April 13, 1994
Dorchester County recognizes its most illustrious daughter with a Harriet Tubman Society, a Harriet Tubman Coalition and the Harriet Tubman Museum, which I am sure would welcome the teacher and her students -- and anyone else -- should they care to visit.
It is certainly worth the trip, if only to understand that history is a living thing.
Frederick Douglass was a native of Talbot County, born on one of the Lloyd plantations, possibly fathered by a Lloyd. In other, unhappier times, there was an African-American school in St. Michaels that bore his name, and an oil portrait of the gentleman hangs in the Talbot County Free Library.
Since we have a tax cap in Talbot County that seems to trouble us for the means to finance such basics as our schools, fire and life support services, no statue of Mr. Douglass is likely to be erected any time soon.
However, there has been a resurgence of interest in African-American history in Talbot in the past few years, and anyone who cares to discover more about Mr. Douglass and African-American culture on the Eastern Shore will find rich resources in the Maryland Room at the library.
I would further suggest that granite statues are best left to memorialize our old friends, the dead white European males. As I write this, two fine one-actor shows, respectively about Mrs. Tubman and Mr. Douglass, are touring very successfully.
The life and work of these Eastern Shore natives have achieved immortality through biographies, textbooks and film. They are presented to us as role models, heroes for their bravery and the courage they showed in adversity.
And which of us would not hope to act as well under such horrific circumstances? The Eastern Shore is proud of their native son and daughter.
We're just not real big on civic art, since most of what we have is generally pretty awful. We do have some nice tombstones, though.
Besides, Roger Taney rates only a footnote in most histories.
Render unto Roger that which is Roger's, and let Mrs. Tubman and Mr. Douglass be remembered in ways that inspire by serving the future.
I think they would be more pleased by that than an entire pantheon of marble memorials. And now, having said this, I think it's time for all of us to get a life.
Helen Chappell
Easton
Unreported Facts
In Tony Martin's March 12 appearance at Walbrook High School, The Sun reported that A. Robert Kaufman stood at the door and distributed an open letter to those willing to accept them.
This is true. But Mr. Kaufman did more than that. He sat through the meeting, unmolested or harassed in any way, comfortable to the point where he took off his coat and sweater.
By the way, he was not the only Jew of white skin in the meeting. There were other white Jews one appeared to have his family with him and there were also black Jews in attendance.
During the question and answer period, when it appeared thaone of the organizers was not going to allow Mr. Kaufman to speak, the audience shouted in a loud voice, "Let him speak, let him speak."
I'm in full belief that if other well intended Jews would come to the table of reason, this whole thing between blacks and Jews could be settled.
By the way, the other white Jewish man who spoke thanked Dr. Martin for coming and made other kind remarks to which the people in attendance applauded.
Bob Fountain Sr.
Baltimore
