Though I personally am against slavery, it does not harm institutions such as museums or
schools to teach the subject.   In my graduate work, I had an excellent class on the
Jewish Holocaust (taught by a Jew) and was one of my most enjoyable, but difficult
to see the films and learn of how man treat other peoples because of economical,
political or religious differences.  

But, let us understand * America was built on slavery, and it was not just in the South.  

"Slavery was a legal institution in all of the 13 American colonies. A majority of the founding fathers owned slaves, including the author of the Declaration of Independence, the Father of the Constitution, and the commander of the Continental Army." 

"Slavery during the colonial era was not a static, unchanging institution. It was a dynamic, evolving institution that varied radically across time and space. During the early seventeenth century, slavery was far different from what it would later become. Anthony Johnson was one of Virginia's first slaves. Arriving in 1621, he was put to work on a plantation along the James River, where he took a wife, Mary, and raised at least four children. During the 1630s, Johnson and his family gained their freedom, probably by purchasing their own freedom. Johnson subsequently acquired an estate of 250 acres, which he farmed with the help of white indentured servants and at least one slave. Just as remarkably, Johnson successfully sued in court for the return of a slave, who he claimed had been stolen by two white neighbors."  Source: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/black_voices/voices_display.cfm?id=14

When the first Europeans arrived in the New World, they subjugated the Native people into
slavery, destroying their culture, religion and life ways.  We destroyed these people *- by
sending dogs to rip them a part, drawing and quartering them, burning them at the stake, and removing
them from their family and tradition home land.  We (noble white man) raided their villages and massacred their women and children, and sent many tribes and peoples on harsh Trails of Tears and into slavery.  

To bring forth meaningful dialogue is the mission of a museum.  As museum professional, we
even may not agree with what we present, but it does bring forth means to discuss and talk
about sad times in our history and past.  

John
Boise, ID    

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