POWERFUL

[sheshe2]

POWERFUL

A true daughter of the confederacy has written what should be the last words on the monuments coming down in Washington DC Capitol and all over the South:




I have rape-colored skin. My light-brown-blackness is a living testament to the rules, the practices, the causes of the Old South.

-----------------------

If there are those who want to remember the legacy of the Confederacy, if they want monuments, well, then, my body is a monument. My skin is a monument.

----------------------

Dead Confederates are honored all over this country — with cartoonish private statues, solemn public monuments and even in the names of United States Army bases. It fortifies and heartens me to witness the protests against this practice and the growing clamor from serious, nonpartisan public servants to redress it. But there are still those — like President Trumpand the Senate majority leader,Mitch McConnell — who cannot understand the difference between rewriting and reframing the past. I say it is not a matter of “airbrushing” history, but of adding a new perspective.

-----------------------

I am a black, Southern woman, and of my immediate white male ancestors, all of them were rapists. My very existence is a relic of slavery and Jim Crow.

More: http://progressiveerupts.blogspot.com/2021/07/powerful.html

[EYESORE 9001]

1. I have nothing to add

Her words are incredibly moving.

[MontanaMama]

2. I recall seeing this woman

on Lawrence O'Donnell. My husband was watching with me and was clearly quite uncomfortable with what she was saying and almost questioning it. I said to him "So, are you saying that black women kept as slaves had a choice as to whether they had sex with their owners?" Then he said "Oh. I get it. That's awful." Yeah. It is beyond awful and SHE IS RIGHT, DAMMIT.

[sheshe2]

5. Sorry I missed O'Donnell.

Glad your husband got it. Some never do, MontanaMama.

My great-grandfather Will was raised with the knowledge that Edmund Pettus was his father. Pettus, the storied Confederate general, the grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, the man for whom Selma’s Bloody Sunday Bridge is named. So I am not an outsider who makes these demands. I am a great-great-granddaughter.

That bridge needs to be renamed as many are trying to do. It is a disgrace that it wears Pettus's name, a slaveholder, murderer, rapist because you know he did all of that.

[MontanaMama]

7. My niece is adopted.

Her heritage is mixed race but primarily AA. She asked to do DNA testing a few years ago and her adopted parents, my sister in law and her husband, got it done for her. When we were all visiting family in Charleston, SC we were able to find one of the many buildings where slave auctions were once held. My niece's DNA reports indicated that her ancestors were brought to this country and sold at that very site. It was chilling and incredibly emotional. These are things that I cannot fully comprehend being of white European decent.

[sheshe2]

17. Kudos to those of you that helped your niece find her past.

She now knows the very site her ancestors were sold.

I can't even

[lunatica]

45. I saw that too.

It is powerful!

[Blue_true]

49. Almost every Black person whose USA ancestry go back to the early 1800s

likely has a rapist, likely several, in their family tree.

I used to think that my Dad had no non-Black ancestry, even when some signs (his hair texture for sure) said otherwise. I was pretty sure that my Mother’s side had White ancestry long ago before genetic testing showed it, my Mom’s Mom could have passed for White if she had that in her, which she didn’t try. To this day I am convinced that she had blue-ish or blue-grey-ish eyes, but unfortunately I was a little child when she passed and there are no quality portraits of her.

I believe that my Dad was at least part Asian Indian (ancestry from India), because his family migrated to the USA sometime during the 1800s or early 1900s ( he was born in 1911) from an island nation that had a lot of people that were from India on it (that is all I know of his origin). He also may have had some White ancestry.

The most brutal part of being a Black person in America in regards to tracking a family tree is key early parts of that tree are all gone forever. Unlike Whites, we don’t have family diaries and state and town maintained records of our ancestors, some of us can’t even use names that would have appeared on such records to help us. So, we have the genetic tests now confirming what we are, but we have nothing else to help us solve the puzzle of how we became what we are in terms of racial makeup.

[ShazamIam]

3. Yes, to her for, "going there," I have alwasy wondered why it is rarely mentioned. Good enough to

be raped, but some how not good enough to be your neighbor or marry into the family. It never made sense to me.
I wonder how scrambled the brains of racists and bigots are. For I have considered it to be mental illness, bigotry and racism.

[erronis]

11. Those are powerful points. Ones that the WASP society can't answer truthfully.

[sheshe2]

21. Using the term WASP is a slur.

I am a White Anglo Saxon Protestant

It's past time that the media quit using the jeering word ''WASP'' in their pages. This ethnic epithet is often employed in print (and conversation) with a prejudice that is intended to sting. It's a cudgel, though some people do express with it only a sort of playful irony or sloppy abbreviation without sneering intent, as has been the case with similar sobriquets such as ''Mick,'' ''Wop,'' ''Spick,'' ''Kike'' ''Bohunk,'' etc. The history of ''White Anglo-Saxon Protestants'' in the United States has been different from the histories of these various other groups, as each one's has been different from the rest, and as each group in its turn has offended and taken umbrage at the rest.

