In 1863, at the height (or depth) of the U.S. Civil War, a slave named either Peter or Gordon (it’s never been definitively determined which is correct) escaped, seeking refuge at a Union Army camp. Military doctors at the Union camp examined him and discovered horrendous scarring on his back from an inhumane whipping he’s received on Christmas Day 1862.
Photographers William D. McPherson and J. Oliver who were operating in the camp, photographed his back. The photo was published in Harper’s Weekly on July 4, 1863, shocking readers with its depiction of slavery’s cruelty and immediately becoming a powerful symbol for the abolitionist movement – much as Gen. Dwight Eisenhower’s military photographers had when U.S. troops liberated Jewish concentration camps in Germany 80 years later.
The photographers who took the historic pictures of the runaway slave were from New Orleans. The photo, which became known as “The Scourged Back,” was taken in Baton Rouge. It has been on display at the Smithsonian as a reminder of a dark chapter in our history that should never be forgotten – even more so than 1853’s Twelve Years a Slave, the story of the abduction of a free black man in Washington, D.C. who was then sold to a plantation owner in Cheneyville, Louisiana, in Rapides Parish.
But now, Donald Trump, in his efforts to whitewash American history to reflect nothing but sunshine and roses, has ordered the REMOVAL of not only that photograph, but all information about slavery not just at the Smithsonian, but at all the country’s national parks.
It’s a clear illustration of how Trump, Stephen Miller and the Repugnantcan Party fear the truth and of just how far they’re willing to go to apply a broad brush to their version of what they think Americans should know about themselves, the facts be damned.
In truth, though, it’s Trump and Miller. While there may be a core of support, the Repugnantcan Party is basically just too cowardly to stand up to those two racists – and that most certainly includes our two senators.
A couple of weeks ago, I suggested that John Neely Kennedy and Bill Cassidy at least tacitly supported child sex abuse by their votes against releasing the Epstein files.
Mouth of the South Kennedy
Lame Duck Cassidy
I would now suggest that by their silence on the matter of removal of The Scourged Back photos from our national parks, photos that were taken in Baton Rouge 162 years ago, they must also support the institution of slavery.
Louisiana Voice 
This is an important image. The Orange Beast and his cronies are moving on to their next step, as laid out in the Project 2025 document and the Seven Mountains Mandate.They fail to show the rest of the story. “Peter” was inducted into the Union army shortly after arriving in Federally held Baton Rouge. Whether or not he was sent to Port Hudson to dislodge the Confederate forces there, I do not know.The Library of Congress digital access portal contains an image of the Harper’s Weekly issue containing the fuller story. At least they do for now. Who knows how far the Beast and his ilk will go in attempting to rewrite US history?https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b44593/
John Nothing KennedySent from my iPad
The Harper’s Weekly article provides more information about “Gordon/Peter,” who was inducted into the Federal army shortly after arriving in Baton Rouge. Whether or not he was sent to Port Hudson in an attempt to dislodge the Confderate forces I do not know.
He may be interred at the National Cemetery in Baton Rouge. The United States Colored Troops (USCT) were buried in the southeast corner of the site. Their headstones are marked “U.S.C.T.”https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b44593/
The MAGA fascists were racists long before they embraced fascism. And now they don’t have to hide either one.
Are you sure that you don’t spell Kennedy’s middle name “kneely” because he kneels in front of Drump nonstop.
File that comment under “Man, I wish I’d thought of that one.” Very clever indeed, sir; a tip of the hat (but not a MAGA hat).
you kool-aid drinking democommies never get your “facts” straight. President Trump did not say remove all slavery information but instructed the institutions to report all our history correctly. Yes, slavery was bad and we ended it, republicans not demmocommies, they wanted and tried hard to keep it. But it is your ignorant rhetoric like this which will never allow you to be in power. America has spoken and we are taking our country back.
Keep honking, Goose. You can’t even define commie. In fact, you don’t know the difference between socialism and communism.
By the way, have you driven on our socialist streets or made use of our socialist sewer system. Ever call on those socialist police and fire departments? How about Social Security, Medicare? You on those socialist programs or will you be someday? Did you attend a public school, use public school books, eat a public school, heavily-subsidized lunch?
Did you cash your first, second or third Economic Impact Payments during Covid? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have damned little room to call anyone a commie. You’re just another boring, right-wing fanatic.
And just what is “incorrect” about our history? The Repubs ended slavery? Yes, but not the Republican Party of today; that’s unrecognizable to Lincoln. And all those southern Democrats who resisted the civil rights movement are today’s Republicans. Deny that if you will, but facts are facts and history is history.