Statue Depicting a Slave Not Welcome in Indiana?

[Jake46184]

Once again, 2 dozen supposed "activists" are allowed to dictate the course for all. History is history.....it can't be revised as needed to fit the politically correct wind of the day.

Activists Rally Against Controversial Statue - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis

 

[g+16]

So once again a select group of people decide what people in general can see or not see, I thought that was the federal goverment's job?

 

[Archbishop]

My wife was just telling me about some monument that was being built downtown that would include some sort of signage about the various indian wars fought, but a group of native americans banded together yelled and got it shut down to. I might have a bit of the particulars wrong, but that was the jest of it.
I'm thinking why wouldn't you want the sacrifice of your ancestors remembered? What ever people, it's history.

 

[dhnorris]

even though Indiana had proportionally more soldiers freeing the slaves than any other state in the union we get this crap. Why don't these activists walk across Indianapolis along 38th street at night in a "rally for peace"

 

[Que]

My wife was just telling me about some monument that was being built downtown that would include some sort of signage about the various indian wars fought, but a group of native americans banded together yelled and got it shut down to. I might have a bit of the particulars wrong, but that was the jest of it.
I'm thinking why wouldn't you want the sacrifice of your ancestors remembered? What ever people, it's history.

I really like this perspective. History cannot be changed and in the same vein the affects of slavery should not be diluted. Many agree with history being correctly depicted in this case, but the deeper conversation is always avoided and ends with something to the affect of "Suck it up, history cannot be changed and that was then, not now." The war memorial shows slaves, as well as a great deal of art on other memorials. The majority of the people depicted on artwork from those times were slave owners, so it's only right to also show those who produced their wealth and productivity. Yes, it is an honor and should serve as a lesson for all people in various ways.

even though Indiana had proportionally more soldiers freeing the slaves than any other state in the union we get this crap. Why don't these activists walk across Indianapolis along 38th street at night in a "rally for peace"

How do you know they don't? I've done it. Something like that would not sell papers and get hits on websites, so the media does not bother to report it when they happen.

 

[tTotalProvidence]

Maybe if your relatives were enslaved for cheap labor you'd understand how they felt...

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I don't understand the context. As slavery was illegal in Indiana pursuant to the Northwest Ordinance, why a statue depiciting a slave?

Maybe a statue depicting the Underground Railroad?

I'd like to see it replaced with a statue of Dr. Gatling.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

even though Indiana had proportionally more soldiers freeing the slaves than any other state in the union we get this crap.

IIRC, Indiana and Rhode Island gave the most.

 

[rjstew317]

Who's paying for all these monuments they want to erect? I keep hearing about budget issues so why are they spending money on things that are nonessential?

 

[BE Mike]

Why shouldn't these people have their ancestors presented in the best possible light? We have overlooked the shortcomings of Washington, Jefferson, etc. for centuries.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Yeah, doesn't it just seem weird to have a statue on slavery in . . . Indianapolis, the capital of the State that shed the most blood to end slavery.

Why not Richmond, Virgina, or Atlanta, Georgia or anywhere in Mississippi?

I don't think people understand history well enough to understand their ahistorical proposals.

It's sort of like when I was working at the Secretary of State's office and a woman, who worked as an attorney for the office, came to a staff meeting with a Valvoline Racing hat (baseball cap). She was all excited because she was going horseback riding in Colorado.

I asked what was with the cap. She said she wanted to feel like a cowgirl and look Western.

I replied that she looks like she should be working in the pits at the Indy 500. Why no cowboy hat?

This statue is akin to wearing a Vavoline racing hat over your excitement about going out west to ride horsies. I just don't get people.

 

[hooky]

If you read this article, it says the sculpture is the depiction of the freed slave on the soldiers and sailors monument.

Slavery-Inspired Sculpture Stirs Controversy - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis

 

[Jake46184]

Yeah, doesn't it just seem weird to have a statue on slavery in . . . Indianapolis, the capital of the State that shed the most blood to end slavery.

When in our state's history did Hoosiers shed blood to end slavery? I'm not familiar with such an occurrence in the 195 year existence of Indiana. To suggest that such is a good reason for not having the statue is a misunderstanding of history.

