"Plantations" & Such...

A Friend shared this great article with me about one woman's impression after touring a few southern plantations, Plantation Tours, Don't Expect to Hear How Horrible Slavery Really Was. The author, Demetria Lucas D'Oyley, did a nice job of summing up and sharing her experience after touring four plantations. At the time I read the article there were only six comments left by other readers. As was the article, each comment left was thoughtful and insightful, especially that of Victoria Pynchon, a self described White northern woman who would have been the stereotypical angry Black woman if her ancestry was not European.Comments from another reader reminded me that the word "plantation" was just a flowery, feel-good word created to describe what in fact were Slave labor camps, chambers of forced labor and horror, grounds that housed barbarity at levels no other has endured. Thank you Mr. Scaminaci! 

While I love exploring Black history and doing what I call, my regular treks to the south where I can feel the undeniable presence of my ancestors; their heritage, their courage, their strength, their endurance, their pride, heretofore, I have been unable to convince myself to tour a Slave labor camp. Not sure I am ready or equipped to deal with confronting that pain and unsure with whom I would prefer to take such a tour, White folks or Black? Which group would make it more palatable, less painful? 

I further rationalize that I have not taken these tours because (1) I find something inherently bothersome about paying to tour a place where my ancestors were tortured and forced to provide unpaid labor for 400 years. I think such toil and free labor should have paid any entrance fee that is now required of me, Ya' Think? Moreover, by participating in such a tour, am I helping to promote my own criticism of the insensitive treatment of the institution of slavery by some Americans who ignore or seem indifferent to the pain and suffering still associated with slavery by most Blacks in America? Americans whose ancestors profited and gained their wealth and stability on the backs of my enslaved ancestors now continue that legacy by expecting to earn a profit from the ancestors of those they enslaved. Something about that just doesn't sit well with me... Finally, what is a fair price for such a tour? My ancestors worked there for free, what price should I pay to tour what is essentially their burial grounds? Have they not paid the price for free pass or earned right to pass "go" if you will... I'm Just Askin'...    

And (2) my other reluctance to take these tours is because I am sure I would be overcome with emotions of grief, anger, hurt, pain, mourning, etc. These "plantations" represent for the US, the same symbolism and pain of the "doors of no return" associated with the holding pens of Blacks in West Africa prior to making the middle passage to ports unknown to be Slaves throughout the "civilized" world. As I feel the pain and presence of my ancestors when touring historic sites in the south, I know that my blood would rise with frustration as it did for the author and the White female commenter. I, too, would find it difficult to conceal my hurt and would likely not be able to refrain from challenging fables as told by the innocent tour guide employee who would undoubtedly give a watered down version of the atrocities of slavery and the fairy tale version of reality of life for the Slave... 

The cruelties and acts of inhumanity of slavery have been purposely distorted. It is foolery to believe that such an institution could have existed and been maintained without acts of unsurpassed cruelty and barbarism. White America wants to forget or distance themselves from the cruelties of their ancestors. Black Americans don't want to be reminded of the pain and dehumanization endured by our ancestors... As a result and unless Black folks start telling our own story, the good and the bad, we risk that the true story of what happened to us will always be distorted by the heirs of those who did the happenings or worse, cease being told. As a nation, we will never move on...  

Good for the Jews for always telling their story... No one will forget, distort or repeat what happened to them under the cover of not knowing.  I spoke of this during the radio program I participated in last week on Hot 97 in New York, Street Soldiers with Lisa Evers, where we discussed the unprecedented and celebrated decision to remove the defeated confederate flag from the state capitol grounds in South Carolina. 

Across the south, Slave labor camps have been turned into bed and breakfast inns, ignoring the continued pain of Black Americans, making light of the tragedies of slavery. Along with flying the defeated confederate flag, naming buildings, statutes, roads and such in honor of those who terrorized Blacks in America, this notion of "plantations" being turned into festive bed and breakfast inns is the height of American insensitivity as it pertains to slavery. NEVER in Germany will there be a time when frivolity is made of the pain suffered by the Jewish community. NEVER will we see concentration camps turned into places of festivity. The Jews and civilized Germany will never allow it... 

Also of note is that in South Africa, where apartheid ruled until less than 30 years ago, there has been a decision to rename street signs and such commemorating those who inflicted violence and terror on Blacks in that country. During my visit in 2013, I was impressed and received this gesture as a sign of the government at least trying to reckon with its past. I pondered then, America's reluctance to do the same. We have never had anything close to truth and reconciliation in this country. Because we have made minimal attempt to deal with our truth, again confirmation that racism is alive and well in America played out on an international stage for all the world to see, the tragic church shootings in Charleston, SC, June 17, 2015. Once again, as in the 1960's and 70's, America was forced to face her ugliest demon, racism, under an international spotlight, Flags started coming down...  Its a start. It is now up to us to keep the momentum going... 

Maybe, just maybe, it is time for me to suck it up and risk being the rabble rouser on one of those Slave labor camp tours. Pray that I don't get arrested...