About
July 4th, 2007
“The essence of science: ask an impertinent question, and you are on the way to a pertinent answer.”— Jacob Bronoski (1908-1974), The Ascent of Man
This blog is intended for friends, family, and the few others who may be interested.
The blog is used mostly for updates about projects I’m involved in, as well as occasional posts of general interest (usually thoughts about politics and current events in response to questions), and some personal entries about myself, my family and friends.
The projects featured here include Katrina Browne’s documentary film Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, which follows ten descendants of Senator James D’Wolf and the slave-trading D’Wolf family as we retrace the route of the triangle trade and explore the legacy of slavery, and Tom DeWolf’s memoir Inheriting the Trade: A Northern Family Confronts Its Legacy as the Largest Slave-Trading Dynasty in U.S. History, about our journey as Tom experienced it.
I’ve generally been quite skeptical about blogs, particularly ones which have no more to offer than this one does. However, the fact is that blogging is a convenient way to periodically update family, friends, and others about activities and subjects of mutual interest. No one who isn’t interested — and that includes family and friends — needs to subject themselves to the blog.
I just saw “Traces of the Trade” on PBS. As an American of African descent, I want you to know you and the family participants’ struggle to come to grips with slavery and its aftermath, moved me to tears. Your honestly and moral courage to take a frank look at your family’s history and to then understand and admit its impact on how De Wolfes were able to subsequently derive benefit; was remarkable. White Americans have a great deal of denial to work through. I am buying “Inheriting the Trade” tomorrow.
Best wishes to you and your extended family.