A tale from 1845 alive in 2023

I read a commentary in the TFP by GianCarlo Canaparo of the Heritage Foundation. Canaparo recounts an 1845 voyage across the Atlantic by Frederick Douglass and others. Douglass, who had freed himself from slavery and self educated at risk of severe punishment and death, had become a publisher, orator and author of some renown in the anti-slavery movement of his day.

He had written a book about his life as an American slave and was traveling to the British Islands to speak to audiences about his book. From the start of the voyage, there were arguments aboard the ship about slavery that became progressively more heated as the days passed by.

Reading the account of this voyage in 1845 brought to mind the racism-based fury that is loudly proclaimed by anti-critical race theory advocates today. My father often told me there is nothing new under the sun. Certainly that adage applies to dealing with racism in the United States.

A very vocal right-wing segment of our population advocates, and is often successful in implementing, laws disallowing such education and discussion.

This is exactly the tactic used in 1845 aboard a steamship transiting the Atlantic carrying Douglass. Do not honestly address the situation, do not even speak of the situation. We will not allow any speech against our long held prejudices. Now, in the first quarter of the 21st century, this “mob” is vocal enough in some parts of our country to get laws passed making it illegal to tell the story of racism in America to our children. My father was absolutely right — there is nothing new under the sun. But as well, hope springs eternal.

Robert Landry