Day 9 – O’Keefe - Maryland Heritage: What a Mix!
Maryland has a rich and wonderful geography and history. Geography: we have ocean, mountains, Midwest-like rolling hills, a great bay, and Baltimore. No one else can match that diversity! And our history is a similar tangle.
In 1641, Mathias de Sousa – who had worked for several years as an indentured servant of Fr. Andrew White, a leader of the colony – was elected to the Maryland Assembly. De Sousa was the first African American legislator in North America. A great moment for Maryland!
In 1645, Protestants from Virginia invaded Maryland, arrested Fr. White for practicing priestcraft, and sent him back to England in chains. He was arrested for celebrating Mass, not for integration; but it was his faith that led him to treat his servants with respect. De Sousa disappeared from colonial life. When was the next African American legislator in the North America? Reconstruction? Not a great moment for Maryland.
In 1664, Maryland pioneered another part of American history: it was the first colony to ban inter-racial marriage. The fact that anyone wanted this law indicates that inter-racial marriages were taking place. But the law was shameful. Not a great moment for Maryland.
In 1789, when the Founding Fathers wrote the Bill of Rights, they incorporated ideas pioneered in Maryland and developed more fully in Pennsylvania: the First Amendment protects freedom of religion. Another great moment for Maryland!
In 1850, President Zachary Taylor died in office, and Millard Fillmore became president. Fillmore, generally listed among the worst presidents in our history, was not re-elected at the end of that term. But in the following election, he joined the American Party, or Know-Nothings. The Know-Nothing movement was a reaction to German and Irish Catholic immigration, and the problems that followed, including a dramatic increase in crime and welfare costs. The American Party was anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic. Fillmore became their presidential candidate in 1856. Fortunately, he lost, dramatically. In fact, he carried only one state. Uh-oh. Another bad moment for schizophrenic Maryland.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the eugenics movement (improving the human race by social control of reproduction) was successful in passing laws affecting three issues: miscegenation, forced sterilization of the so-called “feeble-minded,” and immigration. Maryland was NOT among the states passing eugenic sterilization laws, and that is a reason for modest pride.
The work of the eugenics movement is still being dismantled. The anti-miscegenation laws are gone, and the sterilization laws are gone, although abuses continue. Now, we are debating racially charged anti-immigration laws, and Maryland is a battleground again.
Which way will we Marylanders go this time? Are we proud to be the home of Mathias de Sousa, or will we vote for racial bitterness again? Are we proud of Fr. White, or will we support the Know-Nothings again? We resist some of the eugenics movement: can we throw out its evil the remnants?
Claim a proud heritage, and vote for hospitality! Support Maryland’s Dream Act!
Mr. Parrott?
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