Congress to Honor Slaves who Built Capitol
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Posted By: torin ellis on June 13, 2010 FEATURED Content Congress will finally right a wrong by acknowledging the work of slaves who helped to build the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. in a ceremony planned for June 16. During the ceremony, a plaque commemorating their work will be dedicated in the Rayburn Room. Among those scheduled to attend are Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif). Its has taken more than two centuries for Congress to admit that those who built the monument to freedom weren’t free themselves, and the plaque is the first formal acknowledgement of their contribution. However, the U.S. Capitol is far from the only historically significant American building built by slaves. Faneuil Hall in Boston, Redwood Library in Rhode Island, Independence Hall in Philadelphia as well as the homes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in Virginia were all built with the help of, or primarily by, slaves. The slaves who built the Capitol were rented from owners in the D.C. area, a practice which was commonplace according to a report issued by the Congress on the construction of the U.S. Capitol. “George Washington, for instance, occasionally leased his slaves to neighbors who required their labor or skills for a short period of time,” the report states. “From time to time Washington found himself short of hands and was obliged to pay for additional help.” According to the London Newspaper The Independent, between 1792 and 1800, 400 slaves were rented out from local plantations to build the White House and the Capitol. Each slave generated $5 a month, which was paid to the plantation owners of the leased slaves. Construction on the building lasted from 1793 until about 1826. ------ link to original story found in the Afro Newspaper: http://www.afro.com/sections/news/afro_bri... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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torin ellis
From baltimore, MD Member Since December 2008 |
Comments
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COOL!!!
Monday, June 14th 2010 at 4:34PM |
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This is great. Now if only we can get HR 40 passed for reparations for Black Americans.
Tuesday, June 15th 2010 at 12:23PM |
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Slaves built the Capitol Building in Austin, Texas, too. It is unlikely that Gov. Rick (secessionist, sue the government about healthcare) Perry would even contemplate such an in the United State of TEXAS.
Tuesday, June 15th 2010 at 12:41PM |
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Please my black people and culturally competent people please call on your members of Congress to support HR 40. The entire Congressional Black Caucus has not signed on as cosponosrs. But we can push them. Our bllack men and boys are being locked up in the New Jim Crow. email me apostolicboylargo@yahoo.com Wednesday, June 16th 2010 at 3:15PM |
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