Hear My Story: The Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon

[@dianeweaver8442]

I commend all of the actors for putting themselves in the lives of their ancestors, especially so that people in today’s world can better understand how things were done, how people were treated, and for the world to c how truly wrong this era was in our histories! Thank you to u ALL 🙏🏽

[@maryjomw]

Thank you for representing these individuals so respectfully. This was very interesting to watch, and feel that I have learned from this presentation.

[@ivymoon1779]

Beautifully done and much needed! So happy that you honor your ancestors !

[@cwhit8481]

I never knew this side of American History. Y'all presented the life and times in an outstanding and respectful Justice to our elders that have gone on before us. May the Lord God bestow upon you continual blessings in Jesus' name 🙏💖🎉🎩👒💐

[@AnAmericanGuitarist]

This was a great presentation, but has several incorrect comments. First of all, "All Men Are Created Equal" is actually in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. Second; The three fifths clause does not say each slave is 3/5 of a person. It says 3/5 of persons not free will be counted for taxation & representation. It means don't count 2/5 of their population in the US Census. (Speaking of the census, Thomas Jefferson listed his inherited slaves as "souls in my family on his census paper). If all of the them were counted, then those slave holding states would get extra representatives in the US House of Representatives. By counting only 3/5, those states had a less strong voice in Congress and an incentive to free slaves and get more state representation. This was the result of a compromise between the anti slavery states and the pro slavery states. It is because of this disagreement that slavery was not banned outright when the Constitution was written. There was an impasse and the primary objective was to get agreement on creating a Federal government. The Federal government was created with, as James Madison pointed out, "few and defined powers". Once it was created, it was not authorized to make law inside the states, such as ending slavery. However, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Rush, John Adams and many other founding era leaders did work within the states to dismantle slavery. When Thomas Jefferson was president, there was a big victory. The US Congress and Jefferson worked together to ban the importation of slaves to the USA. They were able to do that because the Federal government has control of the exterior borders of the USA. Meanwhile, state laws had to be followed, even by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Imagine if the founding father didn't follow the law. They worked withing the state legislatures to dismantle slavery. While they did release some slaves, state law made them financially responsible for each. When Thomas Jefferson released slaves, they had trade skills that made them able to support themselves. Third, It is only circumstantial evidence that exists regarding Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings having a relationship. He was 30 years older than her. DNA tests show that Thomas Jefferson did NOT father any of Sally's children except possibly her last born (Eston) who was born when she was 35 and Thomas Jefferson was in his mid 60s. Even there, the Y chromosome in the DNA only matches the Jefferson family, not specifically Thomas Jefferson. That Y chromosome is also not exclusive to the Jefferson family AND circumstantial evidence more strongly points to Thomas's younger brother Randy or Randy's sons as the potential father. There were also other Jefferson males living at or regularly visiting the property. If you want to read detailed reports on all of this, check out these books: The Jefferson-Hemings Myth - An American Travesty from the original people who did the DNA tests. If you want to read about the breakdowns of all of the circumstantial evidence and more about the DNA study then read a book titled The Jefferson- Hemings controversy - report of The Scholar's Commission.

[@darlinemcginity8996]

I feel so privileged to be a part of this and to hear from the mouths of those who forged the path of slavery and are able to tell their stories. Thank you thank you thank you.

[@jenninedorman4830]

Thank you for telling their stories !! Xoxo

[@lelahridge7693]

Wow what a history. This should be seen by everyone un the US. They they understand what life was like

[@namelia4439]

I believe Ony Judge eventually escapes, marries, and has a family...

[@freshbeanne]

That's what she says in this video at the end portion, yeah

[@barbarakenney8288]

Yes

[@julieb2398]

His chef Hercules also escaped, married, had children, and then reappeared to help with the burial of George Washington.

[@susan_elizabeth]

Excellent presentation! Thank you to the actors.

[@woodrose50]

I love your passion and the awesome job you do. Thank you.

[@debharshaw1882]

This is a fantastic video, not a lot of history played out on this topic, to answer questions keeping in character, amazing

[@syneathiabell1350]

I very much enjoyed that...Thank you for telling the story.

[@mschasitym1]

The name caption bothers me. They were not servants. Servants are paid.

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

They got paid sometimes.

[@natalee217]

@@MeadeSkeltonMusic who told you that? This was pre emancipation

[@estebanmiguel6019]

Billy Lee is spellbinding. Every person did a great job.

