Look at the dates of the “assignments” listed here (this is from a List I am on that deals with slavery):
The court records of Albemarle County, Virginia, contain the following
punishments for slaves:
Henry is not guilty of aiding and abetting but is guilty of abusive
language. He is to get 39 lashes on the back this evening, 15 lashes
tomorrow, 15 more on Thursday next, 15 more on Friday, and 39 more on
Saturday. [a total of 123 lashes] The Sheriff is to carry this out at
the
public whipping post. [1854]
Lewis … is to be given 125 lashes. He is to be given 25 lashes a day
at
the public whipping post beginning tomorrow but if his master agrees to
send him immediately out of Virginia then he is to receive only 50
lashes
(25 lashes a day). [1861]
Peter — The Court finds him guilty of assault only and orders 156
lashes
are to be given him. 39 lashes are to be given him a day until all 156
have been given. [1863]
How many times do we hear that what happened “back then” has no effect on our students and how they behave. Well, let me do a little calculating for you and add this to my recent blog item New South/Old South. My wife’s great grandfather lived in slavery; her father remembered him.
My wife’s pastor as she was growing up was the son of a man who had lived in slavery for 25 years.
Now for some lessons from psychology. How often have you heard that abuse is passed down from generation to generation? Now, consider that my wife is removed from that by only two generations, i.e. her father was raised by a man who was raised by a man who lived in this abuse. My wife’s pastor, highly influential in her life, was raised by a man who lived in that abuse. Do you think ANYTHING might have been passed on?
BUT, you will NEVER hear anything about this in our schools in trying to understand the violence and respect issues that so dominate the psyches of many of our students and their parents. Why not? Because it might upset the status quo, which is, it’s OK to take into account (or ’make excuses for’) people’s family history UNLESS to do so would force us to examine just who we are as a people.