Thursday, September 18, 2025

History of Slavery Cannot Be Erased From Our Parks

The Washington Post published an exclusive story on history erasure in America's national parks, reporting that the Department of Interior has ordered a famous Civil War-era photograph entitled "Scourged Back," removed from at least one national park site.

More

The Trump administration has ordered the removal of signs and exhibits related to slavery at multiple national parks, including a historic photograph of a formerly enslaved man showing scars on his back.

-- The Washington Post (
@washingtonpost.com) Sep 15, 2025 at 5:45 PM

Comments

Chances are, if you've looked into the Civil War period likely seen "The Scourged Back" or some version of it as the image is quite famous. As the report above points out:

Harper's Weekly originally published the photo on Independence Day in 1863, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg. At the time, it chronicled Gordon's escape from a Louisiana plantation before he took up arms for the Union during the Civil War, the Portrait Gallery website explains.
One journalist after seeing the image said, "This Card Photograph should be multiplied by 100,000 and scattered over the States. It tells the story in a way that even Mrs. [Harriet Beecher] Stowe cannot approach, because it tells the story to the eye," according to the Smithsonian museum.

Well, chalk up another one for the MAGAts' Memory Hole. Poof!

#1 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-09-16 03:40 PM

The offending photo is at www.metmuseum.org and plenty of other sites not yet controlled by the junta.

#2 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-09-16 03:43 PM

Nothing like belittling the suffering of enslaved people.

Can't have White people suffering with guilt over the actions of prior generations.

Better to deny Black people their history and heritage.

This is systematic racism on steroids.

#3 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-16 03:44 PM

you must have an extremely small mind if you find evidence of our history of slavery as "corrosive ideology"

#4 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-09-16 05:12 PM

'It exists!' he cried.
'No,' said O'Brien.
He stepped across the room. There was a memory hole in the opposite wall. O'Brien lifted the grating. Unseen, the frail slip of paper was whirling away on the current of warm air; it was vanishing in a flash of flame. O'Brien turned away from the wall.
'Ashes,' he said. 'Not even identifiable ashes. Dust. It does not exist. It never existed.'
'But it did exist! It does exist! It exists in memory. I remember it. You remember it.'
'I do not remember it,' said O'Brien.
(George Orwell, 1984)

#5 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-09-17 05:07 AM

#5: Morning Doc Sarvis: You probably already know this, but the clever trick British civil servant George Orwell played in writing 1984 was making Winston's persecutor an Irishman (O'Brien).

#6 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-17 05:23 AM

Didn't realize that, although I probably should have, and speaking as someone with longterm Anglo and Irish connections it certainly makes sense. Gracias!

#7 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-09-17 07:23 AM

Those Irish.

So Subversive.

They want Equality with their Betters.

The Nerve some "people" Have.

The Brits are very certain of their Authority to Rule....

Everything.

#8 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-09-17 12:08 PM

Ashamed of what they've done.

#9 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-09-18 03:03 PM

#8 | Posted by Effeteposer

FUCK OFF TROLL BITCH

#10 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-09-18 04:04 PM

#5

"2025" appears to be the book sequel to, "1984".... which is the year this new Republican Fascist Oligarchy re-started.

#11 | Posted by Corky at 2025-09-18 04:59 PM

#8 original racist

#12 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-09-18 06:09 PM

Drudge Retort Headlines

ABC Bends the Knee, Removes Kimmel (257 comments)

Patel Claims 'no credible information' that Epstein Trafficked Minors to Others (113 comments)

Warning: We Will Be Decimated -- Literally -- If We Stay Quiet (52 comments)

Right Continues Crusade to Censor Speech (42 comments)

Republicans Want Rubio to Be Able to Revoke Your Passport (25 comments)

Epstein was Linked to wealth and politics, but Where did he Get his Fortune (25 comments)

US Military Again Targeted a Boat Allegedly Carrying Drugs (23 comments)

What Charlie Kirk Said About LGBTQ People (16 comments)

TPUSA Leader Offered Plea Deal for Signature Forgery (15 comments)

DOJ Deletes Study Documenting Right Wing Violence (13 comments)