Walter, This is more truth than most people will be able to handle. I've seen a version of this anger when I tell people I've been discriminated against because I am a black female. Most of them get offended. They use the, "There's discrimination on both sides" argument. The fact that the Christian Nationalist movement is a major part of one of our political parties is terrifying. They have a playbook called Project 2025 and it's one of the scariest most racist movements of our time. Racism is alive and well in this country and alot of people are ready to vote for the "good old days" to give power to an old racist white man to measure out punishment to the races who are not white.
Yes, I'd included a version of "more truth than you can handle" in my original draft. But I think this is something that needs to be taught in schools. I was concerned that I'd lose half my subscribers when I published this, but then I thought what's the point of having subscribers if I don't tell the truth? I think when we find the courage to speak out, things change. I'm in a position to make these kind of statements without enduring the type of consequences other people might have to endure. It will be interesting to see what the response is to this post in the next week. Thanks for the comment!
You’re right about the potential for losing some people. There’s a lot of shame and guilt that people take on in this type of situation. They feel like you are attacking them personally, when in fact you are attacking the system. But, some people sit by quietly because they are the ones benefitting from the way things are. Very few people care unless the systemic oppression affects them personally.
Yes, and that response is a conditioned one as well. There are so many mechanisms that maintain systems of oppression. Sometimes when you ask people, "Why is it that you've never considered this," they wake up. I get this reaction when I call the Confederate flag the banner of Lincoln's assassin. People look at me stunned that they never thought of it that way before. With all the BS patriotism in the US, you'd think people would object to symbols that represent presidential assassination...naturally the Confederate flag is a symbol of even more terrible evils, but this is a starting point (I'll take what I can get).
That's why the Right is so hysterical about CRT even though it was only taught as a elective in Law Schools at University level. It focused on racism, slavery and inequality as being held in place by systems, not individuals. Anyone, especially lawyers, looking at the system structure is a extreme danger to their set up.
I want to affirm your efforts here—and thank you. If you lost subscribers because of this, then that sort of illustrates a different subtle point of yours—“If I don’t know it happened, and I don’t talk about it or listen to it, or read about it (eg book bans), then it didn’t happen and I don’t have to be made uncomfortable.”
I enjoy your history lessons and hope they continue—and get as raw and honest as the real history was. We can’t eventually get into the light unless we know the dark darkness from which we came. Otherwise, the shadow will keep following us.
I absolutely agree, Walter. I wonder if it is possible to create learning tools, a timeline (used in Montessori schools to teach history — https://etcmontessorionline.com/etc-timelines/ )and a primer, in the form of a children’s book, thinking of Joy Hakim, Jean Fritz. Also, the Brain Architecture game is a great resource to teach adults willing/open to learn.
This is why systemic corruption, based on systemic racism and systemic sexism, cannot be curtailed after 250 years without several civil wars. This is psychological warfare so we need some training.
I think it can be defeated without violence. All we have to do is stop being submissive. The right is a bunch of bullies, and if we stand up to them, they'll just retreat. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
I have always seen the church as partially responsible for slavery in the Americas due to their acquisitiveness and willingness to exploit believers and feed political power mongers.
Thanks to you I know why...
It literally started in 1493 with the pope giving license... off to learn more.... but irony is that it was the English who industrialized it and i assume they were Anglicans
Even earlier than that. The Teutonic Knights were killing and enslaving Slavs with the blessings of the Church and taking their lands and repopulating them with Germans. The Polish King decided to invoke that Catholic Slavery Clause and turned Catholic along with all his followers. The Teutonic Knights were very unhappy. The Bible also was fine with the Might Makes Right version of slavery and if you lost a battle your family would end up as slaves.
It’s amazing that half the Thomas Jefferson descendants are not allowed to be buried in the family cemetery at Monticello to this day. The black half. Google Lucian K. Truscott, IV (Jeff’s great, great, great grandson on the white side) who invited the Hemings great- grandchildren to a Monticello Society meeting. They were refused. Wow.
Thank you so much for writing this! At the risk of sounding like the most ignorant among us, as a child in London, dad (a Catholic) came home only on weekends and mom, until she died was a member of the Church of England. A black family lived two flats away and because the father was an ambassador, my friend did not attend the same school as I. Weekends we were inseparable. My first doll was black. All mum ever told me was Lorna's skin was black because she was from a country closer to the equator and God protected them from the sun with dark skin! I'm not suggesting I was never exposed in American colleges to racism, but it didn't take hold. Mum's are always right! I have read Ibram Kendi, but WOW. This needs to be a book, which would be immediately banned here in Florida, but it needs to be available! Thank you, again. I have to read again to digest! Just wow.
