Virginia Gazette

Williamsburg

April 15 to April 27, 1737

“RAN away…an East-Indian, belonging to Mr. Heylin, Merchant, in Gloucester:

He is a well-made, small young Fellow, wore his own Hair (which he may have cut off in order to disguise himself:)…He went away on a strong well-made Grey Stallion, branded with a Dott, belonging to his Master.

They (a black slave and the East Indian Slave) went from Col. Lewis’s to Gloucester Town, where they robb’d a House, and took a Pair of Pistols, a Horse Whip, and ’tis supposed some other Things.

They were seen on Monday going up King and Queen County.

Whoever secures either of the fore-mentioned Servants, shall receive as a Reward, Two Pistoles; for both of them, Four Pistoles, and for the Grey Stallion Two Pistoles; to be paid by John Lewis, and John Heylyn.”

*****

How many generations did it take for the children of such people to enjoy a normal childhood?

At what point were these desperate underclasses ready to join “respectable” society?

Is it really any wonder that a country which chose to bury and lie about much of its past is still dysfunctional enough that half of its people will gladly vote for a dictator, as long as he agrees to perpetuate the lies and leave the cold graves of past evil deeds undisturbed…

Tell the truth.  How many readers here knew that there were slaves from India in America?

How many Americans know that such people – Hindus, vagabonds, Muslims, outlaws, Gypsies, runaway slaves, Tory Loyalists, Caribbean Jews, Malagasy sailors – were among the earliest settlers and colonizers of the Indigenous lands commonly called “The Appalachian Frontier”?

Lies by omission are still lies.  History is not a science.  It is an act of analysis followed by collation and curation.  A thing left unwritten is often of equal or greater importance than that which is published.

Only in a country built on loud, blustering myth and carefully calculated silences could a political candidate so utterly unable to speak the truth receive the support of half the nation…

Are we witnessing a late reckoning for the sins of the past?