Here at Roger Williams University for the Columbus day Holiday all Monday classes are transferred to Tuesday, and Tuesday classes are not held. We owe this to the celebration of the day when Europeans Discovered the “New World,” as they called it sometime later. Christopher Columbus, an Italian mariner working for Spain, is the person in whose name the holiday is celebrated. The real day of discovery was October 12, 1492 (yesterday). A number of years ago several holidays were moved to the nearest Monday. So I like to think we’re “really” celebrating Leif Eriksson day, the other years in honor of the Viking who discovered the New World centuries before Columbus. Unfortunately, the Scandinavians were a little absent minded and lost it again. So Happy Leif Eriksson Day! Or, if you insist, Happy Columbus Day. ?
For Tuesday, October 14
John Woolman, Quaker, one of the first Abolitionists. Click to browse his Journal
Reminder: Your first paper is due by Midnight Monday the 13th, on Bridges .
I've been asked if I give extensions. The answer is yes, I do. Life happens to all of us. I don't use a point system so there aren't points off. The most important thing to me is that you be proud of what you do. HOWEVER. Life goes on, and this course will go on. Ultimately we all have deadlines, even me, so don't let yourself fall behind in the readings and discussions. When you need help, see me.
Download andRead, Markup, and and write reflections on
Given how "Property" becomes "Private", is there any logic to believing in owning people?
"Born in England in 1652, Samuel Sewall moved to America at the age of nine and obtained two degrees from Harvard before marrying into a wealthy family. As a prominent member of the merchant class, Sewall was selected by Governor Phips to sit as a judge for the witchcraft trials on the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Five years after the trials concluded, Sewall issued a public confession demonstrating personal remorse, taking in his words the "Blame and Shame" for his part in condemning innocent people. He was the only judge to do so."
The Selling of Joseph was written 8 years after the witchcraft trials of 1792. Massachusetts recovered from the witchcraft panic, and never again was a person tried as a witch in that colony. In Pennsylvania there was a witchcraft trial after 1800.
Sewall was not afraid to speak his mind. Slavery was perfectly legal at the time he wrote his memorial, and his position did not win him any friends among his wealthy friends. What reasons does he give against the practice of slavery? He kept a diary for most of his life, and it is quite interesting. You can take a look at it by clicking on the picture to the left. John Woolman, whose picture appears top left, will join the conversation next week.
Download, read, and annotate, Some Memoirs of Job. The cover is pictured below.
We know little about the lives of most slaves, from their point of view. Some Memoirs of Job is one of the earliest records we have about what it was like to a slave in colonial America. Thomas Bluett was largely responsible for rescuing him and returning him to his people in Africa. The document I've asked you to read is an excerpt. The whole document is very interesting. Find the rest by clicking here.
