A Civil War memorial in Oak Bluffs is drawing concerted opposition from the Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the NAACP
A Civil War memorial in Oak Bluffs is drawing concerted opposition from the Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the NAACP. At the organization’s meeting on March 16, members voted unanimously to ask that the town remove two of the four plaques on the statue. Both the plaques refer to confederate soldiers. One of the plaques, attached years after the statue was erected, is “in honor” of confederate soldiers.
The statue has a long and confusing history on the Island. Often mistaken for a confederate soldier, the statue depicts a union soldier. It was dedicated in 1891, after a fundraising campaign organized by Charles Strahan. Mr. Strahan, of Maryland, fought in the confederate army and moved to Martha’s Vineyard after the Civil War. His intent in erecting the monument was to honor the union soldiers who fought to abolish slavery, and close what is described on the plaque as the “chasm” of lingering bitterness between surviving soldiers from opposite sides.
At their March 16 meeting, the local NAACP chapter heard from Boston historian and filmmaker Clennon King, a frequent visitor to the Island who has spoken out in the past in opposition to the plaques. In a phone conversation this week, Mr. King noted the sponsor of the statue, Mr. Strahan, was wounded fighting for the cause of slavery.
Plaque honoring confederate soldiers was added to the statue many years later.
Plaque honoring confederate soldiers was added to the statue many years later.
“This man took a bullet to preserve slavery, and the enslavement of my people and a lot of people who turn up on the Island every August and drop a lot of dough,” Mr. King said. “It’s egregious. I just don’t think Martha’s Vineyard, as it sells itself so progressively, can then have a plaque genuflecting to confederate soldiers. In large part I hold, frankly, the black community there responsible for not being much more vigilant about taking care of this.”
Mr. King said he does not advocate removal of the entire statue.
“I don’t have a problem with the statue itself, but I think we need to be intellectually honest about the fact that it’s not as though Massachusetts had no blood on its hands where it concerned slavery. Don’t piecemeal history, tell the whole story.”
Erik Blake, Oak Bluffs police chief and president of the NAACP chapter, said he will make the request to remove the plaques at the next meeting of the town’s board of selectmen on March 26.
“The government of Oak Bluffs should not be allowing public displays honoring the confederacy,” Mr. Blake said. “Any time that you’re honoring someone that wanted to keep slavery going and fought for that, is not the right thing. It’s insulting to a lot of African-American visitors and it should just be removed.”
The plaques, once offered as an olive branch of sorts, are no longer relevant, according to Mr. Blake.
“It’s very nice to say the chasm is closed which implies that everything is good, there’s no more North, there’s no more South, racism is over and everything is okay,” Mr. Blake said. “As we can see every single day in the news, it’s not okay. We still have a lot of work to do. Some people say it’s not that simplistic. To me it kind of is simplistic. You don’t honor a group that wanted to keep people enslaved.”
Mr. Blake said the organization wants the plaques preserved at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, as a part of Island history.
Comments
Yes! Let's erase history.
Brian Walsh EdgartownYes! Let's erase history.
Putting these artifacts in
Jackie NYC and ChilmarkPutting these artifacts in museums, where they belong, is hardly erasing history.
Living in the heart of Dixie
Capt Everett Horseshoe BeachLiving in the heart of Dixie County Florida- They still believe “The war isn’t over, we’re waiting for resupply” so please don’t embold them with retaliatory acts!
I always understood this
IWannaBonIslandNow Off Island for nowI always understood this plaque as a show of forgiveness, respect, and honor that was needed for a soldier of the south so they could be received back into a restored Union as equals. Only then would it be possible for all Americans who fought this terrible war have a chance to heal together. A tremendously difficult feat for a soldier to forgive and honor a man in those circumstance and we should all take pause on that thought. This is all that is meant by this memorial; nothing else but forgiveness.
Your Friend
I saw this coming a Longggg
Tisbury Native TisburyI saw this coming a Longggg time ago especially during the previous administration when all this craziness started!
Yep the vote was about two plaques, Now, and the monument will be next.
Pencil that prediction on your calendar.
Wasnt at the time the
Redding Oak BluffsWasnt at the time the Democrats were for slavery & the Republicans were trying to stop it?
Im wondering if the island now overwhelmed with democrats 1,000 to one want to "forgetaboutit"!
As a native and a year-round taxpayer I say it stays!
“The government of Oak Bluffs should not be allowing public displays honoring the confederacy,” Mr. Blake said. “Any time that you’re honoring someone that wanted to keep slavery going and fought for that, is not the right thing. It’s insulting to a lot of African-American visitors and it should just be removed.”
The history of the statue and
A. Bowdoin Van Riper Vineyard HavenThe history of the statue and the the plaques: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouLqf2yeTaU [This is a 40 min. video of a talk I gave at the MV Museum on 8/31/2017. It is posted here as background and context, not as an endorsement -- by me or the Museum -- of any particular position in the current discussion.]
Those soldiers tried to
Mr. B ChilmarkThose soldiers tried to destroy the United States of America. I see no reason to honor that. Remove the plaques, please.
