Precisely, as our historian Mary Thompson's writes: "they were all willing to give up the emotional support of family and friends to risk physical punishment and possible demotion if caught, and considerable insecurity if they were successful, in order to have ultimate control over their own lives" (taken from "The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret": George Washington, Slavery, and the Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon).

No human in their right mind would chose to be a slave

If a person is a slave then they ain't been treated "good."

I guess slavery was a choice *In my Kanye voice

@@ChiefJayBinns you are 100% correct sir

Rodericka Hairston indeed!

Depends on what kind of freedom.

i agree

Agreed! (Insert non-existent black and white hand clapping emoji)

Brenda brings life to any story. We may not be able to offer her narration forever but here's another 3 minutes and 30 seconds, enjoy: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pr19fNRz0sDRoJ8.html

@@mountvernon she was excellent.

True

T. Washington me too, Her voice is so soothing

Hardly a bedtime story. Unless you can sleep well after hearing stories of oppression?

I made this same remark yesterday. Doesnt make sense!!!

great question! but we know the answer!!

Because he was a President. Only presidents can be .

stephanie lindo Oh I don’t know maybe because he was a president??? Cmon use your common sense!!!!!

@@JamesBond-pb2qy I hope yall know Benjamin Franklin was not and never was president and he on the 100 dollar Bill's so your argument is already invalid and also who says only presidents should be on our Bill's how about great people that have done amazing things for this country.

We will be the first in line for a ticket if they do!

You should go watch Harriet Tubman at the movies, it's playing now, in Nov. 2019! An excellent movie!

Becca A exactly

@Run Gunn Agreed, both parties are responsible...Africans should not have sold their own people and Europeans should not have bought them. It is a reality that in Africa, slavery among conquered tribes was prevelent so African tribes would enslave other tribes. My family was educated in Jamaica and they go into deep detail on the history of Europe which included slavery....

@ThiefRikku0306 There were many Europeans who were against slavery and injustice, and fought against it. There were hero's of every nationality... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_civil_rights_leaders

@Emmia B Slaves have been around since the beginning and it's wrong No matter what color your skin is! And BTW it's not a whites only problem! The 1st slave owner in America was a Black man claiming ownership of another Black man!.

@Steevy Horton no he did not her father was a white Tailor and her mother was not Raped!

Blacks are still doing something similar to their children now. Most do not see their children for days and days and then cry when they heard they were shot two days ago.

@@steves6407 we are only gods slaves ... slavery is unchristian

@@fotisnews +We're not Gods slaves either! I don't know of anyone living who claims that slavery is Christian! It does however still exist but you good folks always just ignore that!

Yep

Thanks goodness democrats were defeated in 1864

Ona was however willing to return to slavery had Washington promised to free her on his death. Washington tried persuasion; he did not employ force.

B Ruine That also could be what she just told that person and not mean it.

No Shane it does not, she said herself that she would have returned had Washington be able to free her upon Martha's death and did not want to be given to someone else! George did not have that legal right at that time and never did! He also knew and so did Martha exactly where she was a let her be! They wanted her back but never forced the issue! Think about that!

Well said! 💗

Wonder how many other slaves the Freemasons are illegally holding even to this day lol 😂

@Life Is Beautiful! California I agree! & he should have worn his own damn teeth too, instead of wearing his slaves!!

@MusicMadMaurice three fifths?

MusicMadMaurice Right on point. It became about freedom but it was really about what many people want now. Less taxes and not allowing the Crown to permeate every aspect of their lives. Washington himself was no deep philosopher but stood to lose his wife’s fortune. I’m a history buff but the more I learned about him the more I see history made him more saintly than he was. Smartest move he made was to surround himself with people who were smarter. If my memory is correct France’s Lafayette implored him to be the first to free his slaves and that might have ended slavery nearly 100 years before Lincoln had the guts to do so.

@@cindys9491 Slaves were not counted as full human beings.

@@aliciabrillante exactly, they counted as 3/5 of a person (!) per the Missouri Compromise

@MusicMadMaurice the 3/5's rule was for congressional representation in congress. They had to let that rule in because of the south, but got them to limit the number because though they counted, the slaves could not vote on the members going to congress, and had they counted as full the south would overwhelm the government with slavery wanting members of congress by a population they could control and then never ending slavery!

History is interesting. One day none of this will still be in play and we will have evolved enough as a people to do better. I won’t live to see it but it will happen.

komiczar I disagree regarding how you down play Tubman’s role is history and the growth of our nation. Her role was significant and not limited to just one movement.

komiczar I don’t understand what you mean by that. Help me understand the point you are trying to make. I am confused 🤷‍♂️

komiczar I like how you are just talking in circles not really making a clear point or clearly stating you point.

komiczar I think you are a troll not really worth it at this point. Say whatever crazy radical thing you want. Hiding behind your screen name. Good luck hope it all works out for you.

Thank you for your comment. I whole heartily agree.

And what about poor Betty

And why were white men so hungry for sex with slave women? There was a sexual frenzy when it came to women of color when ever they saw them.

Yet many freed slaves begged former owners to let them stay rather than live independently. If it was so bad an people today commiserate WHY does NO ONE even mention the 70,000 SLAVES in Africa today much less help free them??

They do, maybe you're just not paying attention. ​@@doreekaplan2589

Second Thought indeed

Indentured servitude was very different from slavery.

person 1 Still doesn’t make it right

Absolutely 👊🏾👊🏾

And Ethan, I assume your hand is in this. I have thoroughly enjoyed the growth I've seen in your work. Fantastic job! Keep it up, my friend!

