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MADem

(135,425 posts)

7. Probably because "It's not true."

Reply to KamaAina (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 28, 2016, 01:24 PM

Jan 2016

Neither the Revolutionary War nor the Civil War legends are corroborated by historical records. Mount Vernon's librarian Ellen McCallister Clark wrote in a letter to Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library: "No record of anybody by the name of Jocko Graves, nor any account of somebody freezing to death holding Washington's horses, exists in the extensive historical record of the time." Nor do any of the many historical inventories and descriptions of Washington's estate mention any such statue. Moreover, stories about the Underground Railroad using lawn jockeys as signals are rendered suspect by the fact that red and green as signal colors meaning "stop" and "go" (or "danger" and "safe&quot

were standardized by railway signals during the World War I era.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_jockey

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Just learned: [View all] elleng Jan 2016 OP

I did not know that! KamaAina Jan 2016 #1

Probably because "It's not true." MADem Jan 2016 #7

An interesting bit of history, so thanks for that. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jan 2016 #2

I'd want to see some proof of this. Something beyond a facebook page. MADem Jan 2016 #3

Here: elleng Jan 2016 #8

That "Jocko" story and the Red/Green nonsense (from WW1) has been discredited. MADem Jan 2016 #16

Sadly, Americans tend to be ignorant about their history. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2016 #4

Yeah--like this fiction. Don't believe everything you read on facebook. nt MADem Jan 2016 #5

Try this, from Loudon County, Virginia: elleng Jan 2016 #6

Nope--it's invented. Some idiot (I'm guessing a white one with a lawn jockey) posted that garbage. MADem Jan 2016 #19

I saw that on Facebook. It was a quote form Lincoln, I believe. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2016 #9

LOL!!!!!!! MADem Jan 2016 #24

these stories have been around for many years...however Maeve Jan 2016 #10

This is a controversial claim and not verified historically. yellowcanine Jan 2016 #11

A Guide to Freedom elleng Jan 2016 #13

Based on a claim by Charles L. Blockson, Curator Emeritus of the Afro-American Collection at Temple yellowcanine Jan 2016 #17

Ellen, it's FacePalm! Wilms Jan 2016 #12

Imagine THAT! elleng Jan 2016 #14

That page also has a link to the Wilipedia page that debunks the story to some extent Maeve Jan 2016 #15

You should just delete this thread. It's baaaaaad. MADem Jan 2016 #20

It has been debunked, should the thread be closed now? randys1 Jan 2016 #26

ellen!!! Wilms Jan 2016 #29

I'll prominently display a lawn jockey, a swastika, an apartheid era South African flag and an SS sy LanternWaste Jan 2016 #18

But....but....it's HISTORY!!! Like this: MADem Jan 2016 #25

You know I'd respect you more... tkmorris Jan 2016 #21

I question this MuseRider Jan 2016 #22

I cover naked lawn jockey statues as a courtesy to visiting Iranian dignitaries Orrex Jan 2016 #23

Another lesson in revised history HassleCat Jan 2016 #27

The plantation owner wannabes that have these things, are definitely racists. Kind of like saying Hoyt Jan 2016 #28