The second the establishment starts banning books, you have a reading list. They're afraid of what you discover. The worst part is that they must already KNOW the truth. Think about that! Thanks for the kind comment!
I can’t thank you enough for such an illuminating article. It is said that the Truth will set us free, (if we have the courage to face it), but no one said it would be pretty. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Yes, I think we too often feel entitled to a beautiful truth, but our perceptions are so contorted that we reject the truth that hurts. Thanks for reading!
As a recovering Catholic, add this to the very long list of reasons I dropped out. I still think it was a pretty good decision for a 20 year old. No regrets.
The “institutional” Roman Catholic Church has been a major contributor to many evil acts throughout history. That said, I was also raised in the catholic faith setting and the teachings itself are basically true to the gospels. It’s the man made rules that I can’t follow and moved away from.
Yes, but I think pointing out the atrocities does nothing to discredit the teachings that are actually true. It just makes the worthy path easier to perceive. Unfortunately we live within a mechanism that decries any form of criticism... even though that only supports evil behavior. Thanks for the comment!
Agreed. The church has global influence and there are significant reforms needed. It’s so out of touch with reality we live in and how it could be an effective avenue for change and healing. Pope Francis has made some headway but there is resistance at the lower levels of the hierarchy-local priests unwilling to accept his philosophy.
I am atheist for this very reason. I can’t believe that a kind and forgiving God would allow all the rape, torture, enslavement, murder, disparagement and general inhumanity to mostly women and minorities- with minority women bearing the worst of the inhumanity. I am an old white woman and am heartily ashamed of what white people have done - and a former Christian until the hypocrisy and awfulness of Christianity made me realize that it is the problem. We aren’t the problem, religion is the problem.
Yes, I think the church was deliberately designed to create, oppress, and exploit the poor. We need to make this criticism more openly. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you! Yes, some won't understand, but I've been writing long enough that I've seen attitudes change over time. We get there by speaking out. Thanks for the comment and support!
Live from California here. Despicable truth, but truth none the less. And those who know this truth are not necessarily set free. I was reminded of all those concubines that are talked about in the "Bible," which is why I do not subscribe to "Christianity." I have a black female friend, married to a white man, and they wanted to move to the south; however, given her race, she is naturally concerned about where they live. Sadly, my best friend, now 85 with dementia, was raised by a grandfather who was a member of the KKK, and she shared horrible stories with me about seeing her grandfather in his white "outfit." Now I know why she started smoking at age 6 and made the decision to "not to talk to her grandparents anymore," even tho she was a member of the household. Another friend, the catholic who was offended by my "cat lady" shirt is a perfect example of a woman in denial about the truth of slavery in this country, as well as others. "Praise Jesus!" Your article and voice over should be broadcast loud and clear in every area of this country where there are so many disenfranchised voters who are the descendants of slaves. My god!
Yes, and I have read all the banned books, and as a result I am much smarter...I have a button that says this, and it has caught a lot of attention. Just like the one I word the other day, "Prayers and Guns Don't Stop Gun Violence," and finally, "Control Guns, Not Women's Bodies." A woman stopped me and told me I was "brave...." I said I was simply wearing it as a reminder of.....................Admittedly, the Planned Parenthood button might be a bit much, but I will wear it this weekend. Bright pink, "Abortion Is On the Ballot." I feel so reckless or perhaps relentless
I can tell you, that US History, in small town Colorado, in the 60’s—a couple paragraphs on enslaved Africans. Learned the truth from watching “Roots”. Same treatment of the treatment of Jews in Hitlers’ Germany. Learned from Hollywood Movies. I was mad my education on the subjects, was so lacking. History is important, even if horrifying.
Indeed, religion is the first and greatest scam. Knowing the truth is the first step to empower change. Thank you, Walter, for paving a road to help guide us.
Thank you! Yeah, accuracy requires a 1,000 page manuscript, but 1,500 words can pack a powerful punch. Hopefully this article succeeds in inspiring a few people to look into it a little more.
Walter, This is more truth than most people will be able to handle. I've seen a version of this anger when I tell people I've been discriminated against because I am a black female. Most of them get offended. They use the, "There's discrimination on both sides" argument. The fact that the Christian Nationalist movement is a major part of one of our political parties is terrifying. They have a playbook called Project 2025 and it's one of the scariest most racist movements of our time. Racism is alive and well in this country and alot of people are ready to vote for the "good old days" to give power to an old racist white man to measure out punishment to the races who are not white.
Yes, I'd included a version of "more truth than you can handle" in my original draft. But I think this is something that needs to be taught in schools. I was concerned that I'd lose half my subscribers when I published this, but then I thought what's the point of having subscribers if I don't tell the truth? I think when we find the courage to speak out, things change. I'm in a position to make these kind of statements without enduring the type of consequences other people might have to endure. It will be interesting to see what the response is to this post in the next week. Thanks for the comment!