 

[Vince49]

When in our state's history did Hoosiers shed blood to end slavery? I'm not familiar with such an occurrence in the 195 year existence of Indiana. To suggest that such is a good reason for not having the statue is a misunderstanding of history.

If I might inquire? Where did you study the history of this State?. Just curious as I must have attended a different Academy.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

When in our state's history did Hoosiers shed blood to end slavery?

During abolition work in antebellum period, in Bleeding Kansas from 1854 to 1856, but most of the blood was shed from 1861 to 1865.

If you read this article, it says the sculpture is the depiction of the freed slave on the soldiers and sailors monument.

Well, that makes some sense, but they need to add Indiana troops freeing him or something to emphasize that the statue is dedicated to the destruction of slavery.

 

[chefnick7]

During the course of the civil war, Indiana contributed approximately 210,000 soldiers and millions of dollars of equipment and supplies to the Union. Residents of Indiana served in every major engagement of the war and almost every engagement—minor or otherwise—in the western theater of the war.

 

[chefnick7]

To suggest that this state did nothing to end slavery is ignorance towards history.

 

[Compatriot G]

While Indiana certainly wasn't a slave state, it was not very "black-friendly". Check out these little tidbits from the Indiana Constitution. Also, notice the repeal date of some of them.

1851 Indiana Constitution


Article II, Suffrage and Election

Section 5, Negro Suffrage. - No Negro or Mulatto shall have the right of suffrage. (Repealed in 1881)
Journal, pp. 66,121, 130, 140, 209, 727, 740, 908, 913
Debates, pp. 172, 223, 228, 245, 1712, 1737, 2068

Article XIII. - Negroes and Mulattoes

Section 1, Immigration. – No Negro or mulatto shall come into or settle in the State, after adoption of this Constitution. (Repealed in 1881)
Journal, pp. 28, 32, 68, 138, 149, 244, 268, 269, 652, 752, 767, 960, 962
Debates, pp. 44, 226, 256, 432, 438, 460, 561, 572, 600, 622, 635, 664, 1568, 1787, 1816, 1931, 2075

Similar Proposed Sections​

Legislature to cause the removal of the free Negro population…
Journal, p. 155
Adopting provisions of present (1816) Constitution.
Journal, p. 144
Any free Negro coming into or refusing to leave the State shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished…
Journal, p. 272
Debates, pp. 449, 643

Section 2, Contract and Employment. – 2. All contracts made with any Negro or Mulatto coming into the State, contrary to the provisions of the foregoing section, shall be void; and any person who shall employ such Negro or Mulatto, or otherwise encourage him to remain in the State, shall be fined in any sum not less than ten dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars. (Repealed in 1881)
Journal, pp. 138, 149, 244, 245, 248, 267, 268, 269, 652, 753, 768, 960, 962
Debates, pp. 226, 432, 438, 460, 561, 572, 600, 622, 1586, 1788, 1817, 2075

Similar Proposed Sections​

Any person who shall permit any Negro to occupy any real estate, shall forfeit such real estate to the county for use of the common schools.
Journal, pp. 272, 754
Debates, pp. 644, 1788

Section 3, Colonization. – All fines which may be collected for a violation of the provisions of this article, or any law which may hereafter be passed for the purpose of carrying the same into execution, shall be set apart and appropriated for the colonization of such Negroes and Mulattoes and their descendents, as may be in the State at the adoption of this Constitution, and may be willing to emigrate. (Repealed in 1881)
Journal, pp. 756, 770, 961, 962
Debates, pp. 1586,1792, 1798

Section 4, General Assembly to Pass Laws. – The General Assembly shall pass laws to carry out the provisions of this article. (Repealed in 1881)
Journal, pp. 68, 138, 149, 244, 268, 269, 652, 759, 776, 961, 962
Debates, pp. 226, 432, 438, 460, 561, 572, 622, 1568, 1798, 1826, 2075

Other Proposed Section Allied to this Article​

No person of color to have the right to give testimony in any case other than against persons of color.
Journal, pp. 139, 142, 164

 

[chefnick7]

I see a lot of laws repealed in 1881, which I seem to remember is about 70 years before many other states repealed similar laws, whats your point? Also whats your problem with an honest history lesson for Indiana residents.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

The issue is slavery, not tolerance.