http://iplosion.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/benjamin-franklin-and-colonial-american-race-relations/ or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Information Bomb Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:23:57 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://iplosion.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/benjamin-franklin-and-colonial-american-race-relations/#comment-2703 Chas Andrews Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:35:10 +0000 http://iplosion.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/benjamin-franklin-and-colonial-american-race-relations/#comment-2703 Quite frankly, Native Americans were very socially acceptable to the Quakers of Pennsylvania. Most Quakers (in the early years mostly) and Native Americans had very friendly relations because William Penn made sure to attempt to treat them with some semblance of respect. To show how deep the trust went, Native Americans also were "babysitters" for Quaker families. Although not all Quakers were as liberal or gregarious as William Penn, his sons after his death cheated the Lenape (Delaware Indians) out of their land in Northwestern PA with the Walking Purchase, so it wasn't a perfect society of tolerance, but it was a bit better than situations in, oh say Virginia and Massachusetts. It wasn't until the Germans & Scotch-Irish (my ancestors) came and started moving into "Indian Territory" that things started really heating up. So to me, a native resident of PA, the last statement actually makes sense. Also, when would a proud Anglo-Saxon man (as Benji Franklin clearly was) ever admit to being anything other than white? It's obvious, IMO that he means by "red" the Native Americans. Quite frankly, Native Americans were very socially acceptable to the Quakers of Pennsylvania. Most Quakers (in the early years mostly) and Native Americans had very friendly relations because William Penn made sure to attempt to treat them with some semblance of respect. To show how deep the trust went, Native Americans also were “babysitters” for Quaker families. Although not all Quakers were as liberal or gregarious as William Penn, his sons after his death cheated the Lenape (Delaware Indians) out of their land in Northwestern PA with the Walking Purchase, so it wasn’t a perfect society of tolerance, but it was a bit better than situations in, oh say Virginia and Massachusetts. It wasn’t until the Germans & Scotch-Irish (my ancestors) came and started moving into “Indian Territory” that things started really heating up. So to me, a native resident of PA, the last statement actually makes sense. Also, when would a proud Anglo-Saxon man (as Benji Franklin clearly was) ever admit to being anything other than white? It’s obvious, IMO that he means by “red” the Native Americans.

]]> http://iplosion.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/benjamin-franklin-and-colonial-american-race-relations/#comment-2619 Babs Nezovich Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:53:36 +0000 http://iplosion.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/benjamin-franklin-and-colonial-american-race-relations/#comment-2619 If you look into history, you'll find most men living at the time of Ben Franklin share these kind of racist views. It's a real shocker. How can we truly overcome racism today when these racist ideas are ingrained into our ancestors? These men, including Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson -all believed the white man to be supreme. Look into it, it's absolutely shocking. No wonder the blacks are still mad at us. If you look into history, you’ll find most men living at the time of Ben Franklin share these kind of racist views. It’s a real shocker. How can we truly overcome racism today when these racist ideas are ingrained into our ancestors? These men, including Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson -all believed the white man to be supreme. Look into it, it’s absolutely shocking. No wonder the blacks are still mad at us.

]]> http://iplosion.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/benjamin-franklin-and-colonial-american-race-relations/#comment-1875 Carlos Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:32:45 +0000 http://iplosion.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/benjamin-franklin-and-colonial-american-race-relations/#comment-1875 Being B. Franklin such an intolerant racist, I dont think he was refering to Native Americans. Being B. Franklin such an intolerant racist, I dont think he was refering to Native Americans.

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