As Florida and Governor DeSantis warp the schools’ curriculum to lie about slavery and how it was good for those enslaved, we should recall the words of W.E.B. Dubois regarding Robert E. Lee. In March 1928, DuBois wrote about Lee, that “he did not have the moral courage to stand against his family and his clan.” His memory is best perpetuated by teaching our youth,” what Lee did in 1861, other Lees are doing in 1928”, just as they do today. “They lack the moral courage to stand up for justice to the Negro because of the overwhelming public opinion of their social environment.”
Like Lee, DeSantis, and all those that desire to hide the truth of America’s original sin, lack the moral courage to stand up for what is right. People fight to maintain their power and privilege just as the South did in their rebellion. That’s the truth behind the gentrification and falsehoods of the “anti-woke” and “anti-CRT” brigade. Their bid to maintain their power is blatant in its falsehood, just as the claim of defending state’s rights was in 1861.
Robert E Lee, Jefferson Davis, and all their political descendants share a single, liminal trait: cowardice. DuBois described them as “tall, handsome, and well-born” but lacking in moral courage. Their “leadership will be a weak compliance with public opinion and never costly and unswerving revolt for justice and right.” Like Lee and Davis, DeSantis is a “traitor and rebel – not indeed to his country, but to humanity.”
As long as there are those that fight to oppress others because of their differences, none of us will be truly free. As long as my fellows are lied about, mistreated, and treated as less than human, none of us are free. Prejudice, discrimination, and hate seem to be the basic tenants of humanity, found among all nations and races of men. Yet, I know deep down that these are just expressions of fear that limit us as a species. Until we can see that every human being is worthy of respect and care, we will continue to struggle.
Rather than use Lee and the false narrative of the Lost Cause as our guide, we must stand up for what is right – a true accounting of racist policies in our history. When we see oppression and injustice, we must speak out. Otherwise, we, too, will be traitors and rebels to humanity.
EAST WILCO DEMS CLUB 