Rep. Steve King Lone Vote Against Acknowledging Slave Labor Construction Of US Capitol

That the United States Capitol, and specifically the Statue of Freedom that rests above it, was built by slave labor has long been a source of shame. The House sought to redress that grievance on Tuesday evening, however slightly, with a resolution acknowledging the role slaves played in the construction.

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) isn't having it.

The resolution passed 399-1, with King voting against.

The purpose of the resolution, according to its text, is to direct "the Architect of the Capitol to place a marker in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center which acknowledges the role that slave labor played in the construction of the United States Capitol."

King has a long history of opposing resolutions he considers frivolous; in 2007, however, he introduced a resolution "recognizing the importance of Christians and the Christian faith."

A King spokesman did not immediately return a call. King later explained his position in a statement:

"In the Capitol Visitor's Center, we agreed to change the name of the Great Hall - which honored the immigrants that came legally to America - to Emancipation Hall to honor the 645,000 slaves and their descendants who were brought to the United States more than two centuries ago.

"Last night I opposed yet another bill to erect another monument to slavery because it was used as a bargaining chip to allow for the actual depiction of 'In God We Trust' in the CVC. The Architect of the Capitol and liberal activists opposed every reference to America's Christian heritage, even to the extent of scrubbing 'In God We Trust' from the depiction of the actual Speaker's chair in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"This is just the latest example of a several year effort by liberals in Congress to scrub references to America's Christian heritage from our nation's Capitol. Liberals want to amend our country's history to eradicate the role of Christianity in America and chisel references to God or faith from our historical buildings.

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"Our Judeo-Christian heritage is an essential foundation stone of our great nation and should not be held hostage to yet another effort to place guilt on future Americans for the sins of some of their ancestors. Christian abolitionists gave their lives by the hundreds of thousands to end slavery. Great American leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worshipped God just as our Founding Fathers did. We must never forget this important aspect of our heritage or use it as a political bargaining chip."

Read the slavery resolution he opposed:

Whereas enslaved African-Americans provided labor essential to the construction of the United States Capitol;

Whereas the report of the Architect of the Capitol entitled `History of Slave Laborers in the Construction of the United States Capitol' documents the role of slave labor in the construction of the Capitol;

Whereas enslaved African-Americans performed the backbreaking work of quarrying the stone which comprised many of the floors, walls, and columns of the Capitol;

Whereas enslaved African-Americans also participated in other facets of construction of the Capitol, including carpentry, masonry, carting, rafting, roofing, plastering, glazing, painting, and sawing;

Whereas the marble columns in the Old Senate Chamber and the sandstone walls of the East Front corridor remain as the lasting legacies of the enslaved African-Americans who worked the quarries;

Whereas slave-quarried stones from the remnants of the original Capitol walls can be found in Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia;

Whereas the Statue of Freedom now atop the Capitol dome could not have been cast without the pivotal intervention of Philip Reid, an enslaved African-American foundry worker who deciphered the puzzle of how to separate the 5-piece plaster model for casting when all others failed;

Whereas the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center was named Emancipation Hall to help acknowledge the work of the slave laborers who built the Capitol;

Whereas no narrative on the construction of the Capitol that does not include the contribution of enslaved African-Americans can fully and accurately reflect its history;

Whereas recognition of the contributions of enslaved African-Americans brings to all Americans an understanding of the continuing evolution of our representative democracy; and

Whereas a marker dedicated to the enslaved African-Americans who helped to build the Capitol will reflect the charge of the Capitol Visitor Center to teach visitors about Congress and its development

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. PLACEMENT OF MARKER IN CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER TO ACKNOWLEDGE ROLE OF SLAVE LABOR IN CONSTRUCTION OF CAPITOL.

(a) Procurement and Placement of Marker- The Architect of the Capitol, subject to the approval of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, shall design, procure, and place in a prominent location in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center a marker which acknowledges the role that slave labor played in the construction of the United States Capitol.

(b) Criteria for Design of Marker- In developing the design for the marker required under subsection (a), the Architect of the Capitol--

(1) shall take into consideration the recommendations developed by the Slave Labor Task Force Working Group;

(2) shall, to the greatest extent practicable, ensure that the marker includes stone which was quarried by slaves in the construction of the Capitol; and

(3) shall ensure that the marker includes a plaque or inscription which describes the purpose of the marker.

