L'Alabama et le commerce des esclaves

Si l'état a été marqué par la lutte pour la reconnaissance des droits civiques des noirs, on souligne moins souvent son rôle dans le commerce des esclaves. Chaque recoin de la ville est associé à un ou des événements historiques. Bientôt, on référera également au marché des esclaves. Pour les promoteurs du projet, il faut d'abord comprendre l'esclavage si on souhaite comprendre la guerre de Sécession et la lutte pour les droits. Controverse à l'horizon?

 "But Southern history is a custody battle still in litigation. The Alabama Historical Association, which has its name on many of the historical markers around the state, confirmed the accuracy of the research but declined to sponsor the markers, citing “the potential for controversy.” (The markers were eventually sponsored by the state-run Black Heritage Council.) Todd Strange, the mayor of Montgomery, while acknowledging in a newspaper article several years ago that the sign referring to slave markets made him uneasy, gave the project his backing after a meeting with Mr. Stevenson.

“There are some names on the markers, and he wanted to make sure that the information was accurate,” said Anita Archie, the city’s deputy mayor. Slave traders are explicitly identified on the markers, and some of their descendants may still live in Montgomery, Ms. Archie said. The installation of the markers, which few in the city knew about on Monday as it had not yet been publicized, could possibly be the least controversial part of what Mr. Stevenson sees as a multiyear campaign to develop a “deeper, more meaningful historical context” for the country’s racial history.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/us/before-the-battles-and-the-protests-the-chains.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131210