Va. interpreters employed re-enact slavery

VIDEO - Mondo Black wanted to document what would black people do for employment when unemployment is high in the black community...

TheGrio Staff

Jul 8, 2011

Mondo Black wanted to document what black people could or would do for employment when unemployment is high in the black community — finding that there are Williamsburg, Va. interpreters reenacting 18th century slavery.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MONDO BLACK’S DOCUMENTATION

People interviewed in the video responded to the news differently. One man said he would not reenact slavery regardless of unemployment, one woman found it interesting and would have to be desperate to reenact slavery for employment, and another man said he wanted to know what it was like being a slave.

According to the Mondo Black video, in Colonial Williamsburg, black historical interpreters do not do it for the money, but to tell black history. The interpreters play out the daily lives of slaves.

“We have been doing this now for over 30 years,” historian Harvey Bakari said. “There has to be some balance because your main objective is to educate people.”

According to Bakari, most people think about 19th century slavery and not 18th century slavery.

“The story that they are telling is not a happy story,” Patricia Brooks, manager of African-American Historical Interpretation said. “It can be very challenging to try to convey the history of slavery to visitors…”

According to Bakari, whenever a story is told about slavery there are going to be critics. One side will say it did not go far enough while another side will say it went too far.

“You have to stand there like you know what you are talking about. “You will not be moved… you will not be intimidated,” a historical interpreter said.

According to Brooks, they are willing to train applicants on African-American history for any interpreter positions. She also said some applicants want to show their knowledge of history and get into the museum field.

According to Mondo Black’s coverage, “there are no Stepin Fetchits, coons, bucks or mammys here at Colonial Williamsburg. Just some passionate people dedicated to memory of our collective family who helped create this place called America through blood, sweat and tears.”