This letter is in response to Laura Price’s recent Letter titled “Bring unity to the community”. I applaud Laura for her good intentions but, unfortunately, the path she laid out will not bring the unity that we all seek.
To date, there have been 7 Move the Monument protest rallies, six in person at the Courthouse lawn and one virtual. I have attended all of these and have found them to be both powerful and enlightening. There have been a large number of speakers including Faith Leaders, Lawyers, and Veterans making their case for moving the Confederate monument. Videos of the speeches are available on Facebook.
I was especially struck by the multitude of Faith Leaders of various denominations, both black and white, who laid out the case that the Talbot Boys monument has to be moved away from the Courthouse.
The most compelling argument to me for moving the monument comes from listening to the African American citizens of our county who talk about their deep feelings about having to walk by a monument that celebrates white supremacy and slavery on their way to the courthouse which ostensibly is supposed to provide equal justice to all. As a white person I can only try to put myself in the shoes of a person of color and empathize with their perspective of the very long history of slavery, subjugation, and lynching that has been the reality of their ancestors. Now that I am much more aware of what the Talbot Boys statue actually means to my fellow citizens of color, it is my moral imperative to oppose its existence on the Courthouse property and to educate my fellow white citizens on what damage continues to be done to people of color.
With regards to the concept sketch by Rich Merrill that I’m sure was offered with the best intentions for finding an acceptable compromise, this suggested new statue depicting a Confederate soldier holding the Confederate flag next to a Union soldier with a United States flag- this makes no sense. The US won the war of sedition and slavery was formally ended. But, unfortunately, white supremacy and racism are still very much present in our lives.
Laura, I urge you to think about what it would be like to be a person of color, and how you would react to a monument that glorifies slavery and racism. Please change your vote so that the Talbot Boys can be moved out of the Courthouse property. Please listen to what the Faith Leaders have to say about the monument, and open up your heart to listen and understand our citizens of color. Down the road you will know that moving the monument was the right thing to do and it will be liberating to remove the burden. This way you will be leading the citizens of Talbot County on a path for real unity of the community, no matter the color of their skin.
Andrzej W. Miziolek, Ph.D.
Easton
Mary Margaret Revell Goodwin says
There have been so many letters written to the Spy opposing the Talbot boys statue that stands guard at the Court House, but this letter of Andrzej Miziolek sets the heart of the problem right in the face of those opposed to moving it. So few in Talbot know the DETAILS of slavery on Talbot plantations. Were you aware that the famous John Tilghman of QAC had relatives in Talbot in partnership with him for raising children specifically to sell into slavery, and did so to a “slave broker” in Natchez, a Mr. Grason. In a Talbot Orphan’s Court listing 3 & a half pages of slaves with most in their 20’s, 30’s & 40’s but also men in their late 70’s and 10 children between the ages of 2 to 5, and even a little one week old boy, the sum value of these human beings was $17,537. The little one week old little boy was listed as being worth $15. This is ONE example of what the Talbot boys went off to fight for, keeping slavery intact not only in the South, but certainly on the Eastern Shore. The valuing of human flesh was a common thing done at the Talbot, or other Maryland Court House before and during the Civil War. In many instances of wills being read after death the slave owner would write into the will not to sell any of his or her slaves out of State if they were not being passed on to family members. This is what the Talbot boys were fighting for…keeping a blind 78 year old man, or a one week old baby, or little 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 year olds enslaved. They were fighting for keeping men and women in their 20’s and 30’s and on up enslaved to work in the fields to tend and harvest wheat or corn or provide poultry, meat and fish for the plantation home property, yet not being allowed to taste the same! This is the memory in the hearts of our African American community. Were such in the hearts of the rest of us, would we be able to bear the continuing reminders of what was wanted for Talbot County? Who has the heart to bear such devastation? And not only bear it but survive the horrors of labor under the whip, without knowing where your child, your mother,father or other relative was sold, either in State or out of State? This is the most basic question, how could anyone, but especially a woman with perhaps a softer heart agree to perpetuating such a statement on the grounds of a building where justice for all is supposed to be what we believe in?
Paul says
I think it is apparent that the majority of Talbot citizens fully understand that the men of Talbot were “fighting against” the Constitutional abuses against their democracy that they experienced here in Maryland and Talbot county.
I know that many in the Move the Monument / social justice coalition want to continue the theme that the men for Talbot were “fighting for” slavery. That theme has been debunked by historical evidence that reveals Mr. Lincoln, the US Congress and even our State Legislature was publicly proclaiming during the first two years of the war that the conflict was only about reuniting the States and that slavery would remain as is was afterwards. In fact Mr. Lincoln even promoted a Constitutional amendment to forever protect slavery. Even the Emancipation Proclamation had no impact on slavery in Maryland or Talbot county. Not only is this historical truth but is common sense – do you really think men from Talbot would leave their family and farms to help a deep southern States for whatever their cause, when it had no impact on their lives at home?
