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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 2013)
% 2013 January 16, 2013 L M artin L uther K ing J r . Page 31 sp ecia l edition omits Major Creates a false impression in the fight to end slavery by M arc M orial No doubt many of you have seen the new m ovie “Lincoln,” Steven Spielberg’s much acclaim ed d ram atizatio n o f Abraham Lincoln’s determined and ultimately successful 1865 fight for the passage of the 13th Amendment which abolished sla very. I came away from the movie impressed with its gripping de piction of the legislative maneu vering and horse-trading that Lin- coln employed to win passage of the Amendment. But, I am con cerned that the movie leaves the false impression that the fight to end slavery was waged solely by white men in Washington and white (as well as a few black) soldiers on the battlefield. What about the brave abo litionists of that time? Where are Susan B. Anthony, Eliza beth Cady Stanton and Will iam Lloyd Garrison? And most puzzling of all, where is the great African American anti-sla very cham pion, F rederick Douglass? In a recent New York Times letter, Pulitzer Prize winning his torian, Eric Foner, noted this omission in the film by making the point that “Emancipation — like all far-reaching political change - resulted from events at all levels o f society, including the efforts...of slaves themselves to acquire freedom.” But aside from the presence of some black Civil War soldiers, the few African Americans in Spielberg’s film were cast as ad miring and grateful maids and butlers. In criticizing the fact that the movie overlooked the important role that free and enslaved blacks played in the abolitionist move ment, Civil War historian, Kate Masur wrote, “Mr. Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’ gives us only faithful servants, patiently waiting for the day of Jubilee.” That is not only factually incorrect; it does a dis service to the historic efforts of numerous black and white aboli tionists of that time, none more courageous and effective than Frederick Douglas. Bom in Talbot County, Mary land in 1818, Frederick Douglass spent the first 21 years of his life as a slave, working variously as a household servant and unskilled laborer. In 1838, he escaped bond age and quickly became one of the most eloquent and forceful abolitionist voices of his day. Self-taught, in 1845 he pub lished his autobiography, “Narra tive of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” and in 1847 he launched his anti slavery newspaper, “The North Star,” in Rochester, New York. At great risk to him self, Douglass recruited black soldiers for the Union Army during the Civil War, influenced Lincoln’s thinking, and even challenged the President’s slow, legalistic walk towards emancipation. Douglass saw the end of slavery as only the beginning of the fight for full economic and political equal ity, beginning with extending the right to vote to freed slaves. He argued, “What I ask for the Negro is not benevolence, not pity, not sympathy, but simply justice.” Frederick D ouglass’ efforts subsequently led to the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1869, guaranteeing African Americans the right to vote. Stephen Spielberg’s “Lincoln” affirms the fact that President Abraham Lincoln played a pivotal role in ending slavery in America, but it egregiously omits the fact that Frederick Douglass and a courageous group of grassroots abolitionists led Lincoln and the nation to this victory. Marc Morial is president and chief executive officer o f the Na tional Urban League. Peace of Mind for Millions of Americans The promise of Medicare and Medicaid by D avid E lliot Peace of mind. T h at’s what Medicare and Med- one in every three Americans. Almost 50 million Americans have paid into, and are beneficia ries of Medicare, our national health insurance program for se niors and people with disabilities. And almost 50 million Americans — the elderly, low-income adults and their children, and people with certain disabilities — have access to Medicaid. Six million Americans depend on both. But now these programs are under siege. Some want to re place guaranteed Medicare ben efits with a voucher. The prob lem with this approach is two people with disabilities — and for Many people told us they are Medicare and Medicaid mean fold. all the families that rely on Medic alive only because of Medicare or neighbor helping neighbor — First, it would require seniors aid for their health care. Medicaid. Many others discussed we’re all in this together. to pay significantly more for ba- The debate over Medicare’s how these services have enhanced Finally, a large number of re E sic health care — and this and Medicaid’s future is likely to the quality of their lives. Others spondents expressed extreme 1 would drive large numbers of continue throughout this year and still talked about how it brings outrage — outrage so extreme our most vulnerable citizens for years to come. them retirement security and peace that some comments had to be into bankruptcy. Second, these Sometimes even the most im of mind. edited — that a system they paid are earned benefits that hard portant government functions can We heard from young people into all of their adult lives could be working people paid for most come off as abstractions — deci who do not directly receive ben cut. These people clearly felt or all of their adult lives. They mal points on a budget ledger efits, but say they are able to save robbed and violated. “I paid into are not giveaways. deciding who is eligible and who money they would otherwise Medicare for 40 years,” writes Others would “block grant” isn’t, who gets cut, and who spend on aging parents. Debra Jim Brady in Rochester, Mich. Medicaid to the states, as Rep. doesn’t. Pekin in Wheeling, 111., wrote that “This is my money I am getting Paul Ryan has famously proposed. So at USAction, we asked our without Medicare, she would back. It is not charity. No one has Under Ryan’s plan, the federal members what Medicare and have to quit her job to care for her the right to steal my money.” government would give states a Medicaid mean to them and their 92-year-old mom — Social Se These are the Medicare and fixed amount of money — in families. curity pays for her assisted com M edicaid stories of ordinary lump sums known as block grants. Their responses revealed how munity living, but Medicare cov Americans. They are on the front This amount of money would not deeply and keenly Americans ers her health care costs. lines of the Medicare and Medic go up as more people get Medic cherish and rely on the promise Many wrote that without Medi aid debates. Whatever policies are aid services. our nation made when we estab care, they would face financial adopted, they are the canaries in The results would be either big lished these lifelines in 1965. ruin. A woman noted that the the coal mine — they will feel the cuts in health care services or big We’ve kept this promise so far entirety of her monthly Social impact first. tax increases for states or both. and Americans demand we keep Security check would have to go We made them a promise. Will Instead, we should keep Medi it in the future. to her health care costs — noth we keep it? care as a system that provides After sorting through hundreds ing left for anything else. David Elliot is communica federal funding for seniors and of stories, certain themes emerged. A number of people wrote that tions director o f USAction. USPS 959-680 Rakeem Washington E xecutive D irector : 4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and w ill be returned i f accompanied by a self addressed envelope. A ll created design display ads become the sole property o f the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or P u b l is h e r : E d it o r : Mark Washington M ich a el L eighton C reative D irector : P aul N eu feld t O ffice M anager /C lassifieds : A dvertising : L A N D OBSERVER. A L L RIGHTS RESERVED. 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