Southern Slavery As It Wasn't: Coming to Grips with Neo-Confederate Historical Misinformation

Abstract:     
"Southern Slavery as it Wasn't: Coming to Grips with Neo-Confederate Historical Misinformation" assesses the historical revisionism of neo-Confederate amateur historians who maintain that slavery was a positive and happy experience for African Americans. Such views are becoming increasingly influential among white supremacist and conservative groups in the South and Midwest, and they pose a growing threat to the civil rights of minorities nationwide on several levels.

The essay demonstrates that neo-Confederate histories of southern slavery are not concerned with historical accuracy. They seek instead to advance an ideological repudiation of multiculturalism and civil rights. As such, they are being used by opponents of civil rights to challenge voting rights, desegregation, and affirmative action in a variety of court challenges and grassroots campaigns and to champion the imposition of "biblical law."

Number of Pages in PDF File: 17

Keywords: Neo-Confederate, Slavery, Classical Schools, Wilson, Wilkins, Ramsey, Quinlan

Accepted Paper Series