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Mt Dees and your battle to educate the American public

Mr. Edgerton,

I would like to commend you on your straightforwardness and efforts to educate
misguided people as to history in the South. In today’s world it seems that history is being
rewritten instead of investigating the past for the truth. We should learn from the past, and
not make the same mistakes in our country and use race as an excuse for ripping apart our
Nation.

I am a Southerner, a law enforcement officer, a female and I am white. I live in
Tennessee and work in Memphis. We have a constant problem with everyone using race
as an excuse. The politicians use the Black churches and people to further their own
political careers. Our community should worry more about bringing up our children to
understand that you cannot change history for your own political agenda. They should
learn about the good and bad people of our Southern heritage instead of try to remove
traces of those figures that help shape our community during the 1800’s.

In studying history, I know that there were some cruel slave owners, but there were also
those who tried to help their slaves with housing, a community, and an education. Many
slaves and families intermingled. Some black people who were free owned slaves
(Melrose Plantation – Natchitoches, Louisiana). Slaves were expensive and valuable. It
would not make a lot of sense back then to hurt, or mistreat property that was so valuable.
Also most people did not own slaves. They did not have that much money. What do you
think?

I think you are a strong person who is an independent thinker. I know it is hard for you at
times, and that some may ridicule you (Mr. Dees). There are also those who don’t seem to
have a clue (faculty member from Western Carolina University). These people are sheep. They say
these idiotic things, because they think it is the thing to do. The woman at Western Carolina
University obviously just liked being seen and liked the sound of her own voice.

I am tired of people saying they are white, black or whatever. How about American? How
about a Southerner? Those should be things to be proud of. Maybe, sometime in the
future, people will just be people and not blame each other for whatever. We were
Southerners no matter what color our skin was, or where we originally came from. We
fought for our home.

I will now get off my soapbox, and wish you the best. Let me hear from you and your
accomplishments in trying to educate the masses.

Elaine Henderson Shelby