate your sensitivity towards the enslaved people and acknowledgement that we can’t change history and it shouldn’t be erased as we should learn from it.
Thank you!
I gratefully appreciate your handling of the sensitive information about the slaves of Washington. I hope that Washington's enslaved were able to enjoy their freedom. I have always felt like that is one issue that has always been overlooked in the lives of slaves after being emancipated. Thank you and I enjoyed all of the videos I have watched.
Yes I have. Doesn't change my comment or my sentiment.
this was very good. you're interesting because you show and talk about things that i just hadn't paid much attention . but, this was very thoughtful.
Thank you. Appreciate that.
Thank you so much for another important part of our history...
Excellent coverage of his home and property. I was there 8 years ago and it was an emotional journey.
While watching this, I felt the weight of what it must feel like to have a lineage traced back to enslaved individuals. It is a sadness woven into one's being. In my mind, those enslaved people were noble people and that is a rich heritage to have. I am glad they are duly honored and I am glad George Washington took steps, albeit small ones, toward extending full liberty that was rightfully theirs. Thank you for your thoughtful words and for showing us this amazing place!
I appreciate you creating these videos for us to see on CZcams and review our American history, all parts. I love history and this is fascinating.
This was another wonderful video. It is so good to bring these things to light .Thankyou History Underground!!
JD, you have created many interesting and meaningful videos. This maybe your best, your ability to tell the story in your words is captivating. Thank.you!
A very interesting presentation. I've been to Mt. Vernon two or three times, but you taught me new things. Thanks, good video!
I'm losing sleep because I stay up watching your great videos. 😌🇺🇸🤗
😄
Thank you for sharing with us. I had planned at some point to travel to Virginia on vacation and visit Mount Vernon as well as surrounding areas. Washington and his paternal line are my ancestors as well as Thomas and Martha Jefferson. Due to family circumstances it maybe a trip I won't be able to make. Through you I've been allowed to visit and felt deeply moved. While I am proud of my heritage and I am not proud of how African Americans were enslaved. As you stated giving them grace because they were handed down the institution of slavery but also we can see the beginnings of change. Thanks again. Be blessed.
Fascinating history and well done. Deserves a "share." :)
Thank you for another fascinating lesson on the history of the enslaved of Mt. VERNON.
My favorite channel on CZcams
🙏🏼
I enjoy your videos. You go to some fascinating and historic places. Your videos are very well done and you do it in a professional and tasteful manner. Thank you for bringing history to life.
Great video! Loved the thoughtful insights you gave at the end!
I missed so much of my visit to Mt. Vernon as you have shown me. It was in summer,upper 90’s and very high humidity when I was there. No wonder! Once again VVC and Thankyou JD.
Well done. I was at Mount Vernon years ago, such a beautiful place.
Awesome video my friend and great job on delivery of such a sensitive topic. My. Vernon is an amazing place to visit with so many hidden gems. Stay safe!
I've happened upon your channel the last couple days and I must say it's all amazing!
Incredible commentary! Very insightful! Thank you for the balanced perspective!!
One of your best videos to date! Well done!
Very good video. Well done and I agree your with statement said at the cemetery. It was, a sad and evil time in our Nation's history
but it happened and we cannot simply hide it. My late parents and I visited Mt. Vernon back in the 70's and it has always been one
of my favorite trips.
Ya dude you got a got head and demeanor for teaching history and keeping it real. Good job 👍🏾
Thank you for all your video's!!!!
Glad you like them! Thanks for watching :)
Very well done. As always.
Well done video. Informative and interesting as well as sensitive to the terrible tragic subject of slavery.
Another great video. I hope you visited the distillery!
An amazing place, I could sit on that back porch and look at the river for hours.
Very much so
Epic video and thank you for sharing your amazing videos and much love from England 🏴🏴
Thank you for this...very respectful and well done.
