Gary Ackerman Urges President Obama To Recognize Slaves Who Built White House

WASHINGTON -- Congress two years ago acknowledged the work of slaves in building the United States Capitol, and a lawmaker Thursday argued that it is time for President Barack Obama to do the same at the White House.

Slaves were recognized on the Hill with plaques in the new visitor center's Emancipation Hall and outside the galleries to the Senate and House chambers following a study by a congressional task force led by civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).

"It was a shameful omission that visitors to the Capitol could tour the building to learn its history but not learn that slave labor was used in its construction," argued Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) in a statement. "I'm proud Congress took action to correct this failure and I now urge the White House follow suit."

There is extensive documentation of the slaves' role in building the commander-in-chief's residence. Ackerman said he was inspired to look into slave labor at the White House by one of his constituents, Mandingo Tshaka, an activist from Queens, N.Y., whom Ackerman credited with educating people about slaves' experiences on Capitol Hill.

"Slaves helped dig the foundation for the White House," Ackerman wrote in a letter to the White House Thursday. "They quarried stone that would be used for the walls, dug up clay for thousands of bricks, cut timber, sawed lumber, and performed carpentry inside the White House. Even after White House construction was completed, slaves continued to support White House operations. Slaves served in White House domestic staff from 1800 through the Civil War."

In a country that names freedom as its top value, Ackerman argued that history should be acknowledged.

"From the U.S. Capitol Building to the White House, our national symbols that represent freedom to so many of us, were built by people who were anything but free," Ackerman wrote. "While the larger injustice of slavery can never be adequately corrected, the continuing failure of properly informing visitors to Washington of the history of slaves building our national structures--including the White House--should be remedied."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Comments

[Tonna]

01:35 PM on 02/13/2012

Those who built the White House & Capitol Hill should be commemorated. It's sad how the contributions of Blacks in this country are always ignored, overlooked, denied and also "swept under the rug." This country was founded and established on the backs of slaves. At least, the American people need to acknowledge THAT much...but unfortunately, the majority doesn't even know that much.

[bhaines213]

05:19 PM on 02/13/2012

You’re right. A lot of people don’t know the contributions of minorities in this country and a lot of the ones who do know this history are trying to ignore it. They just want to stay in their bubble and pretend that anything that doesn’t fit into their world view doesn’t really exist.

[dtucker2009]

09:33 PM on 02/12/2012

Black history month, Whitney Houston overdoses,,,,,,, Enough history for ya?

[dtucker2009]

09:30 PM on 02/12/2012

Who cares?

[Ladie]

11:24 PM on 02/12/2012

You do...admit it you care...

[ThePen]

07:15 PM on 02/12/2012

I always thought there should be a monument placed on the National Mall dedicated to the slaves who helped build the Capitol and the White House.

[bigmikeatchicago]

06:08 PM on 02/12/2012

Caucasians are so afraid that the truth will come out about their racism. What they need to do is check the activities in their Republican Party. It is destroying itself from within. They are guarantying four more years for Obama.

[BlacknProud310]

11:13 AM on 02/13/2012

Absolutely

Obama 2012
www.RepublicansforObama.org

[mark1966]

05:07 PM on 02/12/2012

How come people never complain about the slaves in DC.Just in the south.Selective understanding.

[dtucker2009]

09:34 PM on 02/12/2012

How come you never hear that the north,,,, are the ones that shipped and sold the slaves to the south LMAO,,,,,, FACT

[mark1966]

06:54 PM on 02/13/2012

All States were slaveholding states.The most slaves in the North were,DC,NJ,and MD>

[BlairCase]

11:45 AM on 02/13/2012

The surprizing thing is that many young Americans think slavery existed only in the South. They don't realize that all states that existed prior to the Civil War were once slave states. A flood of immigrant laborers who were willing to work for low wages eventually made slavery economically obsolete in Northern states. New York abolish slavery in 1827, but it was still legal in New Jersey and Connecticutt until 1846, five years before the start of the Civil War. At one time, an amazing 25% of Connecticutt residents owned slaves, a level never approached in Southern states.

[mark1966]

06:56 PM on 02/13/2012

Im glad to see you are history educated.Keep up on History and dont be like These non-educated people that believe everything in history books.

[detroitblkmale30]

02:08 PM on 02/12/2012

This is an idea that is way past due. I expect Obama to move towards supporting it in his second term. it would be a nice historical completion of the circle for him to be the President to make that acknowledgment.

[tc74]

11:31 PM on 02/11/2012

You Know on Judgement Day..... the White House does not mean a thing.....its the People, who they called slaves, these are the important people......

One Slave'e life is just as important as any President who ever walked through the Doors of the White House...........I am sure most slaves had more integrity and courage than all these politicians put together.....

So my point being it does not matter if Obama or any other President reconize the contributions of the "Slaves" as long as we the People acknowledge them.......and admire their courage and Strenght.......Personally I know who the real Hero's are......Nat Turner, Harriett Tubman etc.....

[Astro Girl]

08:58 PM on 02/11/2012

Are people confusing architect/designer with bricklayer. Slaves mean you were forced to do something, not that you are the brain behind something. If you did not design/invent something, you can't really get credit for it.

This is so ridiculous.

[bhaines213]

09:34 PM on 02/11/2012

It’s ridiculous that you don’t think the people who actually did the work should be recognized for their labor. No one said that they were architects or designers. It’s a typical right-wing ploy to set up straw men to knock down instead of dealing with the issue at hand.

