The ugly face of racism
Submitted by Doug Thompson on September 20, 2007 - 7:39am.
Trouble is returning to Floyd's annual Arts and Crafts Festival and it is trouble the local Women's Club could have avoided.
At issue is Wytheville native Gary C. Walker, a self-proclaimed Civil War historian and self-published author of books that defend slavery. Walker's presence at the weekend event at Floyd County High School for the past two years sparked protests from local citizens and a debate between letter writers to The Floyd Press.
A friend emailed me excerpts from one of Walker's books, The Truth About Slavery, and it is disgusting reading -- an apologist's attempt to rewrite history to support the despicable practice of slavery.
An example:
MASTER-SLAVE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
What type of relationship was it? There were many variations and shades of those variations, but as a general rule, it developed into a parent-child relationship. The family relationship is an economic institution, which is relatively stable, well-defined, and has served all societies since recorded history. The family structure introduced from Europe in the 1600’s had changed little by the 1800’s and is still common and viable in the 1900’s.
Generally speaking the parent is responsible for the supervision and care of the children. The children must work under the rules the parents establish. The relationship is not easily terminated: the children just can’t quit or run away; the parents can’t fire the children or simply quit caring for them. The slaves were grafted into the master’s family. There were many signs of this “grafting.” There are numerous examples of true love, acts of courtesy, and heroism between the master’s family and the slave family. Terms of endearment were commonly used: “Mammy, Uncle Joe. My boy (as in son), (later just) boy.”
The master or the mistress viewed themselves as the “good parent.” They provided for the physical needs of their slave “children.”
On his web site, Walker claims to be a "highly acclaimed Civil War author" although I can't find a single reference there to who, besides Walker, is issuing any such acclaim.
In Walker's self-written biography, he says:
Gary had a wide variety of jobs after graduating college. He was a manager, a sales representative, and a truck driver. He worked in electronic communications, in insurance, in energy conservation, and in retail sales and service among other fields. With the great success of The War in Southwest Virginia 1861-65, Gary knew he had found his niche.
The book propelled him from obscurity. From 1985 until the present, one can often find Gary dressed in a Confederate uniform, speaking to audiences, granting interviews to radio and television and newspapers, at Civil War re-enactments, and at craft festivals autographing his books.
A search of "Gary C. Walker" on Google turns up 270 hits, but less than half link back to the author from Wytheville. Most refer to others who share the same name. This is being "propelled from obscurity?" Google "Colleen Redman," a Floyd poet and writer, and you get more hits. Google local blogger and author Fred First and you get 14,900 hits. Floyd-based blues musician Scott Perry gets 12,300 hits. Now that's being "popelled from obscurity."
As a native Southerner and a Virginian, I've always had mixed emotions about the Civil War. The issue of states' rights is still being fought today but slavery remains, as it should, a black eye on the history of this country Attempting to justify the practice by any means is, in my opinion, racism.
As I understand it, Walker told the Women's Club of Floyd that he would understand if they did not invite him back this year but the club, for reasons that escape the bounds of rational explanation, decided to bring him back. That has prompted others in the county to consider more widespread forms of protest this year. Floyd architech Shannon Green contacted the Woman's Club after she was told that Walker's books are used as reference material by history professors at Virginia Tech. She quickly discovered the claim was not true and that no professors at Tech are using Walker's books.
At a time when Floyd is trying to establish itself as a must-visit locale, being identified as a haven for those who defend slavery is the last thing any of us needs.
Racism
All these years later- still a thorny situation.You're right Floyd is more a laid back gentle folksy place..sad
However....
even though Floyd is diverse for a small town, there are still a lot of racist people here. Most of them are older, conservative, very "religious" people that pile into the church every Sunday. It is really sad that there are a lot of ignorant people out there, but they are out there...and they are here in Floyd County as well.
You would be surprised, well, maybe not, but a lot of people are probably welcoming this man to the festival. At least, it looks like the "Woman's Club" is.
