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Charlotte H
They Celebrated the Owners and Silenced the Enslaved
Longwood的点评
点评：I visited this property in 2017, and almost ten years later, it still leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.
I visited specifically because I wanted to understand more about the history of slavery at the property. I wanted to pay my respects to the enslaved people who lived and worked there, learn about their experiences, where they lived, what their lives were like, and how they interacted with the family who owned the property. I expected the tour to acknowledge the uncomfortable and deeply important history that is inseparable from an antebellum plantation.
Unfortunately, that was not what I experienced.
The narrative was almost entirely centred around the wealthy family who built and occupied the house — what they owned, how wealthy they were, and the luxuries they enjoyed. It felt incredibly materialistic and shallow, with very little meaningful discussion of the people whose forced labour made that lifestyle possible.
One moment in particular has stayed with me. We were shown the large wooden fan above the dining table, and the guide explained that a worker would have to stand there pulling the rope to operate it while the family enjoyed dinner in the heat. Rather than treating this as an opportunity to explain the brutal inequality and exploitation involved, the guide seemed to find the situation amusing. I found this extremely uncomfortable and completely inappropriate.
We were later taken into a room containing portraits, including one of an African American man. We asked who he was and whether we could learn anything about him. Rather than being given information, we were essentially scolded for asking questions. We were explicitly told that he was “not a slave,” but that he dressed Mr Nutt, the owner of the house, and helped with household chores.
What particularly troubles me now, having looked into the history myself, is that there was a story to tell.
The man in the portrait is identified in subsequent historical research as Frederick, an enslaved man held by the Nutt family. Historical records indicate that he was born around 1802 and was included among the enslaved people in Rush Nutt's estate inventory in 1837. He was later documented with his wife, Maria, and their children. Research also indicates that Frederick held a supervisory role within the enslaved workforce, rather than simply being someone who performed household chores. After emancipation, he took the surname Baker and continued to live and work in the area.
In other words, he was not simply a nameless figure in a portrait. He was a person with a name, a family, a life and a history.
Yet when we were standing directly in front of his portrait, asking who he was, we were discouraged from asking questions and given an explanation that reduced his history to his service to Mr Nutt.
We also asked where the enslaved people lived. We were told they lived in the supposedly “luxurious” brick building outside, which is now used as the toilets. Immediately beside it was a boarded-up wooden structure. Naturally, we asked what that building was. At this point, we were told to stop asking questions.
That experience has stayed with me for all the wrong reasons.
What is particularly frustrating is that there is clearly historical material available about the enslaved people connected to the Nutt family. The Nutt family archives contain records relating to enslaved people, including lists, inventories, bills of sale and plantation records. There is therefore a wealth of information that could be used to tell their stories and give visitors a more complete understanding of the property.
Longwood itself is inseparable from this history. Construction was interrupted by the Civil War, and the basement was subsequently completed using enslaved labour. The wealth and lifestyle of the Nutt family cannot meaningfully be separated from the system of slavery that surrounded and supported them.
I understand that historical properties have difficult and complicated histories, and I don't expect those histories to be comfortable. In fact, that was precisely why I visited. What I do expect, however, is for the history of enslaved people to be treated with dignity and given proper attention — particularly at a property whose wealth and existence were connected to that system.
Instead, I felt that the suffering and exploitation of enslaved people were largely brushed aside while the wealth and lifestyle of the white family were celebrated.
The most disappointing part is that I wasn't asking for the history to be sanitised or made comfortable. I was asking for the opposite. I wanted to understand the people whose lives were lived alongside — and ultimately used to sustain — the family whose story dominated the tour.
I wanted to know their names. Where they lived. What their lives were like. What happened to them. Who they were.
Those are not inappropriate questions to ask at an antebellum plantation. They are arguably some of the most important questions a visitor can ask.
Perhaps the interpretation has changed since I visited in 2017, and I sincerely hope it has. But based on my experience, it was a complete waste of money and an enormous missed opportunity to educate visitors about an incredibly important part of American history.
I visited nearly ten years ago and I still remember how uncomfortable and disappointed I felt. I would not recommend the tour based on my experience.
I visited specifically because I wanted to understand more about the history of slavery at the property. I wanted to pay my respects to the enslaved people who lived and worked there, learn about their experiences, where they lived, what their lives were like, and how they interacted with the family who owned the property. I expected the tour to acknowledge the uncomfortable and deeply important history that is inseparable from an antebellum plantation.
Unfortunately, that was not what I experienced.
The narrative was almost entirely centred around the wealthy family who built and occupied the house — what they owned, how wealthy they were, and the luxuries they enjoyed. It felt incredibly materialistic and shallow, with very little meaningful discussion of the people whose forced labour made that lifestyle possible.
