The Enslaved in Washington, DC: 1790-2020 – Livestream History Program –
Event Category: Presentations/Discussions
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The Enslaved in Washington, DC: 1790-2020
– Livestream History Program –
Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 3:00 PM
This presentation examines the history of enslavement in the original Federal City. We examine the founding of the District of Columbia — by design — as an enclave of slaver power in 1790, by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and will see how it still anchors that power in its policies of non-representation.
The creation of the Federal District from the slaver states of Maryland and Virginia was intended to demonstrate — and enforce — the power of the Southern investment in keeping human beings like cattle. The history of what would be termed, after 1800, the District of Columbia insured that the 100-mile capital would anchor North to South, the domestic traffic in enslaved blacks, under the support of law and Constitution.
Fact: 12 US presidents (Washington, Jefferson, etc.) owned slaves.
Fact: Enslaved blacks (and some Indigenous) built the District and the buildings therein.
Fact: the popular Broadway play “Hamilton” alludes to the compromise that gave the South the power it wanted — the symbolic visibility of enslavement as a politic.
Fact: the odd shape of the current district perfectly demonstrates the power of Virginia Slave culture. In 1848, fearing the loss of commercial slavery in the District, Alexandria and Arlington (the Virginia component) separated from the District, leaving the jagged line of the river marking the ever-visible absence.
We examine the buildings and locations, in which enslaved persons, adults and children, were penned, ahead of auction and sale. We examine the constructions — White House, Capitol, Washington Monument, Smithsonian, among others — that were built with enslaved Africans and indigenous peoples of the Potomac. We examine where the enslaved hid, and where they were taken when they were captured. We examine the rhetoric of the Founders and successive Congresses who, to this day, “explain” why the District lacks “representation.” During its ten-year building phase, the Federal City was known as “the Congo of America.” This is the reason.
Presenter: Edward J. Ingebretsen, Ph.D
Ingebretsen holds a PH.D from Duke in theology and American Culture. He teaches courses across universities in the Metropolitan area on Anglo-colonial race relations; animals, justice and culture; Gay culture and theory. His publications include At Stake: Monsters and rhetoric of fear in American Culture. And Maps of Heaven, Maps of Hell: Religious Terror as Memory from the Puritans to Stephen King (1995). He has lived in DC since he began teaching at Georgetown University in 1986.
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Zoom Connection:
This educational and entertaining program is open to all regardless of age, geographic location, etc. and since it is an online/virtual event via Zoom you can connect from anywhere in the world.
This is a free program – voluntary donations greatly appreciated to support our non-profit community programs.
Zoom events have a limit on the number of people that can participate and therefore the event may “sell-out” once a certain number of registrations has been reached.
Zoom Connection Link Will Be Emailed:
Login info will emailed approximately 8-24 hours prior to the event.
If you haven’t received the Zoom connection an hour before the event please contact us.
Zoom Connection Suggestions:
Connecting to Zoom a few minutes early is strongly recommended.
This is a visual presentation so the bigger device screen that you can use the better.
To join the event simply click the Zoom link that is emailed separately and follow the instructions.
If clicking the link doesn’t work you can try copying and pasting it instead.
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When all else fails please read and follow the directions. : )
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This program is presented by the non-profit community organization Washington, DC History & Culture:
“bringing people together to experience the history and culture of Washington, DC.”
For more entertaining and educational programs visit us at:
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https://www.Facebook.com/DCHistoryAndCulture
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https://www.Meetup.com/DCHistoryAndCulture
Eventbrite
https://DCHistoryAndCulture.Eventbrite.com
We look forward to seeing you – thanks!
Robert Kelleman
Washington, DC History & Culture
202-821-6325 (text only)
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