Washington Post questions if Boston Tea Party was ‘terrorism’ by ‘blackfaced’ white men
OAN’s Brooke Mallory
12:39 PM – Monday, December 18, 2023
One of the most famous moments in American history was dissected in a recent Washington Post piece, which questioned if the Boston Tea Party was actually an act of “terrorism” carried out by “White men” donning an early version of “Blackface.”
Contributing columnist for The Washington Post (WaPo), Theodore Johnson, pondered if Americans’ heroic mythologizing of the rebellious deed in Boston Harbor against the British Tea Act of 1773 accurately reflects the real events of that day.
“Was the Boston Tea Party an act of terrorism? It depends,” is the title of Johnson’s WaPo column.
“The story of that night became lore — and the lore evolved into national myth. The Boston Tea Party has come to symbolize the revolutionary spirit that led to independence. It engraved the catchphrase ‘no taxation without representation’ on the country’s cornerstone and signified the embrace of democracy,” Johnson said, describing how Americans view this specific point in time.
But he went on, providing an alternative account of what happened.
Johnson expressed his opinion that the event has been “swept under history’s rug to prevent the colonists from being cast as common criminals hiding behind racist face paint.”
“A horde of White men disguised themselves as Native Americans—coppering their faces and donning headdresses in the same tradition that would lead to blackfaced minstrel shows decades later—to commit seditious conspiracy and destroy private property,” he wrote in the piece.
“The riotous mob trespassed on three ships and destroyed goods worth nearly $2 million in today’s money — all because they didn’t want to obey a duly passed law,” Johnson added.
Johnson referenced author Benjamin Carp of “Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party & the Making of America,” who expressed that the event from many years ago “may be classified as an act of terrorism” in his book.
He continued, adding that the Boston Tea Party seemed like it “was principled and nonviolent, carried out by common folk who believed virtue was on their side.” However, Johnson later adds that “It was also criminal…”
“A nation’s myths — exaggerated or imagined as they might be — shape its identity. Scholars claim these myths merge fiction and truth, transform incidents into parables, become sacred and resilient in the face of scrutiny, and influence personal and group behavior,” Johnson wrote.
Johnson also asserted, “Being able to see yourself in a story validates both the person and the example. Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall, for example, made the United States truer to its principles. They demonstrated how a previously excluded people can be the fullest expression of — not a threat to — the nation’s virtue.”
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How does Theodore Johnson challenge the popular narrative of the Boston Tea Party as a heroic act of rebellion?
The Boston Tea Party: An Act of Terrorism or a Symbol of Independence?
In a recent article published in The Washington Post, columnist Theodore Johnson sparked a debate about the true nature of the Boston Tea Party, one of the most iconic moments in American history. Johnson questioned whether the event, which is widely regarded as a heroic act of rebellion against British tyranny, was actually an act of terrorism carried out by white men disguising themselves as Native Americans.
Johnson begins his article by acknowledging the significance of the Boston Tea Party in American mythology. He describes how the event has come to symbolize the revolutionary spirit that led to independence, engraving the catchphrase “no taxation without representation” on the country’s cornerstone and signifying the embrace of democracy. However, he presents an alternative account of what transpired that fateful night in Boston Harbor.
According to Johnson, the popular narrative of the Boston Tea Party has conveniently ignored the darker aspects of the event. He argues that the colonists involved in the protest have been portrayed as virtuous patriots who fought for their rights, while their criminal behavior has been glossed over. Johnson challenges this view by suggesting that the colonists, dressed in racist blackface and Native American attire, committed seditious conspiracy and destroyed private property.
The columnist draws from the work of author Benjamin Carp, who claimed in his book “Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party & the Making of America” that the event could be classified as an act of terrorism. Carp maintains that while the Boston Tea Party may have appeared principled and nonviolent, it was also a criminal act. Johnson emphasizes that a nation’s myths, no matter how exaggerated or imagined, have the power to shape its identity and influence personal and group behavior.
In conclusion, Johnson asserts that acknowledging the true nature of historical events like the Boston Tea Party is crucial for understanding a nation’s identity. He believes that seeing oneself in a story validates both the person and the example, citing figures like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Thurgood Marshall as examples of excluded individuals who became the embodiment of the nation’s virtue. By critically examining the events of the past, Johnson suggests that we can create a truer and more inclusive narrative of American history.
The debate sparked by Johnson’s article offers an opportunity for reflection and reevaluation of cherished historical narratives. By engaging in these discussions, we can deepen our understanding of the complexities and nuances of the past, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and truthful version of our shared history.
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