by Nathan Richardson

IF THIS PHOTOGRAPH STRIKES YOU AS REMARKABLE, IT IS BECAUSE IT
REPRESENTS A COMPLETE CONTEXT OF AMERICAN CIVIL WAR HISTORY.

This image captured at Manassas National Battlefield Park, shows historian Nathan M. Richardson
engaged in a first person portrayal of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass with middle school
students about his role during the civil war. Please take note that the monument of General
Stonewall Jackson is still standing and even though silent, it speaks volumes to the full context
of the narrative.

This is actually a picture of what Critical Race Theory should look like; a narrative that tells the
complete story of American History. In the words of Frederick Douglass, “If America is false to
her past and false to her present, she will solemnly be false to her future.” Douglass was critical of the Lost Cause Narrative because it totally dismissed the suffering of whole millions of men and women in bondage as well as the contributions they made to America in spite of their suffering. Douglass called those who whitewashed American history “The Apostles of Forgetfulness”.

The students pictured here are learning about the American Civil War in full context. There is no
value in excluding either of the historic figures in the image that will help them come to complete understanding about how this great country was established. When we as adults serve our children a history that has not been properly preserved and told; we are in fact spoiling their future.

America is an interracial marriage that can’t be annulled, and we are the offspring of a shotgun wedding. But we do have a choice in how we deal with the estranged relationships of our ancestors. We can use our history, not as a weapon or a wedge, but as a wakening – as a wing.

History is not a series of dots and dashes. It is a continuous arch from then till now. The question
of the day is, what to teach and what not to teach. If education is medicine, then we should know,
the pill without some sugar is hard to swallow, but sugar without the pill is a placebo that won’t cure what’s ailing us.

I recently re-enacted a Frederick Douglass speech titled “Liberty and Light.” Douglass delivered the speech as the keynote speaker during a flag raising ceremony of the new Manassas Industrial
School for Colored Youth (1894-1959). What Douglass said then applies now. “I have seen many dark hours and yet have never despaired of the colored man’s future. There is no time in our history that I would prefer to the present. Schools and colleges for colored youth are multiplying all over the land. Hampton, Tuskeegee, Cappahoosic, are brilliant examples. Even though attempts are being made to set aside the amendments of the Constitution; to wrest from us the elective franchise; to make us a proscribe class, I know it all, and yet I see it all as convincing evidence of our progress and the promise of a brighter future. The resistance that we now meet is the proof of our progress.”

I say teach it all, starting with the United States Constitution. Teach every child to memorize and
recite the Preamble. Teach them the difference between Patriotism and the duties of Civic
Responsibility. Teach them the contradiction of claiming personal liberty without regard to the
common good. Let it be their understanding of American Democracy that Freedom is the only
human right that has ever offered a benefit, that any claim otherwise would be to take the
benefits of freedom away from the Creator and give the credit for our inalienable rights to the
oppressor. Teach them that any assertion as to the benefits of slavery is clearly a contradiction to
the Preamble and our Declaration of Independence.

~ Nathan M. Richardson; Poet, Author & Frederick Douglass Historian

He is now in the 9th year of The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour – a living history performance in which he captures completely the physical and spiritual essence of the former slave, writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. This living history series has produced film credits with the National Park Service, Alabama Public Television. Nathan’s rendition of “Frederick Douglass Honors the Unknown Loyal Dead” was nominated for “Best Short Film” at the 2022 I WILL TELL INTERNATION FILM FESTIVAL. You can find more about Nathan Richardson and his work at www.scpublishing.com.