[@newwavepop]

i love the insight into our great history. but im sort of distracted by how much the first gentlemen "Billy" voice sound exactly like the brilliant late comedian "Patrice O'neal"

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

They are all great actors

[@CoachSherri]

Oney ran away and lived free and that’s when she had her 5 children

[@saradraperwessels]

All great actors. But this guy on the left, he is really great. But, I think these people, at this tie, may have been more intellectually subdued than is portrayed here. I don't know. If they were as educated as is portrayed here, in so far as the 3/4 issue, etc., I would be happily surprised. Were they allowed to learn to read? What about the representation of language, dialect, and accent? Do we see here a modern day interpretation of what we would all love to believe existed at the tie in Mt. Vernon?

[@labellafleur6262]

Being literate and being intelligent are 2 different things...people can learn through oral information as well as if not better than from books.

[@AtsilaH]

Some slaves could read and were taught to do so by their owners. Of course, that wasn't the case for most slaves even when it wasn't illegal for slaves to be literate. Billy Lee is believed to have been literate as one of his jobs was setting up Washington's letters. Also Christopher was literate and was actually caught planning to escape as he had written down his plan for a woman (gf/wife) that he was going to escape with. However, I agree with your sentiment. Billy Lee was pretty famous in his time and it does seem that he greatly admired and cared for Washington. And these house slaves of the founding fathers certainly led different lives than field slaves and future slaves as slavery became even harder with the invention of the cotton gin. But we still have to piece together their lives from what we know and we have to consider the source. Slave owners justified ownership of people by convincing themselves that their slaves were better off with them. Of course when stories are told by these white owners and descendants, they make it sound like a great setup. The truth can be summed up in the cliche that a gilded cage is still a cage.

[@tiaarns]

I have enjoyed the depth each panel member projected.

[@pagen5219]

I grew up 20 mi from GW birthplace and went a few times,,,just dont care to go anymore now, less its seeing how well and talented the slaves were,but,,,,,,,,it just makes me so angry,to see people own a people,

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

It was a different time

[@pagen5219]

@@MeadeSkeltonMusic Yes it was. I also have a right to my opinion. ty!

[@estebanmiguel6019]

Had you lived during the colonial period, you would of likely thought it was perfectly fine. As did 99% of the worlds population.

[@pagen5219]

@@estebanmiguel6019 ,,,I do not have a heart of stone,,,Jesus removed that and gave me a heart of flesh,,,,,but since I did not,,,,in truth,,,I cannot say ..possibly yes,,and glad I did not live then,,,,,though enough evil on earth now,,,,,plenty evil among us now,,,

[@estebanmiguel6019]

@@pagen5219 Just as the Bible says that Noah was a good man “in his day”, George Washington was a good man in his day. People can only be judged in the context of the period they lived in. Slavery was universally accepted during all of human history, yet Washington knew it was evil and wanted it to end. Looking at the totality of Washington, he was a truly great man, albeit not perfect…just as you are not perfect. As are you and I, he was a sinner who trusted Jesus Christ as his savior. I encourage you to read his written prayer at the end of his personal manuscript from 1752. You will probably fall in love with this great man.

[@RaynebowCrash]

Hey, it's Azie! :D

[@Nurichiri]

Reading up on the actual slaves, I think Lizzie May was based on Caroline and Lucy the runaway on Ony.

[@nickmann9549]

I KNEW that was her!

[@josiahmontclair3801]

Let's go into why exactly George expended so much to get ona back

[@jihanamir3807]

The Washingtons seem thoroughly unlikeable. - Both.

[@bernardhawk3258]

Agreed 👍

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

No they were great people

[@natalee217]

@@MeadeSkeltonMusic STFU , If you could you would probably have slaves

[@McTrollenstein]

@@natalee217 Tell your mom to stop drinking before she pops the next one out and open books from the years of 1750-1800.

[@jaynenunya6070]

@@MeadeSkeltonMusic they owned slaves lol. they were awful people

[@jasonshumate6456]