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Comments

[oceanehb]

What "Christian heritage"? Essential foundation stone? I've posted the following not to dismiss the influence or relevance of the modern, westernized Christian, but to dismiss a blind religious/political falsehood as stated by Mr. King.

From Wikipedia:

Several of the original Thirteen Colonies were established by English settlers who wished to practice their own religion without discrimination: the Massachusetts Bay Colony was established by Puritans, Pennsylvania by Quakers, and Maryland by Roman Catholics. Although many of the states retained established churches well into the nineteenth century, the United States became the first nation to have no official religion. Modeling the provisions concerning religion within the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, the framers of the Constitution rejected any religious test for office, and the First Amendment specifically denied the federal government any power to enact any law respecting either an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise.

The decision was mainly influenced by Reformation ideals, but was also a consequence of the pragmatic concerns of minority religious groups and small states that did not want to be under the power or influence of a national religion that did not represent them. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence said "The priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot."

[rascalish]

Then there's the infamous Jefferson Bible. A bible re-written, removing all supernatural elements.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Bible

[StonyStoner]

Fanned.

[Cambridge9]

Welcome to our team oceanehb. Great post. Fanned.

[damilitantone]

I've been informed that just because I'm black, doesn't mean that I know more about slavery than a well read white person who just put me in my place. I hope this establishes my "street cried." I wrote the following last month:

A lot of folks are whining about the government apologizing saying everybody connected is dead and no one left alive has any responsibility. How sad that our government has been petty and small like many of those making comments whining about this issue. My great grandmother died in 2000 at the age of 98. Her mother was born in 1863 on a plantation. My great-great-great grndmother died in 1915. My great great grandmother died in 1945. So if you wait long enough every one who was agrieved will die before justice is served. Since no one alive had anything to do with slavery why the anger at making sure that your government does the right thing. You can claim that the Civil War was enough, but that does nothing for those black slaves that lived and died prior to emancipation. I guess your empathy only extends to Obama if other white folks are dogging him. I don't need anything from any of you, but my ancestors who had to live and in some cases die as slaves are owed at least a token of respect and dignity from the country that calls itself "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

[Wolves50]

I really don't believe you have much more credibility on this issue than the average joe. You preach to everyone as if you have lived the experiences of your great grandmother?

[damilitantone]

Well, I now what I was told growing up and life for her mother and her grandmother was not without hardship. So many have stated that slavery was a long time ago and have told folks like me to get over it. Well I spent 38 years in the presence of the daughter and granddaughter of slaves and that gives me a certain level of credibility whether you want to acknowledge it or not. It certain;y give me as much credibility as someone who is only familiar with the legacy of slavery through reading books. Why does the truth upset you so? I have more credibility that you because my ancestors lived it and I got my information first hand from my great-grandmother. Where did you get your education?

[JohnBryansFontaine]

When people believe that Human Nature is more Bad than Good, they inevitably believe that other people are less than Human.

[Green-Zanto]

Human nature IS more bad than good. Look at history. I don't know how this fact necessarily influences ones politics.

[Maxine]

Green-Zanto,
The belief that there is more bad than good stems from the "puritanical" idea that people are born bad and we must strive for something better. I reject this idea. We are shaped and molded by our environment and cultural teachings after we mature to the age of reason then we determine for ourselves whether we will be bad or good, i.e. choice. When leaders make decisions that are unethical, amoral and immoral then the entire nation suffers as a consequence. We have seen that even nations maintaining religious motives can be and frequently are unethical, amoral, and immoral motivators to: start wars with other nations, continued oppression and power seeking exploitation of the earth's resources causing unecessary hunger, illness, and continued suffering to the poor and oppressed. These are the very things Jesus objected to that Christians tend to forget....

[slaxx]

i think it is more good. even saddam hussein loved his kids, right?

[JohnBryansFontaine]

Liberalism is the ( albeit often challenging ) philosophy that there is more Good than Bad in Human Nature. Conservatism believes the opposite, and was once slavery's supporter and advocate and in some rare cases ( e.g. KKK ) still is.

