Yesterday, I received a very important package in the mail from Ms. Vonita W. Foster, Ph.D., who is the Executive Director of the United States National Slavery Museum. Apparently, this organization was aware of my efforts for the Gettysburg Foundation and has petitioned me to also support their goal to fund and promote this truly original and most needed facility. It is an honor and privilege and I hope to assist in any way I can. I especially look forward to being a VIP member at their dedication ceremony. Unfortunately, I can’t help wonder when that will be as this project has been mired in red tape and controversy ever since it started. Frankly, our anticipation here in Fredericksburg has been worn thin. Until I received this package, I was convinced the project was at a complete standstill. Thankfully, it appears I was wrong.

The local city planners at times appear to have been anything but enthusiastic about the museum’s vision and it has been under close scrutiny due to issues ranging from their initial refusal to release certain financial records (which led to an investigative report in the local paper), to a building design that went against city codes (they want to have a slave ship as a centerpiece that’s mast exceeded height limits). Personally, I think that good ol’ fashioned politics has once again hurt this project as people are allowing their personal feelings on key individuals such as Doug Wilder and Bill Cosby to cloud the big picture. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Mr. Wilder’s political career, or Mr. Cosby’s comments on the state of black America, is not the issue. Whether or not we are able to meet the museums mission statement and tagline that simply says “Commemorating – Understanding – Overcoming” is.

As a result, the only ‘physical’ elements that the Slavery Museum has to show for itself are a great website and newsletter. There is ‘The Spirit of Freedom Exhibit Garden: In Honor of Those Who Risked Everything to Be Free,’ on the site, but no building construction yet started. The plans predict over 100,000 sq. ft. of permanent and temporary exhibit space and the initial sketches are wonderful. I do hope that this group intends to present the whole story as many Civil War museums are being taken to task for not doing nowadays. I would love to see a section on the Christian baptisms and slave Sunday schools that later led to African-American preachers, congregations, and revivals. Most of all I want to see the project come to fruition. It is a longtime coming and after several years it is a bit frustrating to see progress moving along so slowly. Hopefully these latest programs and petitions show that things are finally getting underway. I must admit a little selfishness on my part as it is entirely possible that in addition to the four major battlefields and multiple museums that are within a few minutes drive from my home, it is very possible that I will also have the Museum of the Confederacy and the National Slavery Museum in my ‘neighborhood’ too.

For more information, please visit the United States National Slavery Museum website.

PS. On a slightly related note, promotion has just started up for the upcoming 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville here in Fredericksburg. It is remarkable how many events will be going on from re-enactments, to relic shows and more. Ironically, I will be in Charlotte North Carolina that weekend touring my oldest son’s trade-school, the NASCAR Institute. As much as I would love to participate in the festivities, I think we all know what comes first. Also, I spoke to my editor at The Free Lance-Star yesterday and I have some great assignments coming up including a review of Eric and JD’s latest release “One Continuous Fight,” an article on Lee at Stratford Hall to coincide with a living history event featuring my friends from Lee’s Lts. AND a very special cover story (possibly the favorite of my career) on the newly restored Gettysburg Cyclorama. Stay tuned!