Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

moondust

(21,142 posts)

12. The slavery mentions

Reply to dflprincess (Original post)

Mon Nov 17, 2025, 11:18 PM

Monday

are quite interesting. In the first episode Sunday night I believe it was a black woman historian who commented that the slave owners knew it was wrong but they didn't stop. I've always had some reservations about the Founding Fathers because so many were slavers.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

misanthrope raccoon Boomerproud

35 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Ken Burns "American Revolution" discussing Washington's slave owning [View all] dflprincess Monday OP

This is so well done JustAnotherGen Monday #1

I'm glad he's portraying the founders as the miscreants that they were. BannonsLiver Monday #2

Miscreants? How about fallible humans who were a product of the times they were living in? Rafi 21 hrs ago #18

You read it right - fucking miscreants. BannonsLiver 21 hrs ago #19

I don't think Burns would agree per se ITAL 21 hrs ago #22

That's great. BannonsLiver 21 hrs ago #25

I'm not sure I buy the "they were products of their time" argument when it comes to slavery. Aristus 21 hrs ago #20

+1 leftstreet 21 hrs ago #23

Some of them reviled slavery misanthrope 20 hrs ago #32

John Adams never owned a slave 31st Street Bridge 19 hrs ago #34

We are watching it now Tree Lady Monday #3

I'd hope that Burns respected Temporal historical relativism... WarGamer Monday #4

There are certain truths that transcend time. DemocratSinceBirth Monday #7

He's presenting facts that have been ignored for a long time nt dflprincess Monday #8

Like my husband says Tree Lady Monday #9

In my role as a historian Historic NY 21 hrs ago #26

Slave ownership by the Founding Fathers isn't exactly a secret. Paladin 21 hrs ago #24

My thought was the right wingers are gonna hate this. CanonRay Monday #5

That means it's good 31st Street Bridge 19 hrs ago #35

Hey, anyone know, what time do they repeat tonight? (early AM) Jack Valentino Monday #6

I thought it was tv only Tree Lady Monday #10

My TV guide says moondust Monday #11

Thanks, but seems it is already repeating on-air- here at 1:52 EST..... Jack Valentino Yesterday #13

Times for documentary Lydia Leftcoast Yesterday #14

Streaming Episodes Available Now Tom_Foolery Yesterday #17

The slavery mentions moondust Monday #12

I recall hearing about Patrick Henry Lydia Leftcoast Yesterday #15

Any man can make himself a king Stacey Grove Yesterday #16

I haven't watched this series yet (I'll binge it later), but... Happy Hoosier 21 hrs ago #21

Slavery never stopped GreatGazoo 21 hrs ago #27

Washigton did free his slaves by his Will Historic NY 21 hrs ago #28

Washington was a complicated character Retrograde 20 hrs ago #29

He found it hard not to grant him requests. Historic NY 20 hrs ago #31

The more I learned about Virginian Founding Fathers misanthrope 20 hrs ago #33

Oh my, I am shocked to learn that the founding comradebillyboy 20 hrs ago #30