You’re right about the potential for losing some people. There’s a lot of shame and guilt that people take on in this type of situation. They feel like you are attacking them personally, when in fact you are attacking the system. But, some people sit by quietly because they are the ones benefitting from the way things are. Very few people care unless the systemic oppression affects them personally.
Yes, and that response is a conditioned one as well. There are so many mechanisms that maintain systems of oppression. Sometimes when you ask people, "Why is it that you've never considered this," they wake up. I get this reaction when I call the Confederate flag the banner of Lincoln's assassin. People look at me stunned that they never thought of it that way before. With all the BS patriotism in the US, you'd think people would object to symbols that represent presidential assassination...naturally the Confederate flag is a symbol of even more terrible evils, but this is a starting point (I'll take what I can get).
That's why the Right is so hysterical about CRT even though it was only taught as a elective in Law Schools at University level. It focused on racism, slavery and inequality as being held in place by systems, not individuals. Anyone, especially lawyers, looking at the system structure is a extreme danger to their set up.
I want to affirm your efforts here—and thank you. If you lost subscribers because of this, then that sort of illustrates a different subtle point of yours—“If I don’t know it happened, and I don’t talk about it or listen to it, or read about it (eg book bans), then it didn’t happen and I don’t have to be made uncomfortable.”
I enjoy your history lessons and hope they continue—and get as raw and honest as the real history was. We can’t eventually get into the light unless we know the dark darkness from which we came. Otherwise, the shadow will keep following us.
Thank you Kert!
I’m hoping you gather more subscribers as a result of this post, Walter. Thank you for sharing this.
It has performed very well, but this is a topic that I’ll need to revisit. The whole country needs to be educated on this.
I absolutely agree, Walter. I wonder if it is possible to create learning tools, a timeline (used in Montessori schools to teach history — https://etcmontessorionline.com/etc-timelines/ )and a primer, in the form of a children’s book, thinking of Joy Hakim, Jean Fritz. Also, the Brain Architecture game is a great resource to teach adults willing/open to learn.
This is why systemic corruption, based on systemic racism and systemic sexism, cannot be curtailed after 250 years without several civil wars. This is psychological warfare so we need some training.
I think it can be defeated without violence. All we have to do is stop being submissive. The right is a bunch of bullies, and if we stand up to them, they'll just retreat. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
The government needs to educate their voting population if they expect this country to stay a democracy
I have always seen the church as partially responsible for slavery in the Americas due to their acquisitiveness and willingness to exploit believers and feed political power mongers.
Thanks to you I know why...
It literally started in 1493 with the pope giving license... off to learn more.... but irony is that it was the English who industrialized it and i assume they were Anglicans
There has been significant church influence at every step of the way. You don't accumulate a billion dollar fortune by being kind and generous.
So true.
Even earlier than that. The Teutonic Knights were killing and enslaving Slavs with the blessings of the Church and taking their lands and repopulating them with Germans. The Polish King decided to invoke that Catholic Slavery Clause and turned Catholic along with all his followers. The Teutonic Knights were very unhappy. The Bible also was fine with the Might Makes Right version of slavery and if you lost a battle your family would end up as slaves.
insightful
It’s amazing that half the Thomas Jefferson descendants are not allowed to be buried in the family cemetery at Monticello to this day. The black half. Google Lucian K. Truscott, IV (Jeff’s great, great, great grandson on the white side) who invited the Hemings great- grandchildren to a Monticello Society meeting. They were refused. Wow.
Yeah, but I keep being hopeful that change can happen all at once.
Thank you so much for writing this! At the risk of sounding like the most ignorant among us, as a child in London, dad (a Catholic) came home only on weekends and mom, until she died was a member of the Church of England. A black family lived two flats away and because the father was an ambassador, my friend did not attend the same school as I. Weekends we were inseparable. My first doll was black. All mum ever told me was Lorna's skin was black because she was from a country closer to the equator and God protected them from the sun with dark skin! I'm not suggesting I was never exposed in American colleges to racism, but it didn't take hold. Mum's are always right! I have read Ibram Kendi, but WOW. This needs to be a book, which would be immediately banned here in Florida, but it needs to be available! Thank you, again. I have to read again to digest! Just wow.
The second the establishment starts banning books, you have a reading list. They're afraid of what you discover. The worst part is that they must already KNOW the truth. Think about that! Thanks for the kind comment!
Parents groom their children to be racist and sexist
I am so up for this… between you, the Hon. Professor Spivey, and so many other empowered writers here on Substack… teach on!
