Of Generals And Mules

 Another Facebook post repeated.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/the-truth-behind-40-acres-and-a-mule/?fbclid=IwAR1USFuWBcqF6nm1di8zkuQw-oP3Qx8Ryq8hL40-9WPjRNExm0nRnAxsRMQ

Here is some interesting news. Like everyone else, I always thought that “40 acres and a mule” was the invention of Sherman. It was part of a special field order issued by him, to be sure, but the idea originally was presented to him by a group of Black ministers. Furthermore, contrary to the common belief, he did not unilaterally declare it.

> Four days later, Sherman issued Special Field Order No. 15, after President Lincoln approved it.<

So it really was an official promise made by the United States government (President Lincoln himself, no less), not merely the reaction of a general who was overreaching his authority.

Always ready to learn something new. And when I learn something new that contradicts what I thought before, I am ready to share it with everyone else. That’s because I actually do believe that reality is real and important.

You might also  be interested in the comments section which follows this article. It does get rather heated, so you might want to avoid it, but it raises interesting points.