Talk:Lemuel Grant

Latest comment: 3 years ago by A Softer Answer in topic Problematic history regarding race

Problematic history regarding race

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In the "early career" section the following is recounted. "He donated 108 acres (44 ha) east and southeast of his mansion to the city for a park that would be open and available free of charge to residents of any race, creed or color... Lake Abana, ... would have been witness to a crowd of bathers of any race, racial segregation not descending upon Atlanta until a decade or two later. During this idyllic period of relative stability of racial tension,"

This is problematic for a number of issues. The language used for one a time & place where people of color were literally being bought and sold as "idyllic" and having "racial stability" and lack having a lack of "tension" is less misleading and false.

Two the overall picture painted by this narrative doesn't accord with the reality of this historical record. In 1850, Atlanta had a population of 493 African slaves, 18 free blacks, and 2,058 whites. The vast majority of black people living in the city would not have been able to decide to visit the park or not as they were held in slavery.

This is just a start at pointing out some of the issues. Gradvmedusa (talk) 21:53, 3 June 2021 (UTC)Reply

The article has several issues. The land was not donated until 1883, after the Civil War. The year of the donation is referred to earlier in the article that the donation was post war, but it is confusing. I cleaned that up, but the article still has several issues. A Softer Answer (talk) 16:15, 7 June 2021 (UTC)Reply