Some might argue that settling at first on this continent on, say, Delancey Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan was harder than in a log cabin, as a good number of ''WASP's'' originally did (though having lived in both settings, I'm inclined to doubt this). Yet even if it were true, there would still seem no reasonable excuse for leaving one ethnic slur in general circulation while forbidding all others.

The word has no honest meaning. All Anglo-Saxon Protestants are white, so ''WASP'' is redundant at best. And though not all white Protestants are Anglo-Saxon, the distinctions between them, which can be considerable, are based on the regions where they live, the particular creed of Protestantism they believe in and their income level, not on national origin.

https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/16/opinion/wasp-stings-it-isn-t-amusing.html

[diverdownjt]

25. rape isn't about being good enough to have sex with....

It's about dominating another human being and subjugating them to your will....Get your head on straight.

[ShazamIam]

56. You are arguing about a point I didn't make, but your point is supported by the Jefferson/Hemings

relationship. My point was we have even read accounts of real love between people, denied by mostly by families of the white side and by laws written by white men, Loving Vs Virginia is of course the most well known case.

[PunkinPi]

28. Rape is about having power over someone, not a victim some how being...

"good enough to be raped." Yeesh.

[Solly Mack]

4. K&R

[Triloon]

6. Very dramatic and sad.

But I wonder if there's anyone on this earth that doesn't have "rape colored skin".

[MontanaMama]

8. There are plenty.

I promise.

[erronis]

12. No, MM. Every one of us living on this planet is a result of someone, sometime

raping another person. It's just the way this stuff works. Look at 10,000++ generations of males and females living together - all races, creeds - and try to imagine a scenario where some white dude one million years ago had consensual sex with some white lady and all of their progeny stayed true to race ---- and didn't engage in rape.

I'm glad I'm a mutt. Look lily white but I know I have strains of almost every human-type species running in me. Frankly, I'd rather be obviously non-white but such is the draw.

[getagrip_already]

13. exactly, if you ever wanted to see my parents blood boil, bring up the turks in a compassionate way

Being greek, it was all too recent. But it wasn't just the turks. It was the romans, the vikings, the huns, and just about every faction that could put together a band of fighters and throw them at civilian targets. It continues to this day.

Woman (and children) were considered spoils of battle.

It wasn't just the south. It is human history and all of it is despicable. I'm not pulling an all sides do it here or taking anything away from the slaves experiences.

Her words are powerful. Just sadly not unique.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. I don't think there were white people a million years ago.

There certainly was no Homo sapiens. There were different species of humans, or members of the Homo genus, but I'm pretty sure the concept of race didn't yet exist.

That said, I'm sure that rape was already a thing.

[soldierant]

24. For that matter, arranged marriages aren't that much

different from rape, and certainly some involved rape - child marriages for instance - though the guilt there belongs more to the arrangers, I'd say. And those were not limited to us common folk. Even royal women suffered.

[FakeNoose]

26. Agree with your point

Arranged marriages in most cultures involved under-age girls, whose "consent" was of no concern to the parents. Since payment was often paid in advance for the "bride," the traditional arranged marriages could even be treated a form of prostitution.

[Ligyron]

32. So called " Golddiggers" could be considered prostitutes

But I’m getting off Topic here, I suppose.

[WheelWalker]

9. Strength and honor.

[brer cat]

10. I thank her for speaking out. nt

[Ms. Toad]

14. Well worth bringing back.

I was blown away when I first read it about a year ago.

[Faux pas]

15. Kickin'

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

16. Dynamite!

[iluvtennis]

18. Caroline Randall Williams - a university professor and author. Has been on Lawrence O'Donnell and

Brian Williams and always offers thought provoking commentary.

[calimary]

23. She's one of my favorites.

REALLY makes ya think.

[JoeOtterbein]

19. At least one of my recent male ancestors was a slave-owner and a...

...rapist.

It is a horrible and shameful heritage.

I'm sorry. (tears)

[sheshe2]

22. Any of ours may have been.

No apologies needed if we do not follow their history of hate.

We can't change the past, yet we can change the future.

[iluvtennis]

35. +++++++ agree. n/t

[betsuni]

27. K&R

[The Jungle 1]

29. The south celebrates treason. WTF

The north has allowed it.
Lee should have been hung.
Davis should have been hung.
Appeasement has been a failed logic.
The land should have been redistributed.
Me, I am sick and tired of kissing he south's ass. I print their flag of treason and start my solo stove with it. Every weekend!

[CrispyQ]

30. Yes, a powerful read.

Recommended.

Thanks for posting.

[CousinIT]

31. Houston Chronicle had this on their site.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Opinion-You-want-a-Confederate-monument-My-body-15376655.php

[tiptonic]

33. Wow

Again, 'WOW'..

[whathehell]

34. Rape has no color.

Should we be characterizing all light skinned AA people as "rape colored"?

I do get her point about being a living 'monument' for a misguidedly
'honored' confederate past, but the ugly term for light skin negates even the possibility of consensual relationships...Are Barack Obama and his children "rape colored"?

[Pacifist Patriot]

36. That misses the point.

Her skin is rape-colored. Period. Her framing is spot on for her and many others.

That doesn't mean people with other skin tones aren't or that every light-toned skin is the product of rape.

