The Christian Past That Wasn't: Formerly Telling Jefferson Lies Whitewashing Jefferson, Part Two
This is a continuation of last week's episode on whitewashing Jefferson. Today, we specifically take on Barton's contention that Jefferson was a civil rights hero for African Americans and was a strong anti-slavery advocate during his entire life.
In fact, after 1784, Jefferson's promising beginning as an opponent of slavery faded away. While he continued to advocate emancipation, he linked it with deportation. He always believed that Blacks and Whites could not live together in one nation. He dedicated himself to the business of slavery and as president, supported the expansion of the American slave trade into Louisiana.
Today's episode is hosted by Warren Throckmorton and Michael Coulter. We are pleased to have Monticello librarian Anna Berkes, historian Troy Jackson, attorney and theologian Joel McDurmon, and author and historian Jemar Tisby join us for this episode.
Next week's episode is titled Conspiracy of Silence and deals with fallout from The Jefferson Lies and the response of Family Research Council and Focus on the Family to their awareness that they were promoting false and misleading historical information via their organizations.
SHOW NOTES:
This information didn't make it into the podcast but gives an insight into the scope of the American slave trade which was enabled by Thomas Jefferson.
In his book, The Problem of Slavery in Christian America, Joel McDurmon also cites the figure of 875,000 slaves marched by slave traders from the Mid-Atlantic states south and west. The following information is also taken from his book.
"Thomas R. Dew, who was the president of William and Mary College and a powerful proslavery voice, openly stated in his coauthored The Proslavery Argument: “Virginia is, in fact, a negro raising State for other States; she produces enough for her own supply, and six thousand for sale”—6,000 for sale, that is, every year."
We cite a speech by Henry Wiencek in this episode. You can hear the whole speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oflCFaMGhF4. His book is Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves
Jemar Tisby referred to his book The Color of Compromise in the last episode.
Gettingjeffersonright.com - Go here for more information about our book Getting Jefferson Right.