The American Civil War and Black Americans

Here are two facts about the American Civil War.

1. Prior to freeing the slaves in America, education of slaves was outlawed.

History tells us that as the Union Army liberated slaves, one of the first things they did was to set up schools!

In fact, the schools literally existed behind the battle lines of the Union Army very often as the liberated slaves, called "contraband" at the time, moved with the Union Army to avoid return to slavery.

What would these Black Americans say if they could come back and observe how their descendants today abuse and ignore their opportunities to gain an education?

Perhaps they would reach for a board to smack some of them aside the head to bring them to their senses. For sure, they would not baby them as society does now.

2. Prior to the Civil War Black Americans were not allowed to marry.

Slaves in effect were not allowed to have families. History tells us of the horrific slave auctions in which parents were separated from children.

Abraham Lincoln observed these slave auctions when he ventured to New Orleans, and this inhumane practice did much to turn him against slavery.

What would these Black Americans who had experienced slavery say if they could come back and observe the lack of family structures too often among their descendants? Sadly, their descendants too often do not value marriage and traditional families.

It is not hard to gauge the probable reaction of these ex-slaves to such behavior if they could come back to observe what goes on in America today. Likely some of them would reach for a two-by-four to smack some sense into their descendants.

They would have no time for psycho-babble and sociology that excuses devaluing education and traditional marriage and family structures.

Yes, we can learn from history, and sometimes the perspective history gives provides guidelines for action today.