Essay - History / Lit Roger Wilkins Presents Perhaps the Most Complete...

History / Lit

***** Wilkins presents perhaps the most complete picture of ***** Founding Fathers in his book Jefferson's Pillow: The Found*****g Fathers and the Dilemma ***** Black Patriotism. It is Wilkins' argument that Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison and George Mason were not the idyllic seekers-of-justice and equality ***** we have been taught, but ra*****r they *****re wealthy slaveholders with political powers that were not always exercised is an "American" way. In light of this newly presented information, our former ideals need to be reevaluated against the ideas ***** black patriotism, as well as ***** our thoughts on patriotism in general. How could all men have been created equal, when African-Americans were not c*****sidered to be men at all? Indeed, Americans cannot fully come to understand themselves until ***** are able to understand who the aforementioned individuals were - no matter what the results.

Slaveholders ***** great politicians in ***** nation's founding years making it hard ***** define exactly what our ideals were at th***** time. How could Americans ask for - no, demand - freedom, while holding an entire race in bondage?

The answer isn't a simple one, nor is it one that has been fully answered, even by today's standards. Wilkins explains his tolerance of our "***** slave owners" - they were raised in the culture of slaves, and found ***** cultural hab***** ***** to break. Wilk*****s concludes that the *****ing men were " great men," and their achievements for ***** nation are proof positive of that. ***** is the portrayal ***** our founding fa*****rs as men who are *****out blemish or fault that Wilkins argues against, and the some***** whitewashed, diluted version of U.S. History that is typically taught and remembered.

Th***** version ***** history is emulated in the Declaration of Independence ***** no doubt many *****, if they ***** ***** read its contents would have remarked at the absolute ironies that existed. For example, the accusations that Britain had "waged cruel war against human nature *****elf" by "violating...persons of a distant people who never offended...captivating and carrying them into slavery" may have been true, ***** Americans were enabling British control over American affairs by continuing the practice, instead of taking a stand *****n, and abolishing slavery of any kind. The establishment of *****, ***** the ***** ***** slavery were threaded into every aspect of ***** life, and the founders took ***** more non-confrontational, passive role. ********** placed all of ***** faith in the ideal that once given ***** from *****, the new country would rid itself of slavery, and other problematic *****stitutions that threatened the preservation of freedom as a whole.

***** founders of our nation were so c*****rned about setting up America that ***** relied on the people to right the wrongs once the country was safe ***** democracy.

This reliance was ill advised and na ve to say the least. Wilkins outlines the faults in *****'s ***** Jefferson's shared dream for Americans - ***** nature is not going to change just because