[T4Obama]

Wow, more fiction from the Republiklan party. Our "Christian" heritage didn't begin until the 1950s, when, thanks to good ol' Joe McCarthy, "under god" was added to the pledge of allegiance and the almighty "In God We Trust" usurped our nation's true motto, E Pluribus Unum, on American currency.

[bigbenny]

I still skip the god part when I recite the pledge

[jan4insight]

Good on you!

[Biyobi]

Right there with ya'.

I don't believe in imaginary sky beings.

[kjstjohn]

I do too and I am a Christian. Church and State are two different things and never the twain shall meet.

[StonyStoner]

I always replace "under god" with "for the people".

[FZliveson]

Let's hope the "Big One" doesn't skip you when your big day comes...th­at's if there is a "Big One. The jury's out for me. I do think something all-powerful created all this we're dealing with and it was neither Oblah blah nor George Washington­...that's for sure.

[FZliveson]

T4Obama; Please read some history. Please read some historical biographies.
There was a predominance of re1igiou$ people who founded this nation, based on
the principles of those sectarian reli6ion$, most based on that so-called "JC" person.

I don't go to church and I studied enough political science to know that most religions are mostly control mechanisms and businesses. But our heritage is laden with "C" principles and we would be very lost if those principles and not worship were to go bye bye. Be pragmatic. Be "fair" and be well read for the sake of the truth, not polarity.

[T4Obama]

It is you who should read some historical biographies, you might learn that many of our founding fathers were not Christian at all, but rather deist in their belief systems, including three of the first four presidents, Benjamin Franklin, oh and probably the two greatest intellectual contributors to the American revolution, Adam Smith and Thomas Paine.

[slaxx]

this country was also founded by white men. should we declare this a nation of white men?

furthermore, stop saying that these are "religious" principles - where do religious principles come from - people! you know that the purpose of religion was to be "law" that would guide behavior and provide for the existence of society; the principles were first, religion - the fables and inviisble spirits - came after.

[whitenoise007]

apparently, your knowledge of U.S. history also begins with the 1950s; uh, the Puritans? the Quakers? the Abolitionists? the Temperance movement? even the Declaration of Independence, by way of Enlightenment principles in opposition to Christianity, is indebted--you can't oppose something if it's not there. like it or not, the man has a point.

[bigbenny]

Yes but the 1950s were when they instilled their religious cr.ap into everyone's lives in a way that is incredibly insidious. They messed with our commerce and modified our pledge and many of them still want to modify our constitution. I, as an agnostic, should not be forced to have to deal with their junk on any level.

[slaxx]

more reason why we should get rid of them now because the longer they remain, the more cred wingers will have in decalring that we're a "christian nation."

[BigAl72]

This monster is a closet (K.K.K.).

[rascalish]

Not so in the closet about it now though.

[llfutrell]

What about the poor Indians? Our country did TERRIBLE things to them. Do you hear them playing the victim card everyday? Do you see our country bending over backwards to appease them for something that was done to their people? He who cries the loudest gets the most attention.­.......

[rascalish]

"He who cries the loudest gets the most attention.­......."

Yup, absolutely nothing wrong with that statement.­....sheesh­!

[spacedog605]

Umm....tha­t's because we killed 90% of the Native Americans. Of course they can't scream as loud...THE­Y'RE DEAD!

[JohnBryansFontaine]

Bravo!! Clever and Exceedingly True!

[buddbo1]

I totally agree, the dead aren't talking. Those religious christians stoled their land, stoled the labor, and killed all who got in their righteous way. Go God fearers, go!

[potrerohillman]

wtf? this is not about all the wrongs which have been done in the name of the usa. it is about acknowledging slave labor in the construction of one of the major structures which symbolize this country. gimme a break. your comment about "indians" bespeaks a cynical attempt to trivialize the abomination that was slavery. and actually, yes, the harm done to the indigenous peoples remains an issue. this is not about bend over backwards, instead it is acknowledgment of crimes that have been committed in the name of all of us americans.

[katocat]

Only people I hear playing the victim card everyday are Republicans.

[BigAl72]

It's Native Americans. They were slaughtered by the tens of thousands and I give them a little time before they stand up to their abusers. As long as they don't tell us White people leave, we should be ok.