BTW – bricklayers and carpenters are skilled craftsmen whether they’re paid for their work or not. The slaves who helped build the U.S. Capitol received some recognition in 2010. Now it’s time for the slaves who built the White House to receive some recognition.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/16/capitol-slaves-plaque_n_615031.htm


l

[Astro Girl]

08:16 PM on 02/12/2012

Sorry, do not agree. There isn't one single architectural designs in African nowhere which equals those of Europe.

Someone can teach me to use the computer, but that doesn't mean I am Bill Gate.

[dtucker2009]

09:36 PM on 02/12/2012

Time to stop crying about foul history and start working on you're future.

[Valleygirl5157]

10:40 PM on 02/11/2012

"If you did not design/inv­ent something, you can't really get credit for it." Look up Benjamin Banneker.

Valleygirl

[Pam James]

07:21 PM on 02/11/2012

Celebrate Black History Month by protesting Beyonce who posed in Blackface and is the poster child of colorism by approving album covers with lighter skin tones. Also protest Jay Z who earned 63 million dollars and donated only $6,000 to charity least year. Go down the line and hold everyone accountable.

[Pam James]

07:01 PM on 02/11/2012

For the African Americans that think Obama needs a reminder on black history, he doesn't. He is living the dream to the fullest. The people that need the reminders are the drug dealers, high school drop outs and Hip Hop artist that promote a lifestyle that doesn't represent the labor and toil of those from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement.

[amd02148]

07:16 PM on 02/11/2012

OMG Pam James, I love your post, 100% agree it is my pleasure to give you fan #12.

[sayamensomebody]

08:45 PM on 02/11/2012

Thank you Ms. James. The truth is just that, the truth. Many don't want to accept it but it is as clear as day. "... lest we forget."

[makemesmile]

10:46 PM on 02/11/2012

AMEN!! Speak the truth whether people want to accept it or not.

[mcmutter]

04:53 PM on 02/11/2012

ahh ...... that 3/5 labor was always the cheapest .... but often the best .....

[JessCostello]

10:27 PM on 02/12/2012

You have no way of proving that.

[covenant45]

04:37 PM on 02/11/2012

My ancestors were involved in the buliding of the White House and much of this country. As we drive about the world and I enjoy the asthetic display of their forced labor. However, a picture, a plaque, or a stature is an inappropriate memorial to these workers.

The appropriate memorial is to turn the city from it's non-congressioal -voting status to a full representation status. We cannot defer to sins past like slavery when elimination of colonial DC is a meaningful alternative. Where is the real Tea Party?

[bhaines213]

09:40 PM on 02/11/2012

I agree that the permanent citizens of D.C. should no longer be treated like second class citizens but putting up plagues recognizing the people who built the Capitol and the White House doesn’t distract from voting rights for D.C. The drive for voting rights will continue.

[covenant45]

03:18 PM on 02/12/2012

The voting right struggle for DC is non-existent. No progress is being made and most of the country is not aware of our plight. We have a representative with no vote to represent - clearly a farce and anathema to lovers of freedom and democracy everywhere.

If I was forced to paint your house - I would not want anything associating me with that forced labor. On the other hand, if by some metaphysical transformation my forced
paint work could help lead to congressional votes in DC for my children or family unborn - the quality of that memorial would be greatly enhanced and meaningful.

The central issue is a plaque can wait -a right to vote should not ever be withheld from a citizen.

[vonnise]

03:56 PM on 02/11/2012

"Gary Ackerman Urges President Obama To Recognize Slaves Who Built White House"
Obama will yawn, stretch and think to himself, "I can do this. It won't cost me anything and it will make em feel good, and maybe it will get me a couple more votes in November, soooo hummmm, okay, I will do it. Now maybe they will just go away!".

[stevestrange]

02:20 PM on 02/11/2012

Well..As a black-american myself..I'd like to see more of an accurate look at our nations history in general...We have Black history month because our schools are'nt doing a good enough job of teaching black peoples and ALL peoples involvement in making our nation what it is. We learn that we were slaves and freed by Lincoln..But not of slave revolts, and black inventors etc.. I've been told by some conservatives that I'm part of the "Blame America crowd!"...But I just don't want to join the.."America is blameless" crowd..We have to acknowledge the good and the bad..Doing this makes us a greater nation...In my opinion.

[covenant45]

05:20 PM on 02/11/2012

I too am black American. I agree that for this country or our people to become great - we must know our history and pronounce it without fear or favor. I do not support black history month- I support black history year. I am directly opposite those history revisers in my beloved Texas. Black
history year requires full integration of school text books with useful black history.

It is not as important that we beat up the children of slave owners on past sins- we should use that energy to push them to correct ongoing sins.

Our greatest ongoing sin is against colonial DC. DC pays high taxes and has no voice in Obama care, veteran dispatch or any other issue that requires voting congressional representation. Additionally when NY boasts taxing every borough from the location of the workplace, over a million workers enter DC daily from MD & VA to work DC taxfree while they use our infrastracture and services and complain loudly about potholes serviced by DC dimes.

[stevestrange]

05:27 PM on 02/11/2012

Fascinating...The Texas schoolboard issue..Was one of the main thoughts in my mind when I commented. It's that kind of revision to history that really troubles me..And should trouble everyone. Good to talk to you.

[AFRose]

03:09 PM on 02/13/2012

Black History Month is a way for white educators to ignore black history for most of the year.

[rogersjrkhalid]

05:30 PM on 02/11/2012

I like to think you for teling it like it is,there would be no need for BlackHistory month if America history was more accurate.Why not blame America ?It our history that is a lie,and if the ture be told when the Tea Party was doing their thing this was not America and if they were so right why did they not look White dueing the Party and what would we call them in to day world?