Great essay. Last year October I had the opportunity to attend the Trail of Tears Association annual meeting, which was held in Chattanooga, close to ground zero. There are two memorials in the area that are equivalent to the Gates of No Return in Ghana and Benin. I found my ancestors names on the monuments.
But what I didn't realize was that the majority of the deaths on the Trail of Tears occurred before the journey ever started, at Fort Cass between Chattanooga and Charleston, when about 2,000 - mostly children - died of whooping cough. This must be the 2,000 you mention above. On display was the US Army's request for lumber to build small coffins. But the paper trail ended there. Today that area represents probably the largest unmarked mass grave in the US. I shared some pics and thoughts here: https://memoriesofthepeople.blog/2024/10/20/another-native-mass-burial-site-hidden-in-plain-sight/
You bring up a good point that what we are witnessing is not new or an anomaly in our history. Regarding immigration a similar analogy...Trump is actually using laws that have been on the books for almost 30 years and signed by democrat Bill Clinton. Mandatory detention, expedited removal, many actions we are witnessing today have been used when convenient by past administration's. Great article
I appreciate your work so much and am referencing it to others whenever I get the chance.
Great essay. Last year October I had the opportunity to attend the Trail of Tears Association annual meeting, which was held in Chattanooga, close to ground zero. There are two memorials in the area that are equivalent to the Gates of No Return in Ghana and Benin. I found my ancestors names on the monuments.
But what I didn't realize was that the majority of the deaths on the Trail of Tears occurred before the journey ever started, at Fort Cass between Chattanooga and Charleston, when about 2,000 - mostly children - died of whooping cough. This must be the 2,000 you mention above. On display was the US Army's request for lumber to build small coffins. But the paper trail ended there. Today that area represents probably the largest unmarked mass grave in the US. I shared some pics and thoughts here: https://memoriesofthepeople.blog/2024/10/20/another-native-mass-burial-site-hidden-in-plain-sight/
Incredible perspective, research and analysis. ❤️🔥
What a phenomenal piece. Thank you for sharing these truths.
The British invented Concentration Camps, the first was at Port Arthur in Tasmania - i’ve visited, it’s horrific.
You bring up a good point that what we are witnessing is not new or an anomaly in our history. Regarding immigration a similar analogy...Trump is actually using laws that have been on the books for almost 30 years and signed by democrat Bill Clinton. Mandatory detention, expedited removal, many actions we are witnessing today have been used when convenient by past administration's. Great article
Thank you for this excellent article. Looking forward to reading more!