[Cambridge9]

I find NO acknowledgement of any god in this Resolution. Why Peter King has his knickers in a twist is beyond me - unless he is hoping for another Revolution. We must remember that our founders required that our government separate Church and State and, if I'm not wrong in my history, most wars have been faught over religion - from the time of Caesar to Adolph.

I have listened to this man when he has been speaking and I have rarely find him to be anything but a 'rambler'. I am sad for the Iowans he represents because it means they are as confused as he is - about religion and about recognizing those folks who built this country

[loveobamas]

I am not surprised, I am sure he doesn't answer to any African American voters, doesn't consider any that might live in the communities he represents "constituents", and probably DOES answer to a lot of racists and wingnuts that he calls his "base".

Folks like him can't keep slaves anymore, which I am sure the likes of him regrets, but they can work to keep the atrocities of that aspect of American history secret.

[LCLiberal]

Maybe these freaks will do us all a big favor and actually secede. Perry's ready to go...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

[blindhog]

As a Iowan born and raised I am embarrassed to have you be one of the representatives in the state.

I suppose you won't acknowledge that Chinese labor helped build the railroad tracks that opened the West!

Do you know that it was the conservative Democrats of color who sided with republicans on a major issue in a recent California election, or are you going to deny that too?

I thought for a while that you might be a viable republican candidate against the current Democratic Governor in the next election, but you openned your mouth (ala Mark Sanford) and proved me wrong!!!!!!

[LisaO8]

I don't think he asked what Jesus would have done!

[damilitantone]

Some folks are upset that Congress acknowledged the truth about the Capitol being built with the aid of black slave labor. Amazing how folks are upset to hear the truth. They make all kinds of excuses as to why they are upset and they even talk about reparations. Reparations? With what? The country is going broke and remember that it was a white man (George W. Bush) who took hundreds of billions of dollars of your tax dollars and gave reparations to his friends in the form of contracts, tax cuts, and other forms special payments. Most of those who are angry have no problem recounting the negative history of black folks so long as it only focuses on black social ills and our lack of progress in certain areas. Well facts are facts and let's make sure that the whole story of blacks in America is told. Now that the truth about who helped build the Capitol is acknowledged folks can't continue to lie about this part of history so that they can feel better about themselves even though they constantly remind people like me that they had nothing to do with slavery. Which begs the question, then why is acknowledging historical truths so hard for some folks to do like this knucklehead Steve King?

[AsianAfricanAMERICAN]

"George W. Bush who took hundreds of billions of dollars of your tax dollars and gave reparations to his friends in the form of contracts, tax cuts, and other forms special payments"

right on...

[cdnnewsjunky]

"Amazing how folks are upset to hear the truth. "


Yep the proof of that are the trolls on this site.

[Wolves50]

The upsetting part is that acknowledging it doesn't mean anything. There is nothing the government can do to right the wrongs of slavery. They can come out with one resolution per day for the next 10 years and I don't see how it's going have any positive effect.

[damilitantone]

The true always has a positive effect given that it brings folks like you out of the woodwork for all to see. The bitterness and anger that you are exhibiting demonstrates what folks like me have been saying about white resentment towards learning the truth about the treatment of black slaves. If you know so much about history why does recounting it upset you so?

[been2there]

The symbolic gesture does have meaning. The slaves of yesteryear cannot be helped, but they no longer suffer. What we of today must do is find ways to help families break out of poverty and despair.

[MoeB]

It doesn't mean anything to YOU. And that's fine, feel however you want to feel about it. I, for one, am proud that we have reached a point where our Congressional leaders are willing to OPENLY acknowledge the TRUTH. And to ME, at least, the TRUTH ALWAYS matters, regardless of how long ago it was.

[MsMsBurning]

Way to go RepubliKKKans! Don't want to acknowledge Michael Jackson, don't want to acknowledge history!

[Andrea Castillo]

By all means, you can keep the knowledge of the Sleepover King alive. Shoot for the moon...!

[gschear]

It's Ba ack!

[plaidsportcoat]

so-called christians are more important than black people according to Steve Kkking

[jweider]

9 out of 10 lions prefer the taste of Christians over other brands.

[TokyoCalling]

Ladies and gentlemen the GOP raw and uncut. This is and forever will be what they are all about. And they will never change - vote for them if you dare.