Do you not believe these men were motivated by the Federal government arresting our legislature, our representative to Congress, imprisoning their neighbors without due process, occupying our State against the will of our State government, searching our homes without warrants, arresting and taking over the government of Baltimore, imprisoning the grandson of Francis Scott Key, shutting down many newspapers to include one in Easton and imprisoning it’s editor, confiscating our guns, manipulating our elections, and oh yes – surrounding our courthouse with 125 troops and beating and imprisoning our judge?
All these were violations against the people far, far worse then what our Founding Fathers listed as the reasons they rebelled against the crown. Do you not believe this could have had an impact on why these men saddled up?
If you want to review the historical documents I mentioned above that documents everything that I have just written, please go to http://www.preservetalbothistory.org
Michael Davis says
I wholeheartedly agree with Miziolek.
After the Civil War, there many veterans’ events where former soldiers from both sides shook hands. One of these Kumbaya moments was filmed at Gettysburg which looked like a unity moment with 70 to 80 year old former soldiers shaking hands and smiling into the camera.
Unity? Note that there were no Black people in the film. I don’t think that was an accident. Countless unarmed Black soldiers were murdered by soldiers in the Confederacy. The future head of the head of KKK, Gen. Forrest, was famous for murdering unarmed Black union soldiers. For some things, there can be no unity.
A fictional White Union soldier standing next to a fictional White Confederate soldier, both holding their respective flags, would be a farce. Can you see such a statue featured in a brochure distributed to Black people promoting tourism to Talbot County? Come visit Talbot where White people forgive each other!
The Talbot Boys statue belongs at the bottom of the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean where even well-meaning fish don’t have to see it. It needs to be gone, not replaced.
Paul says
My interest in this has always been as a veteran and to preserve historical accuracy. But I must ask how does cramming down a false narrative onto the citizens of Talbot that their Talbot ancestors were motivated only by a deep south argument instead of by their personal experiences here in Talbot and Maryland in any way promote unity which you mention? Can you not understand the resentment this causes with many of our citizens that fully understand Maryland’s and Talbot’s history?
I also must ask how does cramming down a false narrative promoting a deep South motivation for placing monuments instead of the actual history of the Talbot Boys monument in any way promote unity in our community?
Why do you and the Move the Monument coalition insist that Talbot citizens must fully accept the most sinister, evil and hate based narrative possible before we all can move in “unity” to heal? Why is there such a reluctance by this group to deny the truth about these men and this monument? Would it not be much better for our community to understand that the truth about these men and this monument is not the hate based narrative your promoting? Would this not be a far better starting point for moving forward?
I also see the irony in using the advice of “Faith based” leaders from multiple denominations as a basis to resolve our history. Have they not had over two thousand years to resolve their own history over which countless humans were slaughtered to promote their own versions?
I do think the example of multiple “Faith based” denominations should be used. They have learned to put their past differenced behind them and to work jointly towards building a better community.
Richard Marks says
Paul,
It seems you have taken much on yourself to assert what the majority of Talbot citizens fully understand. Is it really all that apparent? Can you send us that link please? Of course not. You conjecture on that point like others as well when you profess to know why all the Talbot Boys took up arms for the Confederacy.
None of us truly know what was in the minds of each of those boys. We only know for certain when, how and where the monument came to be erected on the Courthouse Green where enslaved people were sold.
Please spare us anymore history lessons in an attempt to buttress your arguments.They do have relevance historically, but are not relevant to the issue of the inappropriate location of a monument that so blatantly disrespects our African American citizens. Move The Monument.
Paul says
Richard, We were expecting your group to make more personal attacks and insults as we disclosed factual history of the Talbot Boys, and the Maryland experience of the Civil war.
Yes we do know the actual history of the Talbot Boys monument, who placed it, why and its theme. And guess what? It’s purpose and theme is exactly the opposite of the accusations your group has been making.
But to understand history you have to actually read it and not just basic bullet points from the SPLC located 900 miles our County. Go to http://www.preservetalbothistory.org to read it for yourself.
Richard Marks says
Paul,
In all due respect, I speak for myself and no others. Nor are my comments personal attacks or insults. I certainly do not appreciate you referring to my comments as accusations. I took exception to your assertions in a civil manner. I respect your opinion and your historical perspective, but as stated, I do not believe they are relevant to the concerns of the monument being in an inappropriate location.
paul callahan says
Richard, Thank you for your comment
Richard Marks says
Paul,
Thank-you. While we disagree on disposition, I have learned from the information you provided. As well, I recognize my use of the word us left the impression I spoke on behalf of others. Ah, if only I were so eloquent and capable!