I love your review and thank you for sharing the burial site of all those men, woman and children whom without there would of been no Washington home. Our country has a very disturbing past when it comes to slavery and the injustice of those individuals enslaved by these historical figures. It is comforting to know that in the end of Washingtons life, he admitted that the slaves need to be freemen. I pray that we never know that injustice and disgraceful behavior of man again.
Gosh this was so interesting, thank you so much (history shows us hard hard it was).
Great series ,thanks.
Thank you JD!
Love what you do brother keep up the great work!!
I appreciate that!
Excellent content thank you for sharing ✌️
Your video is really good and clear. Thank you!
Thanks!
Awesome!!! thank you for this history lesson!
I love your videos I hope you will keep them coming for a long time. I’m going with a friend in the fall of 2022 to see Mount Vernon I’m so excited I can’t wait to go.
I appreciate your thoughtful view on this.
Excellent, insightful video. (Again)
Thank you for this video!
Thank you for doing this video. No one wants to see or hear the dark side of history, and I believe we need to see it. My kids watched this. I hope they learned from it.
Awesome! Thanks for showing it to them!
There is nothing to say that's not been said, you deserve all the praise I've seen in your comments section.
Wauw! Great coverage of the place! You couldnt made the video any better. 👍
Very well done! Thank you.
Good one....”fair and balanced”......thank you, great visit! Andrew
Love how you cover the full story..
When I was a young boy my school visited Mount Vernon ranch, however we did not see this part of the exhibit. Although Mr. Washington was pivotal to the establishment of the great United States, I feel that this part alongside the Vernon ranch is equally as important. We as Americans must condone the acts in which slavery has divided the country; to leave out the injustices is the sole reason why these men are forgotten. I can only hope that we get multiple lifetimes to choose from so that the enslaved men, women and children may pick a life that gives them much more. Thank you for sharing this ❤
I'm so glad their names are recorded.
best hstorical channel on the net . good job!!!
Great episode.
Excellent video! Thank you for sharing. The wrongs throughout history will always need a discussion. Otherwise we cannot learn from our mistakes and make changes to never repeat them.
Was in Williamsburg VA a couple of years ago, some of the historic homes, Jamestown etc. What a beautiful and historic place to visit if you haven’t been.
As a person of color I have no problem with the words they used. Lol. Thanks for being respectful on this subject. And I want to remind people that America fought and died to end slavery which was an institution of thousands of years. Only America.
Love your content!
Great video as usual thank u.
What an amazing video and shocked what i didnt know lost for words on this one as history of what i thought happened till this has gone backwards Great video Thankyou so very much
I love this channel.
This is a great channel, so well putogether thanks 😊
Me too.
Amazing Video, I want to visit this place so badly!
History comes w the good and bad ,we are human after all ,but learning from the past is invaluable and I appreciate your covering bolth w respect n reverance. Thank you
What a great history lesson.
great lesson!!
Great job...applaud you how you handled negative comments...thanks for your work
I appreciate that!
Great episode! Makes me want to go back and re-visit Mount Vernon! Grace is appropriate!
They have had a few projects at my Vernon in recently. It must weird gathering content at locations during this pandemic (travel restrictions and low travel numbers). I know some channels won’t go to certain spots due to common group numbers. A little behind the scene. Thank you for covering content on the ppl that made and maintained our first Presidents home.
As a kid, we crossed the Chesapeake and visited Mr Vernon by boat several times. In August of 1963 we also stopped and drifted by the Colonial Beach casino pier which had burned and been destroyed. Gambling was legal in Maryland, but not Virginia, so the pier had been built out allowing slot machines and such. Seeing Mt Vernon by water was always impressive, we kids were quite sure that George never threw money the whole way across the river there. But maybe some was on the bottom. What was there though were some great fossils and shark's teeth.
Thats so much to think about. I've never been able to wrap my head around slavery. Great video brother. Thank you.
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Outstanding!!
Thank for tell this part of history.
Well done! I salute you.👍