The death toll of the Civil War remains a topic of ongoing debate. However, on Juneteenth, one thing that cannot be disputed is the fact that hundreds of thousands of white Union soldiers died in their efforts to free black slaves. When I pose the question of whether this happened in any other country to progressives, there is always a deafening silence. This silence is inevitable because America truly stands apart, despite the false claims made by those seeking to sow racial animosity today. Throughout most of human history, global slavery was the norm, with people of all races enslaving others. This included enslavement within Africa and South America. Personally, I am descended from a Native American woman who was enslaved as a child by another Native tribe and sold to white Mormon settlers in Utah. They liberated her and welcomed her into their family. The “original sin” of slavery was a terrible stain on America’s founding, and it is wrong and dangerous to whitewash or censor the true history of its nature, including the suffering and murder endured by black Americans. However, it is also important to teach the full truth, which includes acknowledging that American liberation was achieved through a coalition of mostly white individuals working alongside black Americans. White Northern Christians sacrificed their lives to end slavery and confront America’s dark history. They did not stand to gain anything personally, but risked everything. Many of these Union patriots are the ancestors of today’s white, working-class Trump voters, many of whom also voted for Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president. Juneteenth happened in spite of Southern white Christians. The evil actions of these white supremacists should not be downplayed, as they censored Christian scripture and removed passages that black slaves used to find hope and inspiration. It is important to know about their horrific deeds. However, initiatives like The New York Times’ 1619 Project fail to provide a comprehensive and accurate account of history. It is true that some Christians have acted poorly throughout history. Even the most religious individuals were responsible for pressuring the authorities into executing Jesus, and one of the apostles, Judas, betrayed him. Human nature does not change. As Frederick Douglass, a former slave turned abolitionist, said, there is a stark difference between the Christianity practiced in America and the Christianity of Christ himself. However, it was true Christian theology that inspired American abolitionists, as they found hope and guidance in the stories of Moses, Jesus, Joseph, and Paul, all of whom can be seen as liberators and savior figures. Martin Luther King Jr., a pastor who came many years after the bloodshed of the Civil War, used deeply rooted Christian theology to secure civil rights for black Americans. No other Western country can boast electing a black man as president, despite Europe’s criticism of America’s culture. This is not meant to diminish the current suffering and struggles of black Americans, as these are real and urgent issues. However, substantial research, including from scholars like Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, and Jason L. Riley, shows that racism, while present, is not the primary reason for disparities between black and white Americans. In fact, other ethnic groups such as brown and Asian Americans outperform whites in terms of income, education, family stability, and crime rates. This debunk the notion of systemic white supremacy in America. This is not to say that interpersonal racism doesn’t exist, and efforts to eradicate it must continue vigorously, but it is policy and culture that have a greater impact on the disparities in America. Countries like Singapore and Jamaica offer an interesting comparison. Sixty years ago, these two nations had similar per capita income levels. However, Singapore embraced free-market capitalism, while Jamaica adopted democratic socialism. The difference in outcome is evident. The most violent, impoverished, and educationally struggling areas in black America are often governed by progressive, socialist ideologies, which hinder progress through their promotion of the welfare state, opposition to school choice, and failure to prioritize public safety. The path to liberation, prosperity, and safety for black Americans lies in strong faith, family values, hard work, and community support. These universal values uplift people of all races.
Carrie Sheffield is a senior policy analyst at Independent Women’s Voice and a fellow at State Financial Officers Foundation.
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