| 00:00:18 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
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| 00:00:09 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HOUR. >>> OKAY. THANK YOU, LOUISE. ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. WELCOME TO EVERYBODY. I'M PERSONALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A FASCINATING DISCUSSION...
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| 00:00:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE IN NEW YORK. BUT RANGING OVER -- FROM HIS FIRST BOOK ABOUT NEW YORK CART MEN, THE PEOPLE WHO HAULED THINGS AROUND THE CITY...
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| 00:01:27 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS THE BANE OF KIDNAPPERS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD TAKE BLACKS OFF THE STREET, PUT THEM BEFORE A SHAM TRIAL AND THEN SELL THEM...
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| 00:03:06 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
LIFE. RUGGLES BEING A SOMEWHAT OBSCURE FIGURE, HOW DID YOU MANAGE -- ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT THE BOOK IS HOW MUCH YOU MANAGED TO FIND ABOUT...
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| 00:03:47 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
EDITOR. I WENT TO THE AMERICAN AN CORN SOCIETY ON FELLOWSHIP, SPENT A MONTH GOING THROUGH THE MICRO FILMS. THEN IN THE 21st CENTURY, READX CAME...
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| 00:04:51 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
INCLUDING FREDERICK DOUGLASS. >> THAT'S TRUE. >> WE HEARD FROM LOUISE ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, EDUCATION GRANT OR SOMETHING...
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| 00:05:12 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ATTRACTIONS, HERE IS
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| 00:05:13 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A PLACE -- EVEN SOMETIMES HOUSES BUILT IN THE 1950s, SOMEHOW THEY CLAIM -- >> SECRET ROOMS, YES. >> IT IS A TOURIST ATTRACTION. THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE...
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| 00:05:41 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
RAILROAD. AS YOU'RE
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| 00:05:43 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SUGGESTING, MANY PEOPLE CLAIM THEIR BASEMENT WAS USED ROUTINELY FOR PEOPLE FLEEING FROM SLAVERY. BEYOND THAT, THERE'S A FASCINATING TALE WHICH WE HAVE...
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| 00:05:57 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NOW. WE AB WHO SLAVERY IN THIS COUNTRY. AND SO TO TAKE PART IN THE RESISTANCE TO SLAVERY, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING AMERICANS FEEL VERY DEEPLY, SOMETHING...
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| 00:07:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IN FACT, IT'S STILL RATHER CONTROVERSIAL IN MANY PEOPLE'S MINDS OF EXACTLY HOW IMPORTANT SLAVERY WAS IN OUR HISTORY. BUT THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IS...
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| 00:08:18 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CALLED PRACTICAL ABOLITIONISM. THIS IS HIS TERM. HE TAKES MORAL SWAGS, A BIG FELLOW, GARRISON, HE SAYS, WAIT, WE MUST ALSO PAY ATTENTION TO HOW PEOPLE...
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| 00:09:23 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SLAVERY, AND THEY FIND WELL MEANING WHITE PEOPLE WHO ASSIST THEM. ONE OF THE POINTS YOU MAKE I THINK IS THAT BLACKS THEMSELVES ORGANIZED TO HELP FUGITIVES...
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| 00:10:10 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
REALLY GARNER MONEY. THEY HAD SEVERAL GOALS. THEY WERE GOING TO HELP FUGITIVE SLAVES. THEY WERE GOING TO GET LAWYERS FOR THEM. THEY WERE GOING TO...
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| 00:12:27 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
WOULD REFUSE TO GET OFF THE COACHES. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD GRAB HIM BY HIS COAT AND THROW HIM OFF. AND THEN HE WOULD GO OUT
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| 00:12:34 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AND FILE AN ARREST SUIT AGAINST THE DRIVER OF THAT COACH. THIS WAS A MAN WHO WAS REALLY BOLD AND CONFRONTATIONAL. >> THESE ARE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES...
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| 00:13:04 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, IS ALSO ONE OF HIS BIG SUPPORTERS. BUT RUGGLES
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| 00:13:08 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IS GOING ON THESE RAILROADS, PEOPLE SAYING, NO, YOU HAVE TO RIDE IN THE COLORED CAR. HE REFUSES, GRABS THE SEAT LIKE THIS. THEN THEYS TO -- THEY WOULDS...
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| 00:14:02 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OF ABOLITIONISM THE WAY BOSTON WAS, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE RIOTS IN BOSTON, ALSO. WE HAVE THE RIOT OF 1835 '34 WHICH WAS A PRETTY VIOLENT ASSAULT ON ABOLITIONISTS...
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| 00:14:44 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
COMMUNITY. A SIZABLE PORTION OF THE POPULATION AND GRADUALLY THAT PERCENTAGE DIPS. THERE'S A LOT OF RACISM. I MENTIONED THE STREETCAR BUSINESS. THEY...
