I grew up in New York and I’ve never lived in a state which was part of the Confederacy. (I did spend some time deployed to places like Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina, and I realize that there is more to the South than what you pick up from watching the Dukes of Hazard.) I saw in Velo magazine’s article about next year’s road world championship race that the course “will take a 180-degree turn at the Jefferson Davis monument”. I didn’t realize that there were any monuments to Jefferson Davis. Not that he’s in the same category as Benedict Arnold, but I was surprised to Google him and to see how many memorials there are for him. And who knew that it was President Carter who signed the resolution restoring Davis’ US citizenship.
Anyway, if you can’t make it to Richmond, here’s a photo of the Memorial.
He was President of the Confederate States of America during the War of Northern Aggression
Why shouldn’t he get a Memorial? He served his country well, as short-lived as his country was
Stephen Austin founded the Republic of Texas by flooding the territory owned by Spain, with Illegals from the US to boost the TEXican population, then , kinda fucked them over, too
Davis actually argued against secession. Unfortunately for the South, he was basically just a not very good President.
It seems he wasn’t keen on secession (at least until President Lincoln was elected), but he was a supporter of slavery and he regarded blacks as being in a lower caste. Times change and he wasn’t the only person holding such views 160 years ago, but it’s fortunate that he was a poor leader.
The issue has probably come up in the past, and perhaps it’s just ignored today, but I can understand how a black person would not be thrilled to attend “Jefferson Davis High School”. I also see where Alabama celebrates “Jefferson Davis’ Birthday” in June and it’s a “legal holiday” in Florida on June 3rd. I don’t know if this has any effect on business in those states, but I guess school’s out so the kids and teachers don’t get to take a day off.
Not going to go into politics, but monument avenue in Richmond is gorgeous. Statutes from Lee and Davis to Arthur Ashe. Great events held there (I have played music for years at the Easter events) and a huge 10k there every year. Also party of the Richmond marathon course. And the fan district.around it is one of the best collections of Georgian architecture in the south. Very pretty.
Other than the Lewis Ginter Area in Richmond ( more arts and crafts architecture) one of the prettier areas in that city.
Anyhow, go visit if you get the chance. This from a canuck living in the south.
