Slavery Interpretation/Reenactment in Ohio

[Belle Montgomery]

Saturday- July 14 at 6 PM - 7 PM - Marietta College-Hosted by The Castle Historic House Museum-Marietta, Ohio

July 14 at 6 PM - 7 PM - Marietta College-Hosted by The Castle Historic House Museum-Marietta, Ohio

Join Cheyney McKnight to learn about her experiences interpreting slavery throughout the east coast, as a hobbyist and then in a professional capacity. She will highlight the lessons she learned about interacting with the public in historical garb, and where she believes the field is headed. This event will take place at Marietta College in Thomas Hall Room 124 and is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. This presentation is hosted by The Castle Historic House Museum and Marietta College's History & Education Departments.

About the Presenter: Cheyney McKnight is a Living Historian and Independent Scholar who consults with and aids museums and historical sites in developing specialized programming about the African American experience within 18th and 19th century America.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

… Now if we could get more people like Ms. McKnight at reenactments willing to show attendees another layer of the onion it not only would it be educational it might even quell the protestors!

 

[unionblue]

Wish I could be at this one.

And by-the-way, does anyone remember the African Americans who protested the reenactment of a Revolutionary slave auction conducted at Colonial Williamsburg years ago?

 

[matthew mckeon]

I have been to Colonial Williamsburg a couple of times, and attended an evening performance called "Williamsburg in Black and White" about interpreting the slave experience there. Couple of things I remember: there was a big percentage of black people in 18th century Williamsburg, and that is definitely not the case among the staff now, which was discussed.

I'm reading a book called "Denmark Vesey's Garden" about Charleston SC. In 1866 there was a parade by black residents and US troops. One of the floats was someone doing a mock slave auction with the crowd shouting jokes and insults. Suddenly a woman screamed "where are my children? Where are my children?" And suddenly it didn't seem so funny.

 

[matthew mckeon]

So slave life should definitely be demonstrated. I don't think it can be reenacted first person very realistically in the 21st century.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

So slave life should definitely be demonstrated. I don't think it can be reenacted first person very realistically in the 21st century.

So the 40+ overweight soldier is? It's about the factual information coming out of their mouth that make them valuable to the attendees.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

Wish I could be at this one.

And by-the-way, does anyone remember the African Americans who protested the reenactment of a Revolutionary slave auction conducted at Colonial Williamsburg years ago?

"But Ms. Coleman contended that only by open display and discussion could people understand the degradation and humiliation that blacks felt as chattel. She compared the pain of the slave auctions for blacks to that of the Holocaust for Jews and said that if museums were built to illustrate the horrors of one, why should not efforts be made to illustrate the other."
"https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/08/us/mock-auction-of-slaves-education-or-outrage.html

 

[archieclement]

So slave life should definitely be demonstrated. I don't think it can be reenacted first person very realistically in the 21st century.

There used to be lady in Hannibal who did it, but she was more a storyteller, but dressed the part.

 

[matthew mckeon]

So the 40+ overweight soldier is? It's about the factual information coming out of their mouth that make them valuable to the attendees.

Yeah, but by "first person" I mean actually being in the persona, like an actor's performance. IMO, It would be difficult to do that right and easy to do it wrong.

At Williamsburg several interpreters actually perform in the roles, act out skits, or answer in the character of Mrs. Washington or other historic figures. Its all done very well, I think. A very vivid memory was someone enacting an enslaved woman. She invited us into the kitchen and showed us various artifacts, all very sunny. Then she showed a flash of deep anger about another slave. She then glanced fearfully at us and deliberately put the cheery mask in place. I still remember it after twenty years.

 

[matthew mckeon]

"But Ms. Coleman contended that only by open display and discussion could people understand the degradation and humiliation that blacks felt as chattel. She compared the pain of the slave auctions for blacks to that of the Holocaust for Jews and said that if museums were built to illustrate the horrors of one, why should not efforts be made to illustrate the other."
"https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/08/us/mock-auction-of-slaves-education-or-outrage.html

But they don't reenact a selection or shooting a hundred people in the back of the neck. No one dresses as a kapo or an SS man. I don't know, I'll have to think about it.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

Yeah, but by "first person" I mean actually being in the persona, like an actor's performance. IMO, It would be difficult to do that right and easy to do it wrong.

At Williamsburg several interpreters actually perform in the roles, act out skits, or answer in the character of Mrs. Washington or other historic figures. Its all done very well, I think. A very vivid memory was someone enacting an enslaved woman. She invited us into the kitchen and showed us various artifacts, all very sunny. Then she showed a flash of deep anger about another slave. She then glanced fearfully at us and deliberately put the cheery mask in place. I still remember it after twenty years.

That does sound "chilling"

 

[Belle Montgomery]

But they don't reenact a selection or shooting a hundred people in the back of the neck. No one dresses as a kapo or an SS man. I don't know, I'll have to think about it.

I still remember seeing Spielberg's movie "Schindler's List" that "enlightened" and "nauseated" many yet the story needed to be told! We must never forget!!