To the Honorable Council of Talbot County: I respectfully request you approve a resolution to remove the Confederate Monument, known as the “Talbot Boys”, from the Talbot County Courthouse lawn as soon as possible. The statue (and base) represent the darkest chapter in American history, when it was legal and accepted to enslave men, women and children simply because of the color of their skin. A chapter that, astonishingly, has not yet been closed, as represented by the continuing struggle for equality in America. The statue was erected in 1916 during the Jim Crow era to ‘honor’ men who fought against the United States in support of racism and white supremacy – erected specifically as an affront to African Americans. It is reprehensible to have it stand in front of the county courthouse, the site where all people are supposed to receive equal justice under the law. The figure representing Justice is blindfolded – the Talbot Boys in front of our County Courthouse says this is not true if you are black.
Move it to a battlefield or war cemetery if you must, or, better yet, bury it as an long overdue acknowledgement that racism in America should be buried once and for all.
George Dappert
Cordova
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My Family has been in Talbot County since 1672. They were slave owners. I am not proud of that. It is just one reason why the entire monument must be removed from the Courthouse grounds–the place of justice, the guarantor of rights for all people.
Talbot County
It is appropriate at this time and into the future that the entirety of the Talbot Boys statue not be displayed.
Joyce DeLaurentis
Easton
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To the Talbot County Council: Like you, I’ve been reading articles and letters on both sides of this issue, thanks to our local news outlets. I’ve been talking with friends. I’ve been thinking a lot about it.
I very much support the idea of knowing our history. I think too often we have forgotten our history which includes acts of aggression and suppression from our earliest days which we don’t like to acknowledge and talk about. The truth is we need to talk about it more, more frankly, more honestly, more openly.
But knowing our history does not mean somehow glorifying it. The Talbot Boys statue to me does not only acknowledge those who fought in a terrible war on the side of slavery but rather gives them a place of “respect and prominence” on the Courthouse lawn next to, of all people Frederick Douglass!
There have been a number of suggestions about moving the statue to a different location, a less offensive location, a “learning“ location. Maybe a group of Talbot residents could be appointed to see a relocation carried out.
But with so many County residents finding it offensive and hurtful, GET IT OFF THE COURTHOUSE LAWN.
Connie Lauffer
St Michaels
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Robin Stricoff
Alan Boisvert says
A responding AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TeresaHopkins says
Please take the statue down. If it hurts anyone’s feelings, it needs to come down. It is not a snap shot of our history we want to relive by gazing at The Talbot Boys. Certainly not something to be proud of. Thank you,
mary Cameron says
Great points by Connie Lauffer
Laura Zagon says
I think the Talbot Boys statue, as part of history, should be in a museum somewhere along with the rest of the history. It should NOT be in front of our courthouse “proudly” displayed as it is.
Melissa Barrett says
I agree and especially like Connie Lauffer’s comment. The Talbot Boys need to go now – not just the statue but the whole monument.