A Country’s Past Is Unearthed, and Comes Into Focus
4th July 2007
Item. And soon it will be turned into a Day Care Center and Community Soup Kitchen. Gotta move with the times, you know.
“George Washington lived there in the 1790s, as did his slaves.” Being the New York Times, you know they had to mention that. I’m surprised they didn’t manage to work in some mention of him being a Dead White Male.
“Historians and community activists began demanding the excavation in 2002, after the site, which is adjacent to the Liberty Bell Center, was found to be above the mansion’s living quarters for nine household slaves that Washington brought here from Mount Vernon.” It’s not important that George Washington lived there, of course; what’s important is that nine slaves may have lived there. Nine slaves are far more important than George Washington could ever be.