FSU Gets Knowledge on Harpers Ferry Five
posted by Areanna Nixon | April 6, 2017 | In NewsDr. Peter Wood, former professor at Duke University, visited Fayetteville State on February 22, and delivered a talk in honor of black history month. Nearly 100 in the FSU community attended.
Dr. Wood’s presentation centered around what he referred to as “Harpers Ferry Five,” who were five Black men involved in the raid on Harpers Ferry that started the Civil War, discussing what he believes to be one the disregarded roles that Black people have played in America’s history.
“Blacks were involved at Harpers Ferry, but in the usual telling of the story, that’s hardly ever mentioned,” said Dr. Wood. “I’m struck, because, not only were they Black, but four of them were southern. So it’s a way of challenging that notion that all of the good effort to end slavery is coming from the North.”
This understanding exposes the larger context of partially-understood historical events.
“It changes when you learn more about African American involvement and participation,” said Wood. “I’m interested in the ways that we are reinterpreting the civil war. We haven’t understood how big and important Black participation was on every part of the war.”
Dr. Wood believes that this concept translates in many aspects of historical interpretation.
“There’s no question that in the public imagination, we have a very oversimplified idea about American history,” he said.
Dr. Wood, throughout his academic history, has made an effort to promote awareness of black involvement in historical events. This interest began with his attending Harvard University as an undergraduate student.
“That’s when I really got interested in African American history,” he said.
In his graduate dissertation “Black Majority,” he addressed the role of Blacks as the majority within the colony of South Carolina, which often goes undiscussed in classrooms.
Dr. Wood, after teaching for 35 years, retired for 8, and wrote various books along the way. Dr. Wood continues to address historical information, which often goes unshared, through occasional talks.
“I do this anytime I get a chance, so I decided that Black history month would be a good time to go to North Carolina and talk about what I’m most interested in.”
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