@Dee Cee You can't be serious...a "good slave owner" is such an oxymoron, I don't care how "good" they were...

@Run Gunn 😔😞

Sounds like she wanted to escape. That doesn't sound good at all.

@Dee Cee if you doubt every owner of an enslaved person was mean then why don't you allow your young female or male relative to be taken by the current Human Traffickers??? Today's Human Traffickers are kidnapping people and forcing them into prostitution. Maybe the men that are ravaging their bodies are really nice businessmen & presidents who will buy them nice things & allow them to stay in beautiful homes! ENSLAVEMENT itself is "mean". Maybe the women being brutally RAPED on the plantations was just an earlier version of the book 50 "Shades of Grey". Maybe the practice of BUCK BREAKING where demonic white men GANG RAPED kidnapped African men & then enslaved Black men to control & punish them was just "boys being boys!"

@Dee Cee your opening comment of "allowing me to rage on" further exemplifies your ignorance which was evident in your original comment. I will allow you to wallow in the mire of your thoughts!

Thank you Joy. Tell you husband I said hello.

Those people are called "racists".

Anthony West We all do

Her story is truly astounding, it would be a must-see movie

Can’t you see the pickets??? ‘’Negroes were treated fairly”

Children are being sold as sex traffickers today all over the world. I don't think Washington was cruel to his slaves. He freed them in his will so I hope they were treated better than some slaves are today.

That series was George Washington Foraging of a Nation 1986 with Barry Bostwick. Good series and portrayal of Washington

When I was about 10 or so we had to do reports on Black Leaders in our history in the early 70' - and I was in Georgia! Thought all schools taught it then!

@@ramonasp4989 I knew there was slavery, knew about Rosa Parks, MLK and civil rights but didn't really learn about the harsh realities till I saw Roots. I grew up in Dearborn MI. Our mayor Orval M Hubbard and Henry Ford were raceiest so it may have something to do it.

Please tell ? Or where can I find more details. I'm intrigued I'm going to make a note to look for this

I agree because I didn't know Washington but a man that own many slaves why you would beg for her return.

😮😮

@@gabrielleallen4925 he was a kkk bastard just became the president...

@@marlaturner1262 the kkk did not exist until about a century after Washington lived.

It is exceptional I think as well. I saw Erica Dunbar here when she was interviewed for The Post before the books launch. I have also heard her lecture here before too. I was just happy that we were finally telling the stories of people on the property on a more personal level. trying to give them agency, and will and a life.

We will have to see about offering this in our bookshop. Thank you for recommending this to our viewers, Samuel!

Samuel Toomer , Keep reading he has more excellent!

George Washington's Mount Vernon np!

Lady Desiree yes ma’am. I’m about to read “Between The World and Me” soon after I finish my other book! Thanks for the encouragement!

Glad you left. A life of what you went through is real! Many blessing to you and keep your children if you have any safe🙏💐

@@tonimarie9985 I have one son. He is someone to be very proud of

All I can say is Amazing. I have 2 daughter's. They were raised attached to my hip. Even working 12 hr shifts they would be with mama at times. You have a wonderful remaining of the week. Leave the past behind move forward. Never look back. 🌞

That's horrible. Sorry to hear that 💔

They will NEVER permit that. In fact they want us to forget that slavery ever existed, but those of us who know, can not.

In Polish ona means "she". It is almost symbolic. The strength of a woman.

Which African language are you referring to? There isn't an African langauge that is called "African"

Brenda is so talented. Watch her narrate the life of George Washington's Enslaved Housemaid, Caroline Branham, here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pr19fNRz0sDRoJ8.html

Thank you kindly.

I agree with you 100%. The title is truly repulsive.

@yuckitupyo. He was a demanding and brutal slave owner but he eventually freed them in 1799. As for you calling him a “monster” if you are implying that for his flaws as a human being you are wrong. If you choose to dismiss the good and focus on the bad and ugly of him instead of balancing it you are also wrong.

Birth records were not kept for enslaved individuals but it's believed that Ona was born circa 1773. Based on that approximation she would have been 67 years old.

@@mountvernon How old was she when she ran away?

You and me both

Sadly with very few exceptions until the eighteenth century in cultures that had slavery as part of their society was slavery ever questioned by the prevailing ethical system. No Ancient Greek or Roman philosopher denounced slavery, Aristotle thought some men were naturally 'slavish', Seneca, who as Stoic believed in universal brotherhood, still accepted slavery. The attitude of Christianity and other faiths to slavery is well known.

She wasn't his direct slave, but Martha's dower slave. So truthfully she wasn't his direct slave, plus with his views at that time, he probably was a bit indifferent, but acted out because of his wife.

We're glad to hear you enjoyed it David and we will let our team know!

Why her or a newer actress?? Why would it matter who plays Ona?? As long as her story is told, that's all that matters.

I am working hard to make sure that their voices and lives are told daily. I am really trying and so far the descendants of some of these people approve and support my efforts.

Your ancestors deserve the reparations. Not you.

Im not sure if this is correct but, I heard some people can inherit the psyco trauma from the enslaved Africans.

Hopefully soon. The U.S. owes your families more than could ever be repaid but we still need to try.

Why don't you go f****** ask the Africans that sold your people into slavery

Scum bag