Lecture Notes: Dr. Gerald Horne on The Counter-Revolution of 1776

Introduction

Presenter: Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History and African-American Studies, University of Houston
Moderator: Introduction of Dr. Horne, highlighting his educational background (Princeton, UC, Columbia), authorship (over 30 books), and prominence in his field (imperialism, labor, civil rights, international war).

Main Argument: Founding Fathers (Jefferson, Washington, Madison, Patrick Henry) revolted against British rule to preserve slavery.
Slave Resistance: Enslaved Africans did not join the American Revolution, contributing to their long-term atrocious and horrible treatment.
Haitian Revolution: Supported by African ancestors, ignited a crisis in the slave system, leading to its collapse by 1865 in North America.

November Elections: Dilemma for Black voters between Republicans (party of Neo-fascism) and Democrats (party of foreign intervention, e.g., Gaza, Ukraine, South China Sea).
International Solidarity: Voting for military intervention erodes international solidarity, essential for African-American progress (e.g., Haitian Revolution, African Liberation Movement).

Misconceptions: Revolutionary War not celebrated by Native Americans due to genocide; enslaved Africans largely opposed the formation of the USA.
Injustices: Continuous struggle by enslaved Africans to overthrow slavery in the USA, with notable events like the War of 1812 and the torching of the White House.
Constitution Analysis: US Constitution and Bill of Rights did not apply to enslaved Africans or Native Americans, intending to suppress revolts.

Resistance Figures: Mention of black women mastering arsenic, attempts to set fire to the Confederate White House, and efforts to murder prominent figures like Martha Washington and John C. Calhoun.
Nat Turner and Gabriel Revolts: Inspired by the Haitian Revolution.

Misrepresentation: Propaganda suggests 1776 was anti-slavery, but examples like Vermont and Oregon reveal otherwise.
Misuse of Symbols: Critique of the use of the American flag and the misinterpretation of the Declaration of Independence as an anti-slavery document.
Pew Center Study: A majority of Black Americans believe the US government works against their interests.

Juneteenth: Misconceptions about the emancipation process; Texas's enslavers' schemes to continue slavery.
13th Amendment: Abolished slavery except as punishment for crime, leading from the plantation to the penitentiary.

Central Strategy: Building international solidarity through historical alliances (e.g., Haitian Revolution, African Liberation movements).
Current African Political Context: Updates on Kenya, South Africa, and land restitution issues.

Call for Re-broadcast: Emphasis on the importance of the discussion to be rebroadcast for wider audience reach.
Final Remarks: Dr. Horne's commitment to continuing the conversation, upcoming topics, and appreciation for the platform and audience participation.

Dr. Horne's Show: Saturdays at 2 PM Eastern on kpfk.org and Activist News Network on YouTube for more of Dr. Horne's insights.

Contact Information for Participation:

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