Showing posts with label Gerorge Washinton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gerorge Washinton. Show all posts

Monday, June 27, 2011

Tuesday with VBS.tv: Drunk History: Ona Judge

Yeah, I couldn't resist it. I really dig this series alot, so I decided to post the whole darn thing. We will eventually get back to the more idealistic and human interest aspects of the Vice library, but for now, why not have some chuckles? This week's installment covers one of the more controversial sides of the first US President, George Tiberius Washington. No, I don't think "Tiberius" was his real middle name, but you have to admit that the sound has a nice ring to it. I digress...

It has often been noted that there was a special irony amongst some of the Founding Fathers™ and their decision to keep slaves. These were people who were supposedly creating the world's first truly free nation, and yet they held ownership to human beings. Even my personal favorite, Thomas Jefferson had slaves working his land, and this was the guy who got drunk one night and wrote the greatest "Dear John" letter to a monarch since the Magna Carta. That of course was the Declaration of Independence.

This week's installment centers around a clever and passionate young slave owned by Washington named Ona Judge. She had the courage to escape to the more liberal states and away from Ol' Wooden Teeth's servitude. This caused a bit of a scandal to unfold as Ona remained defiant despite threats and public admonishment. The story is told by a historian who has consumed one and a half bottles of wine before making the attempt...enjoy!!