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| 00:15:35 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IDEA. THIS IS SOMETHING I FOUND QUITE FASCINATING ESPECIALLY WHEN
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| 00:15:39 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
YOU MENTION THE 1834 RIOTS WHICH WERE DOWNTOWN, BLACK CHURCHES WERE BURNED. BLACKS ARE BEATEN ON THE STREET. ARTHUR TAPPAN'S HOME IS BURNED, ...
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| 00:16:53 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AMERICAN CHURCHES." I CAN'T QUITE REMEMBER WHAT THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS. >> IT'S ONE ABOUT COVETING YOUR NEIGHBOR'S WIFE. >> I SEE. WHY ARE THE AMERICAN...
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| 00:17:21 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SEEK MEDICAL CURES, THEY COULD GO ON
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| 00:17:23 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BUSINESS, THEY COULD BRING THEIR SLAVES WITH THEM. AND SO WHAT RUGGLES PROPOSED -- THIS IS A TIME IN THE
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| 00:17:30 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
1830s WHEN CHURCHES ARE OPENLY DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT ONE CAN BE A GOOD CHRISTIANE AND OWN SLAVES. EVENTUALLY EVERY PROTESTANT DENOMINATION IS GOING...
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| 00:19:01 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
COMES TO NEW YORK HE'S A GROSSER. RUGGLES FROM NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, HE WAS BORN A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM NORWICH. HE COMES HERE AT ABILITY THE...
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| 00:19:15 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BORN IN 1810? >> 1810-1849 ARE HIS VITAL DATES. THANK YOU FORGETTING THAT IN. IT'S IMPORTANT. HE COMES AND OPENS THIS GROCERY. HE'S BEEN A MARINER BEFORE...
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| 00:19:38 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TAPS INTO SAMUEL ELI
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| 00:19:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CORNISH WHO IS THE EDITOR OF "THE FREEDOM'S JOURNAL" AND A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER. >> THE FIRST BLACK NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA? >> THAT'S RIGHT, THANK...
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| 00:20:07 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BURNED DOWN ON ONE OCCASION, SEVERAL TIMES WHEN HIS SHOPS ARE EITHER RANSACKED OR
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| 00:20:12 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BURNED. EVENTUALLY HE STARTS EMPLOYING FUGITIVE SLAVES. SAMUEL WARD, THE ARTIST FAITH RING GOLD IS A DIRECT DESCENDANT. HE BRAM A CONGRESSIONAL MINISTER...
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| 00:21:29 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TO NEW YORK BUT DOESN'T HAVE A GOOD TIME. HE DOESN'T MARRY. THERE ARE NO INCIDENTS
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| 00:21:34 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OF HIM REALLY BEING ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED. I PUZZLED ABOUT THIS. HE'S NOT A BAD LOOKING GUY. HE'S HIGHLY EDUCATED. REALLY GOT A LOT GOING FOR HIMSELF....
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| 00:22:08 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
KNOW, GRAHAM, YOU
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| 00:22:09 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO SAY THAT DAVID RUGGLES COULD BE A PAIN IN THE
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| 00:22:14 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BEHIND. AND MAYBE HE WAS JUST TOO MUCH. HE WAS KIND OF UNMARRIAGEABLE. THERE'S A BACHELOR SOCIETY IN NEW YORK AT THAT TIME ANYWAY. HE'S MORE AUSTERE...
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| 00:22:57 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A RIGHT TO GET THEIR FUGITIVE SLAVES BACK. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WAS THERE ANY EFFORT TO ARREST OR PROSECUTE? AS YOU SAID, IT'S PRETTY OPEN. THE VIGILANCE...
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| 00:23:20 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
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| 00:23:21 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THEM. THEY'RE KIND OF ELICIT ATTEMPTS. BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT RUGGLES IS PART OF A MOVEMENT. AGAIN, HE GETS VERY PROMINENT...
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| 00:23:39 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CRUX OF THIS. SLAVE OWNERS WOULD SAY THEIR RUN-AWAYS DIDN'T HAVE A RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL. IT'S LIKE A RUNAWAY HORSE. THEY'RE PROPERTY. IT'S A MATTER...
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| 00:24:44 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
SO THEY -- THERE MAY NOT BE PROFOUNDLY PRO SLAVERY,
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| 00:24:47 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
BUT THEY CAN FEEL THREATENED BY THAT. RUGGLES IS ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT. AGAIN, HIS WORK AS AN AGENT, MOVING UPSTATE NEW YORK, INTO PENNSYLVANIA, INTO...
