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In reply to the discussion: Quick Question... Why should black people love white people? [View all]gordianot
(15,237 posts)One of the stories my Grandmother told was passed down from her Grandfather who lived on the Missouri River and was a slave owner. After telling the story to my Professor we talked with my Grandmother. As she told the story her Great-grandfather armed slaves in the 1840's in response to Mormons in Missouri. She knew this was a Capital offense in 1840's Missouri so that part was most likely true. Her negative attitude persisted against Mormons to that day. Missouri had laws on the books until the 1960's declaring armed actions on all Mormons. It was very possible we had found a living remnant of Missouri Mormon Wars. The most fascinating part was the story she told of her Grandfather raiding a barge with his slaves on the Missouri River and killing men, women and children with Cholera. What impressed the most about the story my Grandmother told she had no way of knowing about the cholera epidemic among Mormons fleeing to Illinois. State archives does document conflict in this part of the State and we found some mention of the names involved but nothing about a massacre.
As to crass nasty violent predatory institutional racism it is alive and well in this part of Missouri especially St. Louis. All any doubters need to do is read the Ferguson DOJ report and they may not be the worst in St. Louis County.