That plaque was placed by
Bob OBThat plaque was placed by residents of Martha’s Vineyard who were Union veterans of the Civil War. They earned the right to do so by virtue of their service in that conflict, and their intentions in honoring fallen enemy combatants were honorable. No mere “frequent visitor to the Island” has the right to advocate for its removal solely on the basis of his race. It would be a disgrace if the Selectmen were to acquiesce to this misguided request. If the plaque so offends Mr. King, I would respectfully remind him that he has many other choices of vacation destinations.
So true. I have a picture of
Lorraine EdgartownSo true. I have a picture of my Great Grandfather in his Civil War Uniform on my wall and it has a place of honor. Trying to erase history erases the sacrifice made by both sides of the war. It hurts my heart to think that honorable people making honorable gestures should be excoriated for honest emotions and feelings. We cannot go back; we must learn from history as to not repeat it. I see repetition here; keeping that hateful period alive and festering is not good; this gesture was a conciliatory gesture made by an honest, forthright person. Removing historical monuments/plaques means the sacrifice of my family member is not to be remembered.
... and the Vineyard Haven
Bill OB... and the Vineyard Haven Band must go as well:
... the band was formed in 1868 by a group of returning Civil War veterans, hailing from both the Union and Confederate armies. In the spirit of peace and a display of unity, the original 18-man band, founded as the Vineyard Haven Silver Cornet Brass Band, first came together to play at the West Tisbury Agricultural Fair.
Its American history,sadly
Tisbury voter Vineyard haven massIts American history,sadly but it happened and lets all learn from it.Our families have all died who survived the Civil War,this Generation had nothing to do with that part of history and I for one and I'm sure in schools were taught about how brother would fight against brother.If you remove history I was always told it would repeat itself and that came from old timers who have made this country what it is,and Thank God my family lives in America.I had a great observation by the statue a few years ago I was parked waiting for family members to come over on boat and I noticed a family I believe to be from Southeast Asua.They were with I would say there children teenagers and grandparents,the father of the children stood there and read the plaque to members if the family and they stood there and listened what he was reading very intently.Before they proceeded to Steamship dock he had them all stand in front on the statue and took pictures of them all.And I'm sure there was discussions about what they saw and read when they returned home,many if us on island witness that often in summer months.The history in this country is very important please to remove it so future generations can't read about it,lets all take a brake from all and lets learn from our past and discuss it with our children in school and each other what it means and how horrible a time it was,it happened.
Do not play into this, it
Deborah (Phillips) Alves AcushnetDo not play into this, it obviously is a message of unity after the war.
Seriously? Removing this
John Mort Atwood CircleSeriously? Removing this statue doesn’t change a darn thing except make all the “do gooders” feel like they are entitled to say they affected change.
In 1861 and 1862 25 Senators
William Edg.In 1861 and 1862 25 Senators from the South were either expelled or their term ended or they resigned. Most were expelled. All of them were members of the Democratic Party. Politicians started the Civil War, people fought in it. This statue was intended to be a reconciliation statue. If all things are equal and the Soldiers from the South are to be removed, what should be done to the Democratic Party who started it?
I am sick and tired of
Edgartown VeteranI am sick and tired of people who come here for the summer and those who move here wanting to change our island!
Even though I am not a OB resident I am a island native also a combat veteran and I believe this is a island wide issue.
One interesting thing that I was reminded of is that there is a confederate soldier buried in VH and that we put a American flag on his grave just like we do all other veterans thu out the year..
There has been enough division especially over the past 8 ~ 10 years in our country and we do not need it to finally come here.
The island has always been know as a place of peace amongst all peoples but I have sadly seen things changing for the worst the past several years.
This issue is going to go viral and will make national news something we do not need!
"Leave the Statue As Is"!
I think it’s sad that we as
JR RaposeI think it’s sad that we as “Americans” can’t embrace the history of this country and realize the importance of plaques, statues and all other monuments of the past. Let’s not make this about us ‘today’ because it purportedly offends someone. Continue to see these as the backbone of this country, good or bad. It’s not about plaques of history but how we treat each other today - human being to human being. Please don’t take away the story of our past.
The statue and plaques were
Dave EdgaerownThe statue and plaques were never meant to celebrate slavery. King should find something more meaningful to complain about. He's ridiculous.
Clennon King, Spike Lee,
J Law. MVIClennon King, Spike Lee, Obama ~ our island is headed in the wrong direction plus who is the Chief sticking up for the summer NAACP folks or the citizens of Oak Bluffs & the entire island. That statute belongs to all of us! Leave it Alone!
Yes, the chasm is closed.
Richard Barbieri OBYes, the chasm is closed. There’s a gap, not a chasm, and it’s between black and white. A few pertinent facts: there have been 35 African American members of the House in my lifetime from the former Confederate states, while until 2018 no New England state ever sent any, and 18 northern satiates still have never sent one. 438 hates crimes were reported in Massachusetts in 2017. a ten-year high. Re-fighting the past is only a distraction from the need to moves forward, as one country with a shared burden.
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