Dann Hays writes: "Once we start putting 20th century (21st century?)
outlooks on what was going on moe [sic] than 100 years ago, then we have
lost the reason for developing the exhibits in the first place."

First of all, there was no mention of presenting any historical item, the
question was about a term-so this is a new thought that has little to do
with the original question. Second, it all depends on what one is doing. If,
one is presenting a 1st person reenactment then obviously one uses the
terminology and concepts of the time. On the other hand, if one is
presenting a historical item in today's reality one will use today's
language and concepts. In making a historical presentation one should
explain the circumstances and context operational at the time, but one
cannot escape the point-of-view of one's own time-nor would it be good
history.

It appears that many folks have a very naïve view of history. History is not
the recounting of facts of a particular time; that would be "chronology."
The term "history" always implies a definite point of view, be it of the
21st or 19th century.
nburlakoff

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Hayes, Michael (Dann)
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 10:03 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: "Enslaved"

Just one thought in the discussion.

If you are presenting an historical item on slavery, shouldn't it be
presented as it was in the time period where the event took place?

Once we start putting 20th century (21st century?) outlooks on what was
going on moe than 100 years ago, then we have lost the reason for developing
the exhibits in the first place.

You can have some kind of scenario where the reference is discussed, today,
but I think it would be more worthwhile to use the basic terminology that
was used in the era you are looking at.

Dann Hayes
Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa


> ----------
> From:         Deb Fuller
> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> Sent:         Thursday, November 6, 2003 5:31 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: "Enslaved"
>
> Hi Jay,
>
> --- Jay Heuman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > One poster provided a great example (Amistad) of how the slave trade
tried to
> > change those who were "enslaved" into "slaves."  Enslavement is a
process;
> > slaves are usually the result of the process.
>
> That was a good point. But if slaves were born and raised in slavery, were
they
> ever technically "enslaved"? I doubt slave owners went around and said
"*poof*,
> you're a slave." It also implies that these people were free to begin
with,
> which they weren't. Thus using the word "enslaved" seems to give them a
status
> which they did not have.
>
> For example, a Roman legion captures and enemy city and all those who
weren't
> killed were enslaved. There I can see using the term "the enslaved Gauls"
which
> implies that at one point they were free.
>
> But on a plantation where all the slaves probably had been slaves all
their
> lives, using the term "enslaved" gives the impression that they were
something
> other than slaves, which they weren't. I can see using the term for early
> American site where blacks were brought over from Africa and enslaved. But
was
> a slave born to a slavery ever really "enslaved" at one point? Certainly
not in
> the way the first Africans imported to the colonies or a conquered people
were.
>
> > Looking at the etymology of "slave" (below), one sees the assumption
that
> > slaves are inherently 'lesser than'.  To "enslave" is the attempt to
impose a
> > 'lesser than' status.
>
> Another good point, but again, you can't have a lesser status if you never
had
> a higher status to begin with.
>
> Deb
>
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