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RICHMOND
Members of a black fraternity at the College of William and Mary plan to meet with Gov. Bob McDonnell to discuss the contentious issue of Confederate History Month.
The Williamsburg college's Alpha Phi Alpha chapter cited McDonnell's proclamation that April is Confederate History Month in declining to attend an awards ceremony. McDonnell honored several recipients of statewide community-service awards at Thursday night's event.
Chapter President William B. Morris III said Friday that fraternity members were honored to be among the winners of the Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards for their work as mentors of underprivileged middle-school students. But he says they respectfully chose to sit out the ceremony because McDonnell's decision to honor a cause that harmed black people is insulting and improper.
McDonnell said Friday in an interview that he understands the fraternity's concerns, and his staff is working with Alpha Phi Alpha members to set up a meeting in the near future. He also noted that he had apologized for his initial omission of any mention of slavery in the Confederacy, and amended the proclamation to note that slavery was "evil and inhumane."
Morris, a junior psychology major, acknowledged McDonnell's update, but said the Confederacy represents the oppression, degradation and enslavement of an entire set of people. Its legacy has had lasting effects after the Civil War, through the civil rights era and into the present, he said.
Instead of celebrating the Confederacy, perhaps designating a broader "Civil War History Month" would still draw attention to the war's history and its effects on Virginia and all of its residents, he said.
"If you want to proclaim something that all Virginians can celebrate, why not celebrate Virginia Civil War History Month, and include the stories of slave, free, black, white, Union and southern people," he said.
The Republican governor came under heavy attack earlier this month — including remarks from President Barack Obama — after he issued the proclamation at the behest of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. McDonnell was the first Virginia governor to issue such a decree since fellow Republican Jim Gilmore in 2001. Democrats Mark Warner and Kaine, who succeeded Gilmore, refused.
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Governor and proclamation
The war of 1861--1865 was a serious thing, so serious that the wounds still have not healed in this day and age. There must be some way to do it--maybe with meetings of interested parties in libraries or houses of worship. But I cannot even begin to tell anyone how to heal those wounds. People must be willing to heal their own wounds.
Gov, McDonnell and A Phi A
Slavery began in America in the 1600s under British rule. In those days owners could not emancipate their slaves. Slavery continued under the American flag. However, emancipation began in the Northern states after the Revolution. And owners were allowed to free their slaves in some of the Southern states. However, in other Southern states, emancipation continued to be against the law. Then along came the election of 1856 and the first attempt of an Abolitionist, Col. John Fremont, to get elected. According to the New York Times, people in some parts of the South canceled Christmas celebrations for their slaves out of fear that Fremont would get elected and start manumitting the slaves at Christmas. Things did not remain quiet with his defeat. Along came the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and everything broke loose. South Carolina seceded in 1860 with others following. When South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter in April 1861, still more Southern states followed. Ironically, however, if the South had stayed in the Union, slavery would probably have continued because they'd have had a voice in Congress.
BLACK HISTORY AND CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH
Come on people. everyone is stating or saying black this or white that. Is it really the fault of the whites putting blacks into slavery? I think not. Take a look into Africa where blacks came from. Did blacks have blacks in slavery before whites? before you all say anything, look at history. Also get into the modern days, why should I still pay for something that happened over 150 years ago? I'm not that old. its done, get over it.
Hang Down Your Head
Note to Governor Bob4Jobs:
Hang down your head. Beg forgiveness. Shed some tears. Say you screwed up. Don't bring up the tourism pitch again (nobody--not even the Confederates--believed that story).
Ahem, you could talk about the issues you got elected on, but you've forgotten to address. Hint: jobs, economic growth, transportation improvements (reopened bathrooms and speed limit changes are nice but not what people had in mind). Do you want to say the truth--you are really waiting for the turnaround that President Obama's policies are doing? Come on, admit it! Maybe there is a federally funded project or two that you can take credit for. That has worked for some other Republicans.
I dont get it
The moderator blocks us, but allows this racist pig to post such vile excrement.
Re Nastiness and I Don't Get It
Will the two of you PLEASE quit whining? If you have a problem with "Entice's" post, why not follow the proper channels and file a complaint with the moderator about it, for Pete's sake.
how to confront nastiness
I would comment on this, but the V-P has already threatened to block my account.
Is anybody out there liscenced to milk venemous reptiles?
I always want to cut the head off first.
Why does it take a whole month
to reveal the South screwed up? Duh!
aren't there bigger problems than this
If a Fraternity had issues with Black History Month would it ever make it to the newspaper, or be acknowledged by anyone....
History in its Entirety
Black History Month presents history in its entirety. It has never made an attempt to conceal the horrific aspects, so that the good parts can shine.
History tells it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
To leave out parts of history is not truly history at all. During Black History Month we have learned about slavery and the Underground Railroad, as well as the inventive ways African-Americans have contributed to our American society. (The Underground Railrod went right through Virginia, by the way).
For years and years Blacks were just completely left out of history books. No one knew about black history, not even black people themselves.
Why can't the Confederate story be told in its Entirety, also. Instead of burying the issue of slavery, it should be told right along with the rest of the Confederate story. Now, that's history in its entirety!
The institution of slavery wasn't pleasant, so, the slaves who survived it must have been the true SURVIVORS! There is nothing wrong with telling that story, too.