Your claim that it negates anything is not remotely accurate.

[whathehell]

37. No it does not..

I acknowledged her point, but again, rape has no color. Period.

[Pacifist Patriot]

43. So all lives matter, got it.

That's essentially you're analogous argument here.

[whathehell]

48. Um, no..You don't "get" it.

I support Black Lives Matter -- The topic we're discussing has nothing to do with it.

[Pacifist Patriot]

50. That's not what I said, but okay.

Happy Independence Day!

[whathehell]

54. Lol..It's certainly what you implied

but back at ya!

[llashram]

44. no, in answer to your first question

here is your answer. My skin colour is light because I came from a consensual interracial relationship as Ms William presumably has; Yet the point Ms Williams made was about the genesis of her light skin, being from the south with slave decedents

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/rape-in-american-slavery-system-during-the-antebellum-history-essay.php
https://williamspivey.medium.com/the-typical-model-of-an-american-slave-breeding-farm-aa0df279b72b
https://medium.com/the-aambc-journal/the-truth-about-american-slave-breeding-farms-ee631e863e2c
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_sexual_slavery_in_the_United_States
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/house-slaves-overview

Was quite common and not consensual in most cases.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/house-slaves-overview
https://www.history.com/topics/slavery/sally-hemings
https://www.monticello.org/sallyhemings/
https://africhroyale.com/americas-slaves-breeding-farms-what-history-books-never-told-you/

This is just a small review of one of the horrors of slavery and the consequence of that slavery injustice and total disrespect for women of slavery and the consequence of that disrespect that Ms Williams so powerfully exposed.

Hope this answers your query...

[sheshe2]

46. Thank you, llashram.

You answered far better than I ever could. Their children became lighter because they were raped by their owners. It wasn't their choice, it was just business after all. The masters needed more slaves and it was cheaper to breed their own than buy one. They worked the pregnant ones up to delivery and then said child went to the fields at a very young age.



[div class="excerpt"In reality, slaves were often forced to marry other slaves selected by the master based on physical traits, or forced to breed with the hardiest men, or raped by the master and his friends and family. Even the lighter-skinned slaves resulting from those pairings had special value as house servants or some of the women became “fancies” to serve as bed wenches at the master’s discretion or used as prostitutes.

[llashram]

52. can't be

any clearer. Some just turn a blind eye and prefer to stay in the dark about this historical fact. The photo above is an indictment of historical truth. After 4 years of not flying my flag for this holiday of freedom and continuing redemption. I am today this first 4th of the Biden/Harris administration flying my flag that represents what my wishes are for my country...also

I feel the Biden/Harris administration portrays the diverse beauty of our citizenry. Trump dissed us veterans and the 4th at every chance he had. But his insanity and disrespect were overwhelmingly repudiated on January 20th, 2021. January 6th just showed what a tool of foreign agents trump was/is.


Why does one think trump-Putin DID NOT allow cameras and no public recording devices in their conversations behind the closed door? Why did trump look like a beaten dog after those 'private summits'?

[whathehell]

47. I understand that..

My point was that Ms.Williams didn't seem to. Have a nice one.

[llashram]

51. Ms Williams

Last edited Sun Jul 4, 2021, 12:14 PM - Edit history (1)

stated a fact in point(s). Rape was the preferred method for obtaining profit for the 'master' of a slaveholding household. And many assorted 'overseer's of the field hands provided DNA for the lightening of the skin for generations to come and contributed to the profit of the 'masters' slaveholding household(plantation) as well. DNA.

You have a beautiful holiday yourself.

[whathehell]

53. For the third time, I understand Ms. Williams point

and for the third, hopefully final time, no one is "rape colored" as rape has no color -- Period.

Goodbye and good luck.

[llashram]

55. for the third time

"rape coloured" is not the point Ms Williams is making. The colour of Ms Williams is DIRECTLY related to the colour of the rapists/racists that had such free reign during the antebellum period of open and obvious slavery in America's checkered history of democracy. Is that so hard to understand? Nothing period about it...

[Pacifist Patriot]

58. I give you points for persistence.

I gave up.

[llashram]

62. If it's unassailable truth

maybe I help, maybe I don't...all I can do is keep trying. You did make truthful points. And that is one of the reasons I think that individual went pretty quiet.

[Politicub]

60. You don't get to moderate this woman's experience.

It takes all kinds, I guess, and the white gaze rears its head constantly. I see your point as more pedantic rather than a criticism of the totality of her statement.

[whathehell]

61. And neither you nor she get to moderate mine..

Rape has no color. Period. You can "see" that however you like.

[llashram]

38. whoa!!!

Last edited Sun Jul 4, 2021, 12:19 PM - Edit history (1)

the imputation is damning and true...what trumpers want to return as one of their rights among their whiny accusations of unfairness and fear of losing their self-perceived and self-entitled racial supremacy...now fading into the sunset

[sheshe2]

41. Well said.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

39. Very powerful

[Iggo]

40. Rape-colored skin. (n/t)

[dixiegrrrrl]

42. Thank you for posting this!

Powerful indeed.

[Politicub]

59. Just wow. Shook.