Perhaps State Senator Neal could help the country focus on the heritage of African Americans. They didn't come through Ellis Island as my family did. Senator Neal's family had a very different trajectory than my family.
Why is it as a country we do not talk about all the heritage that occurred within the USA? Why is it as soon as these lives are presented in dialogue they become invisible as soon as the dialogue ends. Is it safety? Are African Americans safer if the slaves of the past remain invisible? What is the reason we don't talk about your heritage and the incredible survival of the men and women who brought you to us now?
I think State Senator Neal needs to travel to Washington, DC to speak as a favor to the US House. He should be allowed to speak in "Morning Business" accompanied by the Democratic Black Caucus. It is important his words reach the House to impact the dialogue regarding hate and the symbols of hate and the depth of that impact on lives in this country. The official record of the US House is missing vital information about State Senator Neal and his family and heritage.
I thank him for bringing his heritage to the floor of South Carolina. Why was I surprised by the words he spoke? Could it be because we don't hear it enough?
South Carolina Rep. Joe Neal (D-Richland) speaks during a special
session of the Legislature at the South Carolina Statehouse during a
debate about the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse
grounds.
(Rainier Ehrhardt / AP)
July 9, 2015
By Matt Pearce
..."I find it (click here) interesting that no one brought up the fact that there were a million-plus Africans here who were suffering under the weight of enslavement. And it wasn’t really mentioned and no one talked about what they were going through. And they went through it for almost 400 years. ... Let’s remove that flag, let’s do it now. ...
"My heritage is based on a group of people who were brought here in chains. Who were denigrated, demagogued, lynched and killed, denied a right to vote, denied the right to even have a family.
"Let me tell you a quick story of my family. My family was taken here to South Carolina. There were four brothers — that much we know. They were purchased by a slave owner by the name of Neal. He brought them to Sumter County. And one of them was taken to Kershaw County — that much we know. We know that two of them immigrated to Richland County, and one remained in Sumter....
Why is it as a country we do not talk about all the heritage that occurred within the USA? Why is it as soon as these lives are presented in dialogue they become invisible as soon as the dialogue ends. Is it safety? Are African Americans safer if the slaves of the past remain invisible? What is the reason we don't talk about your heritage and the incredible survival of the men and women who brought you to us now?
I think State Senator Neal needs to travel to Washington, DC to speak as a favor to the US House. He should be allowed to speak in "Morning Business" accompanied by the Democratic Black Caucus. It is important his words reach the House to impact the dialogue regarding hate and the symbols of hate and the depth of that impact on lives in this country. The official record of the US House is missing vital information about State Senator Neal and his family and heritage.
I thank him for bringing his heritage to the floor of South Carolina. Why was I surprised by the words he spoke? Could it be because we don't hear it enough?
South Carolina Rep. Joe Neal (D-Richland) speaks during a special
session of the Legislature at the South Carolina Statehouse during a
debate about the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse
grounds. (Rainier Ehrhardt / AP)
July 9, 2015
By Matt Pearce
..."I find it (click here) interesting that no one brought up the fact that there were a million-plus Africans here who were suffering under the weight of enslavement. And it wasn’t really mentioned and no one talked about what they were going through. And they went through it for almost 400 years. ... Let’s remove that flag, let’s do it now. ...
"My heritage is based on a group of people who were brought here in chains. Who were denigrated, demagogued, lynched and killed, denied a right to vote, denied the right to even have a family.
"Let me tell you a quick story of my family. My family was taken here to South Carolina. There were four brothers — that much we know. They were purchased by a slave owner by the name of Neal. He brought them to Sumter County. And one of them was taken to Kershaw County — that much we know. We know that two of them immigrated to Richland County, and one remained in Sumter....