We should hear more about what the Subjugated have built, these Men were taught incredible Masonry and Carpentry Skills, they were taught Cabinet making Skills. They helped build the White House, both of them, they built Mount Vernon probably before Washington was Born. (Not Taught) Monticello (Not Taught) George Washington was 11 years old, he Inherited his Fathers Subjugated people. Which I find it Impossible for him not to have feelings for these people. He had no children & I believe William & his brother Frank, who he took as a dying wish of his friend. Billy and Frank were his friends Children. William Lee fought alongside on Horseback with General Washington. (Not Taught) I believe he considered them his Sons. Over the Course of Washington's life, 577 Slaves had lived at Mount Vernon. As some died, others were born, remember for 163 years these Slaves were part of the British Empire,(ignored & Not Taught) who still to this day own every acre of Canada,Australia & New Zealand.(Not Taught) @ any times they can take anyone's land. They cannot do that in the United States because of men both Black & White who have fought in every war. Who some have lived in the Americas for 400+ years, today anyone man or woman can be anything they want, own Property! The most important thing is America survived despite what the Democrats did for 78 years after independence, the were responsible for over 100 years starting in 1898 Wilmington NC. Where they formed the KKK, to Black Wall st.,to Jim Crow laws, to Lynching,Murdering & Burning,Suppression until 1964, when out of nowhere, they fell in with the Devil & that's another story. (All of that is Not .Taught)

[@pagen5219]

ty for sharing this,makes me so angry to say a human is not a whole

[@justred5164]

I like Mr. Hemings..

[@douglasvilledarling2935]

I love that she brought up the Quakers. I have DNA matches and possible ancestry that I am researching with the Pleasants who went to court in Virginia to free 300 enslaved people. They also wrote to Thomas Jefferson about educating them so when they are free they will be able to succeed. Thank you for the inclusion of that

[@oceanrock733]

GW's slaves were whipped, didn't have enough to eat, and sold like cattle.

[@Jstarry48]

Hope you don't mind me asking, where did you get that information?

[@pagen5219]

yeah,,,,,,,,they say GW grew this or made that,,,,,,,,,,he did not, but a stolen people cleaned, grew, maintained, built,,,,,,,,,so glad to give attention and say talented folk to the dead slaves

[@paulramon7860]

Did George Washington steal an Army and free the colonies NO. Did George Washington fake his way thru the presidency, No. Your forgetting he was a man of his time. Slavery was legal and if not for Washington you would not be living the American Dream today. You probably date people of color too. Snowflake

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

George washington was a great man, and makes me proud to be a 12th generation.

[@roselee4445]

Like bill gates does this that, noo someone does it for him

[@pagen5219]

@@roselee4445 exactly

[@kenreese2007]

And there still using it too there advantage...

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

Great president!

[@kenshiSR]

Not at all, absolute scum in fact.

[@saradraperwessels]

*time

[@kenreese2007]

Slave play, true but deplorable

[@Bizagro]

The Three-Fifths Compromise is highly misunderstood. It was proposed by the abolitionist northern states and not the slave owning "racist" southern states. Why would the north value a person less than the south? They didn't. It's because the states had not unionized, and the north knew it had to bargain and compromise - so they did so by class. A slave was identified by the law as a person, but by class as three-fifths of state representation. The end result, the states unionized and America became a country - and therein the southern states unwittingly signed to the eventual end of slavery. The Three-Fifths Compromise was superseded by the Fourteenth Amendment. But before that end, there had been a few, not many, but a few State Legislators who were Black and whose vote counted no less than any other free person of the time. So, America was not built because of the benefits of slavery, but, because of the benefits of a united states that slavery was able to be destroyed as an institution.

[@nicolefisher4779]

This panel is a disgrace

[@lefonzopollock4345]

Why?

[@bernardhawk3258]

A fckn disgrace indeed!

[@natalee217]

Why because they are exposing the real truth

[@natalee217]

Racist

[@roselee4445]

Why is the panel a disgrace?

[@SULLA_1]

perhaps you would like to hear my sob story about how these oh so nice blacks burned my hometown "Detroit to the ground in 1967.

[@mickeyconnor830]

Perhaps our great nation will be better once your generation is gone from it.

[@じょじょ-n4b]

@@mickeyconnor830 That would be nice, but his descendants will ruin it though.

[@natalee217]

They are talking about the 1700’s not 1967. Slavery years were just as violent as any riot in 67, so have a seat racist

[@roselee4445]

@@mickeyconnor830 two wrongs don't make a right

[@lulubelleish]

You were so lucky .... In the 1700's , there were so many poor white people that would have jumped in your place to work for George Washington. To have a roof over their head food clothing .... Yes you were Lucky ..... !

[@ADot1330]

You CAN’T be implying that those enslaved people were lucky...you just can’t be.

[@misssluttypants84]

A Dot I SIMPLY CAN'T WITH THESE PEOPLE 🤦

[@holyschilds4532]

Wtf did you say

[@holyschilds4532]

I can’t believe how evil you are that the only word that describe you

[@lulubelleish]

@@holyschilds4532 You are Not Important to me . You are Very Nasty ... I hope you have a Nice Life ..