On an August night in 1955; three U.S. naval vessels were strung out in a line a tenth of a mile apart. They were moving smoothly down the eastern Pacific coast of Mexico. Two were landing craft vessels. Each was cable-tethered and being towed by an escort tug boat; the command ship. Their destination: Rodman; Panama.
#487452 in Books Brandylane Publishers; Inc. 2011-11-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .55 x 5.98l; 1.05 #File Name: 0983826404260 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Must-Read for Every RichmonderBy Jonathan SilerRichmond’s Unhealed History is written to counteract the disconcerting reality that most citizens of Richmond and of the surrounding metropolitan area have little encouragement to understand the city’s controversial past of conquest and racism. Textbooks gloss over shameful facts that have influenced Richmond’s development; from the conquest of Powhattan in the 17th century to the massive resistance against desegregation in the 20th.According to Ben Campbell; the modern age has provoked unhelpful reactions from Richmonders in their opposition of racism: either 1) a sense of “white guilt†that offers little understanding to bridge the divide or 2) a hope to simply “forget†the shameful past and mind your own affairs. Neither response is adequate to address the continued jurisdictional segregation and racial unrest that plagues the city to this day. Campbell narrates a four century-long narrative of Richmond; not to shame; but to come face-to-face with the reality of the unhealed wounds of a city whose founders promised understanding and benefit for all cultures yet began a tradition of conquest that has lasted until the 1970s. Today; the continued hurts of the city are deepened by a response of discomfort and misunderstanding from all people groups regarding racial inequality.Richmond’s Unhealed History tells me that Richmond’s healing requires more than denouncing racism and placing the blame on individual responsibility; its healing begins in the understanding of foundational and external factors that have spent nearly 400 years marginalizing and sabotaging non-european cultures and people groups. More than ever; Richmond requires a spiritual vision that grounds itself in the raw; day-to-day love and understanding that reaches out to the helpless; the outcast; and even the unworthy.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Deeply Moral Work of Exciting HistoryBy L. L. YatesDisclosure: In the 1980s; I worked fairly closely with Ben Campbell on various housing and organizing efforts in Richmond. I saw him struggle valiantly and honestly with the tough moral questions of interracial connections and disconnections in a couple of important; though since departed organizations.I left Richmond not long after he and others established Richmond Hill; an amazing successful embodiment of the moral mission he shared with some of us for the whole of Richmond; but especially for those in need.Unlike many; Ben has never failed to grasp that systemic racism and exploitation does exist and does limit the lives of many people. He has stood with and been with those people for decades. In this book; he is not only present with them again; but present with those that came before; with those who lived and died since the 1600s to create the Richmond that exists today.Richmond has needed this book for a long time. The South has needed it. And that means the nation has needed it.It doesn't have all the answers; but you will finish it with a very good sense of what the right questions are. And you will be surprised how quickly you got through an incredible wealth and depth of material.As a non-Christian; I do want to mention that this book will afflict a lot of comfortable Christians; and also; I believe; might force some non-Christians to recognize what I have long known -- that a serious and intelligent Christian is someone a non-Christian has a serious obligation to respect.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The wretched birth and life of our segregated cultureBy JodashdeResearching this book must have been fascinating. Four centuries of history; and racial inequalities continue to spew and sputter. Campbell gives detailed; engrossing background on how our racial bias began in 1607 with Powhatan and his confederacy and become more serious with the development of slavery. The craggy; arduous climb that continues to present itself for minorities seems to have made progress; but still has such a long trek ahead. Campbell gives hope and realistic steps we can take today to help in mending these huge gaps in economics; education; living conditions; employment; and transportation.
