JerseyBart
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2006
- Location
- New Jersey
Preface: I am not trying to start World War III with this thread considering all that has been going on recently. I am looking to just gather opinions, information, have a discussion etc. on the auction block itself, its installation, the reasons for it staying up so long and its removal.
So, I posted this a year ago on a different thread,
Honest question here: what purpose does the slave auction block in Fredericksburg serve??? Is there more to its marker than,
"Auction Block
Fredericksburg
Principal Auction Site
in
pre Civil War Days
for
Slaves and Property
1984
HFFT?"
If that is it, I don't see much, if any educational value here, just a really bad photo op and a glorification of slavery, whether accidental or purposeful. Please do not read snark into my post, not yet at least. I am generally interested in the purpose and honestly confused."
Well, a year later and with everything going on, it was removed. (see the article linked below)
A year later, I have the same questions. I honestly want to know what purpose the block served? Paraphrasing here, but the marker basically says here's a slave auction block from pre-civil war days. It became a tourist site, with in my opinion, inappropriate and appropriate pictures taken of and with it, and a businesses asking for it to stay up because its removal would hurt their business. I've looked around some at there does not seem to be a specific or positive purpose. I could be wrong and if I am, please direct me to the specific or positive purpose.
My questions to the membership are:
Why was it installed?
What are your thoughts on its installation?
Why was it up so long with a vague purpose at best?
What are your thoughts on its purpose?
Does the "it hurts business" argument to keep it up so long hold water? Why or why not?
What are your thoughts on its removal and previous failed attempts at its removal?
I would definitely appreciate a frank, honest and respectful discussion of these questions and any more that happen to come up. Thank you.
JerseyBart
So, I posted this a year ago on a different thread,
Honest question here: what purpose does the slave auction block in Fredericksburg serve??? Is there more to its marker than,
"Auction Block
Fredericksburg
Principal Auction Site
in
pre Civil War Days
for
Slaves and Property
1984
HFFT?"
If that is it, I don't see much, if any educational value here, just a really bad photo op and a glorification of slavery, whether accidental or purposeful. Please do not read snark into my post, not yet at least. I am generally interested in the purpose and honestly confused."
Well, a year later and with everything going on, it was removed. (see the article linked below)
A year later, I have the same questions. I honestly want to know what purpose the block served? Paraphrasing here, but the marker basically says here's a slave auction block from pre-civil war days. It became a tourist site, with in my opinion, inappropriate and appropriate pictures taken of and with it, and a businesses asking for it to stay up because its removal would hurt their business. I've looked around some at there does not seem to be a specific or positive purpose. I could be wrong and if I am, please direct me to the specific or positive purpose.
My questions to the membership are:
Why was it installed?
What are your thoughts on its installation?
Why was it up so long with a vague purpose at best?
What are your thoughts on its purpose?
Does the "it hurts business" argument to keep it up so long hold water? Why or why not?
What are your thoughts on its removal and previous failed attempts at its removal?
I would definitely appreciate a frank, honest and respectful discussion of these questions and any more that happen to come up. Thank you.
JerseyBart
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