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| 00:26:08 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CURE DOES HELP. BACK TO THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, RUGGLES HAS A SEVERE FALLING OUT WITH SAMUEL ELI CORNISH. THE GIST OF IT IS IS RUGGLES ...
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| 00:26:20 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A STORY IN "THE COLORED AMERICAN," ACCUSING A LOCAL LANDLORD OF HOLDING SLAVES FOR KIDNAPPERS AND SLAVE TRADERS. THE LANDLORD SUES AND WINS A LIBEL...
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| 00:29:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THAT. HE WRITES LONG ARTICLES WHERE HE DESCRIBES HIS METHOD. PEOPLE DON'T SAY THIS IS NONSENSE.
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| 00:29:35 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THEY SAY YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS A GOOD THING. THEY CALL HIM DR. RUGGLES. DOES HE GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL? NO. BUT THEY DO RESPECT HIM. >> GRAHAM, YOU SAID...
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| 00:30:06 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE PODIUM AT THE
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| 00:30:12 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ASBURY CHURCH DOWN ON HOUGHTON STREET AT THAT POINT. HEM GIVE IT TO YOU, VERY BRIEF. DEAR AUDIENCE, BE PATIENT. TO AFFECT A MIGHTY REVOLUTION, SUCH...
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| 00:34:21 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OF 1850 IS PASSED, THE WHOLE QUESTION OF FUGITIVE SLAVES BECOMES VERY DIFFERENT, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW REALLY ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN ENFORCING...
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| 00:34:38 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
RENDITION OF A FUGITIVE SLAVE
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| 00:34:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ARE PRETTY STRIBLTH. WHAT HAPPENS IN NEW YORK AFTER THAT? >> WELL, RUGGLES IS IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE IN NEW YORK, THROUGHOUT HIS TIME IN NORTHAMPTON....
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| 00:35:06 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
DRED-SCOTT. NO WONDER THE BLACK POPULATION THERE DROPS AND THEY GO TO CANADA. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SAME KIND OF EVENTS THAT HAPPENED DURING RUGGLES'...
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| 00:36:46 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
1850s. IT'S SO TOUGH THAT MANY AFRICAN
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| 00:36:49 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
LEADERS BEGIN TO THINK THAT MAYBE COLONIZATION IS NOT A BAD IDEA. >> IN THE LATE '50s. >> THEY BEGIN TO CHANGE THEIR TUNE. BEFORE THAT THEY HATED IT....
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| 00:37:15 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
LIVING IN THE PRE CIVIL WAR
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| 00:37:17 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
DECADE, RIGHT? >> NO. >> THEY DIDN'T KNOW IN 1863 THERE WOULD BE AN EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. MOST PEOPLE IN THE ANTISLAVERY
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| 00:37:26 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
MOVEMENT WERE BECOMING MORE AND MORE PESSIMISTIC AS THE 1850s WENT ON. AS YOU SAY, THERE WERE MORE AND MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT...
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| 00:37:39 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE COLONIZATIONISTS
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| 00:37:41 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
AGREES TO GO ON A TRIP TO HAITI TO SEE WHAT IT MIGHT BE LIKE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO MAYBE IMMIGRATE TO HAITI. SO NOBODY KNEW THE END OF SLAVERY...
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| 00:38:32 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
GETS INTO THE HAERT OF THE ISSUE, HOW TO DEFEND YOUR FAMILY, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STREETS ARE GOING TO BE FREE? WHITES ARE AS AWARE OF THIS...
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| 00:39:19 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION ENTERTAINS A GROUP OF BLACK MINISTERS AND SAYS, THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT. YOU SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT...
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| 00:39:29 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S ANOTHER STORY THOUGH. LINCOLN, IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT, IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE WAY HERE IN THE LINCOLN AND NEW YORK EXHIBITION....
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| 00:39:49 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
FOR QUESTIONS. WHY DON'T WE START WITH THIS LADY RIGHT HERE AND WAIT UNTIL THE MIKE COMES AND THEN WE'LL PICK OUT MORE PEOPLE. >> HI, I JUST WANTED...
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| 00:40:19 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE IN THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND. AND SO FOR THAT REASON I FEEL A VERY KINDRED SPIRITED WITH BLACKS AND THOSE...
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| 00:41:17 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IT REALLY DOES ELEVATE THE DISCOURSE. >> OKAY. WAY OVER IN THE CORNER UP THERE. I'M SENDING YOU ALL OVER, DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. >> I WAS JUST CURIOUS...
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| 00:41:41 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
HAD FROM SEVERAL STATES BECAUSE OF HIS WORK? >> NO, THERE WAS NOT A BOUNTY. BUT THERE'S AN EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT A LITTLE WHILE AFTER THE DARD CASE...
