Secret Archive

It was cool to find out that there is an archive that holds political and historical artifacts from New York in my school.  La Guardia Community College has been a good experience but being able to actually visit this archive made my experience even better.  On my visit there I learned of New York’s major municipal archives, which was a lot bigger than the school archive.  Some of the artifacts that they had in my school were from private companies one of them being Steinway, a major piano company.  The majority of the artifacts consisted of business records, worker records and detailed technical analysis.  But of course we also had political artifacts.  We learned about Mayor Wagner and how he served three terms as mayor of New York.  We got to see some artifacts for ourselves in the Cold Room.  It was called the Cold Room because it was indeed cold.  The cool temperature was to preserve the artifacts.  The one artifact that caught my attention the most out of the many was the M1 riffle that was handed down to mayor Wagner.

Metropolitan impression

In my class, Violence in American Art and Culture, met at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on 5/7/13. We were going to the American Civil war exhibit. The exhibition explored the role of the camera, during the civil war years 1861 - 65. The first thing i noticed when I entered the exhibition was the fact that the light was dim. I was told that they were that way to preserve the artifacts, which were mostly photographs. The first artifact that caught my eye was the first picture made after Abraham Lincoln was nominated for president. This photograph was taken by, William Marsh in 1860 May, 20th. It was weird not to see a hat on the head of Abe Lincoln yet it made me think about how he was a mere man rather than a legendary forefather of my great nation. Without his hat he seemed different. As I walked through this amazing gallery of the past, I came across an artifact that mentioned that the Civil War unofficially began on April 12th, 1861 with the Confederate artillery attack on Fort Sumter a federal fort in Charleston, South Carolina. When it ended, 750,000 Americans would be dead soon after. April 15th, 1861 President Lincoln focused his energy on acquiring and publishing negatives made by his ever-expanding team of operators, including Alexander Gardner, George Barnard, and Timothy O'Sullivan.  

Being that most of the pictures were black and white, a photo of a manservant being African American popped out to me. This photo was of a confederate captain and his manservant, taken in 1864. The photo was one of eight known images of an African American slave wearing military garb and posing with his owner. Overall I was amazed at the fact that so many pictures were available for the public to see even though they were taken over one hundred and fifty years ago.

Seeking Refuge

The short story written by Paul Laurence Dunbar, in the early 19^th century, “The lynching of Jube Benson” was about an African American male servant that was wrongly accused of raping and murdering of a young causation female. The young lady by the name of Annie was in fact in an adultery relationship with a gentleman by the name of Dr.Melville. Dr.Melville explains his relationship with Jube, "He was a fellow whom everybody trusted; an apparently steady-going, grinning sort, as we used to call him. Well, he was completely under Miss Annie's thumb, and would fetch and carry for her like a faithful dog. As soon as he saw that I began to care for Annie, and anybody could see that, he transferred some of his allegiance to me and became my faithful servitor also.” Jube Benson seemed to be seeking refuge with this kind hearted innocent young girl and the others he helped. He probably assumed that maybe through his kind deeds the people he helped may in turn help him. Unfortunately for Jube Annie’s dying word was “black”. Everyone including Dr.Melville then assumed that it must have been Jube Benson considering he was the only black man she was ever seen with. The young black man Jube Benson was then lynched as if no one had owed him anything accept for the presence at his lynching. The town later found out that the cause of Annie’s death was a white man by the name of Tom Skinner.  Plainly put, this story is a reflection on the cruel and inhuman practices of primitive civilizations. In my opinion I believe that the reasons for the violence that was depicted in this story derives from the governance and culture that influences greed and immoral behavior.                

Cherokee Indian's Legacy

The Short film, ”The trail of tears 1830s” starts during the post Declaration of Independence. Settlers came from Britain come to north and Central America and kicked the Indians out of their homes.  President Andrew Jackson himself stole land at gunpoint from the Indians.

            The Indians were given an opportunity to learn and take on Christian cultures.  This did them no good because of deadly European diseases. Those who survived made it to the American Revolution where the one place where Cherokee Indians were maintaining a Christian lifestyle was burned to the ground.  Two hundred fifty thousand Indians died, equaling to 85 tribes.

            The last survivors negotiated for peace.  The negotiation led to the conclusion that, Indians by laws of nature allowed Indians to keep their land.  The Indians began to adapt again and become more civilized.  This time they were able to own their own slaves and farm cotton.  Just like the white persons, Cherokee woman also were to do he same as female white persons.

            Over time lower class settlers began to get upset at the fact that Indians could earn more than they could.  The lower class settlers then became a threat to the civilized Indians.  Mercenaries and government then influenced the Indians to move away for their own safety.  The Indians did just that.

            Education and Christianization had been important to them now this would allow them to better communicate with the crazy white persons.  Cherokees began to come up with their own written language after they got a  little education.  Later the mercenaries began to manipulate the new language adding Christianity to them.  The Government then promised the Indians that with an education they would then be able to compete with them.  The Indians took advantage of this opportunity.  Indian’s that would gain wealth after becoming civilized and gaining an education were still not considered white.  This was understood after these rich Indian men would try to marry white female settlers.

            The wealth of the Indians grew after the government passed a law stating that Tribal lands could not be sold with out authority. The Gold rush suddenly presented a unique opportunity to pass another law, which announced that Indian’s could not dig for gold, even though they are the ones who discovered it. President Andrew Jackson was elected and he was eager to get piece of the new wealth on that Indian soil. Profitable genocide had accord.

The new President passes an act called The Indian Removal Act, which explains itself. President Jackson’s justification for the removal of the Indians was the fact that they were in danger if they stay on their homeland. The Indians learned something new about a law that requires permission from the United States of America’s Government, not just one state like Georgia. This Law was discussed during the case of Worcester v. Georgia.  The President decides that there was no need for the Judicial branch of Federal Government any longer.

What had happened to the Indians in the 1830’s seems a little similar to what seems to be happening now in 2010’s. The federal government dismisses the constitution. The judicial system is a some times ignored like, the NDAA law that was passed by the president, which allows American’s to be indefinitely imprisoned without trial or jury. It is nice to know that things are progressing in someway or another.