Nine days ago, 200 people gathered under a tent on the beautiful grounds of the historic Wye House on Bruffs Island Road outside Easton to hear a brutally frank discussion about the renown abolitionist and writer, Frederick Douglass, born and bred in Talbot County.
Just seven days ago, my wife and I visited one of our favorite destinations, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia and watched a powerful re-enactment of the wedding of two young slaves readying themselves to escape slavery and possibly face dire circumstances for fleeing their masters to become free and unshackled.
Then seven-years-old, Douglass confronted the evil and repressive institution of slavery at Wye House. It informed the rest of life. Amid the agri-business that defined this magnificent property in the early 19th century, young Douglass watched with horror as slaves were beaten and their souls crushed by cruelty and violence.
According to one of the panelists participating in “a conversation at Wye House,” organized by the Frederick Douglass Honor Society, Douglass wrote that the lovely trees that graced the Wye House plantation were “witnesses” to an impressive farm operation that viewed slaves as mere property to be used and abused. Not unlike plantation life elsewhere in America at the time.
Sitting in a small outside setting in Colonial Williamsburg, we watched a simple dramatic production of a wedding ceremony fraught with anxiety over the future of two slaves optimistic that their love for each other and determination to live free lives would help them overcome severe obstacles. If caught, they knew they would absorb horrible lashings.
This column is not merely about slavery, the subject of millions of words in innumerable books. It is about courage and honesty, as exemplified by Richard and Beverly Tilghman, current owners of Wye House. Richard is the 12th generation member of the Lloyd family to own the distinctive Wye House property.
For full disclosure, Richard and Beverly are personal friends. I’m writing what I said to each of them on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the end of the two-hour program, entitled “From Frederick Douglass to Barack Obama.” The Tilghmans exhibited sincere gutsiness in hosting a session that presented an unvarnished view of life at Wye House, as described by Douglass, celebrated for his intellectual acuity and insights, and examined in depth by academic scholars.
Richard, and his now-deceased mother, Mary, have unabashedly and publicly claimed the history of slavery on one of the Eastern Shore’s premier plantations. In fact, as occurred nine days, they have provided a platform for a no-holds barred look at a particular instance of a slave-driven economy.
I believe that Richard and Beverly deserve high praise for their openness to discussion of the horrible conditions endured by Frederick Douglass and hundreds of slaves at Wye House.
The marriage of “John and Dolly” in a ceremony illegally conducted by a Baptist minister was touching and terror-ridden. It seemed that love alone would not help them overcome obstacles on their way to Philadelphia. They would need not only physical stamina but well-placed allies on the way.
The circumstances surrounding the staging of this slice of drama are similar in some ways to the Tilghmans’ purposeful acknowledgement of the slavery that imprisoned young Frederick Douglass. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation realized some years ago it could not focus merely on the well-educated, wealthy white men who founded our country and decided to become unchained from British dominance.
To be relevant and credible, Colonial Williamsburg had to pay attention to the plight of the slaves owned by the leaders of Virginia and eventually the new United States.
Our country was founded on the precepts of liberty and freedom. Unfortunately, this idealistic thrust did not apply to blacks who were slaves. It was a flaw that required a civil war to fix. Mistreatment of blacks did not vanish despite the outcome of the War Between the States.
Though many decry the obtrusive nature of today’s pervasive (some say “invasive”) media, I believe that while the truth may not set us free, it does offer insights that often leads to actions encompassing grace and goodness.
The past is an invaluable teacher. We ignore it at own peril. Thoughtlessness is a worthless option.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.
Carl Widell says
Excellent article.
Anthony D. Duckery says
Mr. Freedlander, an accomplished writer who digs deep into the essence of any subject matter he deems worthy to write on, has once again put forth a great piece which is received well by this reader, and I’m confident many others likewise. I thank you Mr. Freedlander!