byron ed
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There's a proposal now to rename Chicago's Douglas Park* (as in Stephen Douglas famous senator and judge, once Lincoln's political opponent yet later an anti-secession supporter of Lincoln), part of a discussion about “basically racist monuments” at a meeting of an umbrella group named Springfield Call to Action. They would change that long-standing name to Douglass park, (as in famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass). Here's what I wasn't aware of:
"...Douglas’ father-in-law, upon his death, deeded a 2,500-acre Mississippi plantation worked by 150 slaves to Douglas’ wife and her heirs. Douglas served as property manager for which he received 20 percent of its annual income. When Douglas’ wife died in 1853 the cotton plantation was inherited by their two sons, while Douglas – known in Illinois as The Little Giant – continued as manager. “It was a characteristically artful arrangement allowing Douglas to have it both ways, legally not to be a slaveowner yet to profit from slavery..” **
Discuss among yourselves.
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* "Proposal would rename park for Douglass not Douglas" Bernard Schoenburg, The State Journal-Register (Springfield) USA TODAY NETWORK
** “Wrestling With His Angel: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln 1849-1856,” 2017 by Sidney Blumenthal
"...Douglas’ father-in-law, upon his death, deeded a 2,500-acre Mississippi plantation worked by 150 slaves to Douglas’ wife and her heirs. Douglas served as property manager for which he received 20 percent of its annual income. When Douglas’ wife died in 1853 the cotton plantation was inherited by their two sons, while Douglas – known in Illinois as The Little Giant – continued as manager. “It was a characteristically artful arrangement allowing Douglas to have it both ways, legally not to be a slaveowner yet to profit from slavery..” **
Discuss among yourselves.
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* "Proposal would rename park for Douglass not Douglas" Bernard Schoenburg, The State Journal-Register (Springfield) USA TODAY NETWORK
** “Wrestling With His Angel: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln 1849-1856,” 2017 by Sidney Blumenthal