It wasn’t “slavery”, it was just “involuntary relocation”.

[Shadow Wolf]

Is anyone else concerned about putting slavery and famine together as ideas of "involuntary relocation"? It's like the goal seems to tell black people to shut up because the Irish went through "involuntary relocation" just as well.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Although the blacks responsible would be those
who remained in Africa, while selling their neighbors.
I don't blame the ones who were "involuntarily relocated".

There were also black slave owners in the deep south in America.

 

[Mister Emu]

If we're talking specifically about the journey to America, were the slaves not involuntarily relocated?

 

[Revoltingest]

There were also black slave owners in the deep south in America.

I know.
But they were uncommon.
(I once visited a plantation owned by one.)

 

[Twilight Hue]

If we're talking specifically about the journey to America, were the slaves not involuntarily relocated?

I would call it forced abduction.

 

[Augustus]

Is anyone else concerned about putting slavery and famine together as ideas of "involuntary relocation"? It's like the goal seems to tell black people to shut up because the Irish went through "involuntary relocation" just as well.

The article contrasts the "involuntary relocation" of black people with the voluntary relocation of Irish.

It wasn't putting them together, other than as routes to America.

 

[Augustus]

If we're talking specifically about the journey to America, were the slaves not involuntarily relocated?

The claim that it is "technically" correct is not a great defence of deliberately obfuscating euphemism.

It's not incorrect to say the repetitive curtailer of vitality, Ted Bundy, involuntarily relocated a number of women who later met with substantive negative outcomes after being involved in atypical conjugal relations.

 

[Aštra’el]

Except, they were involuntarily relocated… to become slaves. Nobody is denying that.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

The article contrasts the "involuntary relocation" of black people with the voluntary relocation of Irish.

It wasn't putting them together, other than as routes to America.

I don't think it's that upfront. Those Irish immigrants may have had some ability to choose where they went, but how voluntary/involuntary is it when the choice is leave or go hungry?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Except, they were involuntarily relocated… to become slaves. Nobody is denying that.

Apparently they raise such weakly snowflakes in Texas they must soften it and not be upfront that they were captured and enslaved. It might hurt their feelings, cause discomfort and violate their apex snowflake school law.

 

[Aštra’el]

Apparently they raise such weakly snowflakes in Texas they must soften it and not be upfront that they were captured and enslaved. It might hurt their feelings, cause discomfort and violate their apex snowflake school law.

Why would anyone’s feelings get hurt? Texans by and far are proud of their history… the beautiful as well as the terrible. I accept that slavery happened. So what. There is nothing to regret. There is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact the topic intrigues me. Everything that happened has led into this moment here and now and there is nowhere else I would rather be.

 

[Augustus]

I don't think it's that upfront. Those Irish immigrants may have had some ability to choose where they went, but how voluntary/involuntary is it when the choice is leave or go hungry?

Part of the proposed draft standards obtained by the Tribune say students should “compare journeys to America, including voluntary Irish immigration and involuntary relocation of African people during colonial times.”

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Why would anyone’s feelings get hurt? Texans by and far are proud of their history… the beautiful as well as the terrible. I accept that slavery happened. So what. There is nothing to regret. There is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact the topic intrigues me. Everything that happened has led into this moment here and now and there is nowhere else I would rather be.

They have that law that nothing can be taught that would upset the kids. Apparently they can't handle being told upfront those Africans were violently captured, enslaved, and herded like cattle to somewhere else. They instead have to tell these snowflakes they were "involuntarily relocated."

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Part of the proposed draft standards obtained by the Tribune say students should “compare journeys to America, including voluntary Irish immigration and involuntary relocation of African people during colonial times.”

Maybe I'm highly cynical, but I still see that as a potential to downplay slavery.

 

[Aštra’el]

They have that law that nothing can be taught that would upset the kids. Apparently they can't handle being told upfront those Africans were violently captured, enslaved, and herded like cattle to somewhere else. They instead have to tell these snowflakes they were "involuntarily relocated."