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| 00:41:55 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IS THERE'S A MARSHALL NAMED D.D. NASH, A NAME THAT WILL LIVE
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| 00:42:04 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IN INFAMY IN MY OPINION. -- CHARGES OF SLAVE TRADE. I HAVE A COPY OF THE ARREST WANT IN THE BOOK. IT'S WONDERFUL SIGNED. EVEN HAD A GRAPHOLOGIST LOOK...
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| 00:44:54 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TEN HIS DUE. THE SCHOLARSHIP HAS MATURED ALONG WITH ME SO I CAN REALLY SITUATE IT VERY NICELY WITHIN AN EVOLVING SCHOLARSHIP WHICH REALLY DOES RECOGNIZE...
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| 00:45:04 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ACTIVITY. >> YES, IT IS PRETTY RECENT THAT SCHOLARS LIKE GRAHAM AND OTHERS HAVE REALLY BEEN UNCOVERING THE ROLE GOING BACK TO THE REVOLUTIONARY ERA,...
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| 00:45:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PEOPLE AND FREE BLACKS WERE NOT PASSIVE ABOUT THEIR CONDITIONS. THEY WERE VERY ACTIVIST. THEY GAVE IT ALL. JAMES -- LOIS HORTON PUT IT QUITE WELL. THE...
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| 00:45:44 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IS AN AFFIRMATION -- I'LL USE THE MASCULINE TERM HERE, THEIR MANHOOD, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE THEIR WOMANHOOD. BY THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY AND FOR...
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| 00:46:45 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
CATERER. THEY LIVED IN BEAN HILL. IT'S UP THERE ON THE TOP OF THE HILL FROM DOWNTOWN NORWICH. THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE PLOT IN WHICH
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| 00:46:55 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE RUGGLES' FAMILY
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| 00:47:00 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
LIVES. VERY CLOSE NEARBY LIVED SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT. THEY LIVED IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE HE COULD HAVE HAD A SENSE OF EQUALITY....
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| 00:48:45 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ANOTHER ONE. THIS IS PAGE 112 -- I WROTE THE BOOK. >> BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO MEMORIZE
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| 00:48:54 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IT, TOO. >> IF ONLY I COULD READ IT, IT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER. HERE IS AGAIN A BIG PUBLIC DEBATE UP ON THE STAGE WITH HIM, THEODORE WRIGHT,
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| 00:49:03 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
A BLACK MINISTER, CHARLES B. RAY, ANOTHER PROMINENT BLACK MINISTER. MORAL SWAGS IS THE ARGUMENT THEY'VE BEEN USING. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH
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| 00:49:12 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE TERM, IT MEANS YOU SIMPLY TRY TO PERSUADE SLAVE OWNERS TO GIVE
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| 00:49:16 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
UP THE EVIL. A LONG TIME COMING. RUGGLES SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT RECOMMEND NONRESISTANCE TO PERSONS WHO ARE DENIED THE PROTECTION OF EQUITABLE LAW...
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| 00:51:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TOWARD IT AS YOU GO UP STATE WHICH PROBABLY THEN BEGAN AROUND THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY LINE. HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR THAT? >> THE CITY'S COMMERCE IS ...
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| 00:51:43 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE SOUTHERN TRADE. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE EXHIBIT VIVIDLY DEMONSTRATED HERE IN THIS BUILDING A YEAR OR SO AGO. NEW YORK CITY'S INCOME, ITS...
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| 00:52:01 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
NUMBER -- THERE'S A VERY STRONG DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THIS TOWN, AND THEY WERE NOT SYMPATHETIC, THE ABOLITIONISTS AT ALL. WHEN YOU GET UP FARTHER NORTH...
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| 00:53:22 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THAT, PLEASE? >>
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| 00:53:25 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
WHOA. THERE ARE A LOT. I DID DO A BOOK ON THIS, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE TABLES IN FRONT OF ME. SLAVERY IS A MAJOR PART OF THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF NEW...
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| 00:53:35 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
19th CENTURY. I THINK AP
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| 00:53:37 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
PRACTICE POWE OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION OOVPS, SLAVERY IN 1827, THERE ARE GLORIOUS MARCHES
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| 00:53:45 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS DOWN BROADWAY. BUT NOT EVERYBODY FELT THAT WAY. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THESE KIDNAPPERS CAN OPERATE SO FREELY IN NEW YORK IS...
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| 00:55:20 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
YOU. AND BEFORE WE FORMALLY CLOSE TO NIGHT, I'D JUST LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A BIG PART OF THE NEW YORK...
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| 00:55:39 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE WALLS OF ONE OF
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| 00:55:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE PREMIER HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. WE KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE...
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NOTE: The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.