Thank you Chris!
I can’t thank you enough for such an illuminating article. It is said that the Truth will set us free, (if we have the courage to face it), but no one said it would be pretty. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Yes, I think we too often feel entitled to a beautiful truth, but our perceptions are so contorted that we reject the truth that hurts. Thanks for reading!
As a recovering Catholic, add this to the very long list of reasons I dropped out. I still think it was a pretty good decision for a 20 year old. No regrets.
The “institutional” Roman Catholic Church has been a major contributor to many evil acts throughout history. That said, I was also raised in the catholic faith setting and the teachings itself are basically true to the gospels. It’s the man made rules that I can’t follow and moved away from.
Yes, but I think pointing out the atrocities does nothing to discredit the teachings that are actually true. It just makes the worthy path easier to perceive. Unfortunately we live within a mechanism that decries any form of criticism... even though that only supports evil behavior. Thanks for the comment!
Agreed. The church has global influence and there are significant reforms needed. It’s so out of touch with reality we live in and how it could be an effective avenue for change and healing. Pope Francis has made some headway but there is resistance at the lower levels of the hierarchy-local priests unwilling to accept his philosophy.
Absolutely!
I am atheist for this very reason. I can’t believe that a kind and forgiving God would allow all the rape, torture, enslavement, murder, disparagement and general inhumanity to mostly women and minorities- with minority women bearing the worst of the inhumanity. I am an old white woman and am heartily ashamed of what white people have done - and a former Christian until the hypocrisy and awfulness of Christianity made me realize that it is the problem. We aren’t the problem, religion is the problem.
Yes, I think the church was deliberately designed to create, oppress, and exploit the poor. We need to make this criticism more openly. Thanks for the comment!
Well, we ARE the problem, to the extent we use religion to suppress and oppress.
Very powerful post, Walter. I admire and appreciate your commitment to the truth. Thank you for that.
Thank you! I'm pleased to see the positive responses. Many of the solutions to our problems can be found in the places we refuse to look.
Excellent article! Must read for everyone. Sadly, some will not even try to understand it.
Thank you! Yes, some won't understand, but I've been writing long enough that I've seen attitudes change over time. We get there by speaking out. Thanks for the comment and support!
I appreciate your commitment to the truth, Walter. Thank you.
Live from California here. Despicable truth, but truth none the less. And those who know this truth are not necessarily set free. I was reminded of all those concubines that are talked about in the "Bible," which is why I do not subscribe to "Christianity." I have a black female friend, married to a white man, and they wanted to move to the south; however, given her race, she is naturally concerned about where they live. Sadly, my best friend, now 85 with dementia, was raised by a grandfather who was a member of the KKK, and she shared horrible stories with me about seeing her grandfather in his white "outfit." Now I know why she started smoking at age 6 and made the decision to "not to talk to her grandparents anymore," even tho she was a member of the household. Another friend, the catholic who was offended by my "cat lady" shirt is a perfect example of a woman in denial about the truth of slavery in this country, as well as others. "Praise Jesus!" Your article and voice over should be broadcast loud and clear in every area of this country where there are so many disenfranchised voters who are the descendants of slaves. My god!
Wouldn’t it be nice if they taught the truth in public schools? Imagine how much healthier our society would be. Thank you for sharing your stories!
Yes, and I have read all the banned books, and as a result I am much smarter...I have a button that says this, and it has caught a lot of attention. Just like the one I word the other day, "Prayers and Guns Don't Stop Gun Violence," and finally, "Control Guns, Not Women's Bodies." A woman stopped me and told me I was "brave...." I said I was simply wearing it as a reminder of.....................Admittedly, the Planned Parenthood button might be a bit much, but I will wear it this weekend. Bright pink, "Abortion Is On the Ballot." I feel so reckless or perhaps relentless
I can tell you, that US History, in small town Colorado, in the 60’s—a couple paragraphs on enslaved Africans. Learned the truth from watching “Roots”. Same treatment of the treatment of Jews in Hitlers’ Germany. Learned from Hollywood Movies. I was mad my education on the subjects, was so lacking. History is important, even if horrifying.
I agree!
Indeed, religion is the first and greatest scam. Knowing the truth is the first step to empower change. Thank you, Walter, for paving a road to help guide us.
Thank you for your writing. Our history is whitewashed for a reason. To perpetuate the harm.
Thank you Jeff!
This is a brilliant, albeit condensed, explication of the history of racism and its specifically American version.
Thank you! Yeah, accuracy requires a 1,000 page manuscript, but 1,500 words can pack a powerful punch. Hopefully this article succeeds in inspiring a few people to look into it a little more.