No. I think it’s a few words in a second grade textbook that you are deliberately choosing to become offended about, allowing yourself to get all triggered without any direct experience at all. But what’s new.

 

[fantome profane]

Except, they were involuntarily relocated… to become slaves. Nobody is denying that.

Why would anyone’s feelings get hurt? Texans by and far are proud of their history… the beautiful as well as the terrible. I accept that slavery happened. So what. There is nothing to regret. There is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact the topic intrigues me. Everything that happened has led into this moment here and now and there is nowhere else I would rather be.

I think you are missing the point. No one is objecting to using the phrase “involuntary relocated”, they are objecting to using this phrase in the place of “slavery”. The point of this is that they are not allowed to say “slavery”.

I am so glad that you accept that slavery happened. Students should also be taught about that, without using euphemisms. If Texans are so proud of their history no need to cover it up.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

No. I think it’s a few words in a second grade textbook that you are deliberately choosing to become offended about, allowing yourself to get all triggered without any direct experience at all. But what’s new.

Come now. Anyone concerned about the future of America should be concerned with how education frames events from the past we want to progress beyond.

It's one thing to not be ashamed of slavery because you weren't personally involved and you are living in the current product of that past, but another thing to suggest it's no big deal that children are taught a softened version of the reality.

They were involuntarily relocated, through despicably inhuman means and horrific conditions by European imperialism.

 

[VoidCat]

Come now. Anyone concerned about the future of America should be concerned with how education frames events from the past we want to progress beyond.

It's one thing to not be ashamed of slavery because you weren't personally involved and you are living in the current product of that past, but another thing to suggest it's no big deal that children are taught a softened version of the reality.

They were involuntarily relocated, through despicably inhuman means and horrific conditions by European imperialism.

As I've heard many say all the time regarding loads of things regarding history:

We repeat history when we do not learn from it.


In order to learn from it we must learn it and teach our kids an accurate version of events

 

[Stevicus]

While mulling over this topic, I was thinking about the ways history used to be taught (not just in schools, but also in popular culture, family history, etc.) and how many approach it today. There's been a great deal of controversy and argument over how to teach about America's past, because it forms perceptions of who and what we are, as a nation and people.

When it came to slavery, I don't think there was any attempt to deny it, as there was also quite a focus on how slavery divided the states and the Abolitionist movement which staunchly opposed slavery. The greatest Abolitionist of them all, Abraham Lincoln, achieved near godlike status in the eyes of the generations of Americans which followed. At least in terms of shaping Americans' historical perceptions, Lincoln was it.

In a sense, at least when Americans look at our historical past and the crimes of slavery and the slave trade - along with the patriotic extolling of the personage of Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, it's almost as if Lincoln died for our sins (along with hundreds of thousands of troops who died in the Civil War).

Of course, this may be different from the "Lost Cause" Confederate version that's also circulated, but that in no way diminished the general public's historical adoration and admiration for Lincoln. He became a symbol of what America stood for.

Those who seem to look at it from a more Confederate position tend to focus on different aspects, although one could still argue from a pro-Confederate position without necessarily being a slavery apologist or revisionist, which is what this "involuntary relocation" seems to be. If Texas wants to tell its own history from its own perspective, then they can do that, but they might also mention that Sam Houston was against secession.

I guess the bottom line is, there's no reason to lie about anything in our history. As long as we tell the complete story, both the good and the bad, then we can have a better idea of where we stand today and how we should plan for the future.

Ultimately, I don't think history should be used as a vehicle for attempting to BS people into following a certain political agenda in the here and now.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

No. I think it’s a few words in a second grade textbook that you are deliberately choosing to become offended about, allowing yourself to get all triggered without any direct experience at all. But what’s new.

Then what's with the Texas law that protects students feelings from uncomfortable topics?
Ergo the Africans weren't sold off, captured, abducted and enslaved. That apparently must be softened up to "involuntarily relocated" to protect feelings.