I'm a native Floyd Countian
I'm a native Floyd Countian and I'm shocked, saddened and sickened by the actions of the woman's club. Why on earth would they bring such a person into our midst? My ancestors fought in the Civil War but I cannot condone or accept the ravings of Mr. Walker and others of his ilk. Let him stay in Wytheville. Extremists like this should not be welcome in Floyd County.
Once again Doug you do your
Once again Doug you do your community proud by shining the spotlight of public attention on an important matter. Any plans I had to attend that event are now history. I will not support any activity that endorses racism.
My God, what is the woman's
My God, what is the woman's club thinking? This man has no place at an arts and crafts fair?
Is it not ironic that Floyd,
Is it not ironic that Floyd, generally recognized as one of the more tolerant areas of Southwestern Virginia, threatens to ruin that reputation because of the stupidity of the women's club? Wake up ladies! Racism, as preached by this man, has no place at your event! I, for one, will not patronize your event if Mr. Walker is present and I will encourage my friends to stay away as well. Shame on you!
Racism
How comical to hear people talk about how "tolerant" Floyd Co is, and then rant and rave about a person's free speech. Same ol' same ol' with you. Diversity is fine as long as the people involved pass your test.All of America must have "tolerance" for any and all things you like BUT if you don't like it, you have no "tolerance". Please explain the difference to this born and raised Virginian.
If slavery was that good,
If slavery was that good, how come Gary Walker hasn't volunteered to become one?
Woman's Club
I am a member of the Floyd County Woman's Club and am proud of the work that is done by this organization. I have never observed a single instance of racism by this organization or it's members.
The arts and crafts festival is put together by an all volunteer group of dedicated women, several who have been doing this work for over 20 years- with no fanfare or expectation of "thank you". It is not a juried show. The only criteria for entry has been if the item was made by the seller. If the answer was yes, then the application was accepted. There was no "vote" by the membership to let this individual in the show.
It is a shame that this individual's book of revisionist history is casting a cloud over the Woman's Club and the important work that is done each year. I also think it is a shame that the controversy is bringing the individual additional exposure.
I am not on the Board of the Woman's Club nor on the committee that organizes the arts and crafts event and I have no authority to speak for either group. This is my own testimonial for the character of the women I know, and the work that is done by this group each year. I know the leadership of the Floyd County Woman's Club to be kind, intelligent, hard working, and well meaning women. I trust that they will resove this problem to the satisfaction of most. The work of the members of the Floyd County Woman's Club has contributed over $20,000 a year to worthy Floyd County causes. Please slow the rush to judgement. Thanks for listening.
Voice of Reason
I must say, two things come to mind. It is hard for me to say that I am a supporter of free speech and still find it so reprehensible that someone with views such as Mr. Walker's are still accepted by enough people that there has not been a movement to ask him to perhaps not attend the craft fair. When I read the excerpt of his writings above I wonder how many people give credence to this man. I think the real point that he fails or refuses to see is that in the parent-child relationship, the child needs guidance from one that is more knowledgeable. The child needs this guidance as he is not yet equipped to navigate through life on his own. This implication, that the color of a person make them more apt to be in the role of guardian or child is racist. Though we have free speech, I think we would do well to remember that this does not change the fact that some things are morale certainties. I believe that racism is a detriment to morality.
Further, in response to the member of the Women’s Club, I would say that in many instances, silence or inaction can be seen as support. It all comes down to what the Women’s club would like to portray as their view. In a situation like this, I feel to be neutral shows as support. I think the statement below is naïve in its stance:
“It is not a juried show. The only criteria for entry has been if the item was made by the seller. If the answer was yes, then the application was accepted. There was no "vote" by the membership to let this individual in the show.”
The point is that if a person submitted some other obscene or objectionable material, I doubt it would continue to be welcomed the next year. So why is it in this case? She is saying that they do not vote to include it but the real matter should be, shouldn’t they vote to exclude it?