One moment in particular has stayed with me. We were shown the large wooden fan above the dining table, and the guide explained that a worker would have to stand there pulling the rope to operate it while the family enjoyed dinner in the heat. Rather than treating this as an opportunity to explain the brutal inequality and exploitation involved, the guide seemed to find the situation amusing. I found this extremely uncomfortable and completely inappropriate.
We were later taken into a room containing portraits, including one of an African American man. We asked who he was and whether we could learn anything about him. Rather than being given information, we were essentially scolded for asking questions. We were explicitly told that he was “not a slave,” but that he dressed Mr Nutt, the owner of the house, and helped with household chores.
What particularly troubles me now, having looked into the history myself, is that there was a story to tell.
The man in the portrait is identified in subsequent historical research as Frederick, an enslaved man held by the Nutt family. Historical records indicate that he was born around 1802 and was included among the enslaved people in Rush Nutt's estate inventory in 1837. He was later documented with his wife, Maria, and their children. Research also indicates that Frederick held a supervisory role within the enslaved workforce, rather than simply being someone who performed household chores. After emancipation, he took the surname Baker and continued to live and work in the area.
In other words, he was not simply a nameless figure in a portrait. He was a person with a name, a family, a life and a history.
Yet when we were standing directly in front of his portrait, asking who he was, we were discouraged from asking questions and given an explanation that reduced his history to his service to Mr Nutt.
We also asked where the enslaved people lived. We were told they lived in the supposedly “luxurious” brick building outside, which is now used as the toilets. Immediately beside it was a boarded-up wooden structure. Naturally, we asked what that building was. At this point, we were told to stop asking questions.
That experience has stayed with me for all the wrong reasons.
What is particularly frustrating is that there is clearly historical material available about the enslaved people connected to the Nutt family. The Nutt family archives contain records relating to enslaved people, including lists, inventories, bills of sale and plantation records. There is therefore a wealth of information that could be used to tell their stories and give visitors a more complete understanding of the property.
Longwood itself is inseparable from this history. Construction was interrupted by the Civil War, and the basement was subsequently completed using enslaved labour. The wealth and lifestyle of the Nutt family cannot meaningfully be separated from the system of slavery that surrounded and supported them.
I understand that historical properties have difficult and complicated histories, and I don't expect those histories to be comfortable. In fact, that was precisely why I visited. What I do expect, however, is for the history of enslaved people to be treated with dignity and given proper attention — particularly at a property whose wealth and existence were connected to that system.
Instead, I felt that the suffering and exploitation of enslaved people were largely brushed aside while the wealth and lifestyle of the white family were celebrated.
The most disappointing part is that I wasn't asking for the history to be sanitised or made comfortable. I was asking for the opposite. I wanted to understand the people whose lives were lived alongside — and ultimately used to sustain — the family whose story dominated the tour.
I wanted to know their names. Where they lived. What their lives were like. What happened to them. Who they were.
Those are not inappropriate questions to ask at an antebellum plantation. They are arguably some of the most important questions a visitor can ask.
Perhaps the interpretation has changed since I visited in 2017, and I sincerely hope it has. But based on my experience, it was a complete waste of money and an enormous missed opportunity to educate visitors about an incredibly important part of American history.
I visited nearly ten years ago and I still remember how uncomfortable and disappointed I felt. I would not recommend the tour based on my experience.
翻译：我在2017年参观过这个地方，近十年过去了，它仍让我心有余悸、印象深刻。
我特意前往参观，是为了更深入地了解这个地方的奴隶制历史。我希望向那些曾在此处生活与劳作的奴隶们表达敬意，了解他们的经历、居住环境、生活状况，以及他们与庄园主家族之间的互动关系。我原以为这次参观会提及那段令人不安却又极其重要的历史——那段与奴隶制时期的种植园密不可分的往事。
可惜，实际情况并非如此。
整个讲解几乎完全围绕着建造并居住在那栋房子里的富裕家族展开——他们拥有什么、有多富有，以及他们享受着怎样的奢华生活。这种叙述方式显得极其功利且肤浅。几乎没有任何关于那些被迫劳动才使得这种生活方式成为可能的人的实质性讨论。
有一个场景尤其让我记忆犹新。我们被带去观看餐桌上方的大木制风扇，导游解释说，当时必须有工人站在那里拉绳子来转动风扇，而这一家人则能在酷热中享用晚餐。然而，导游似乎并不把这当作一个说明其中存在的残酷不平等与剥削现象的契机，反而觉得这种情况挺有趣的。我觉得这极其令人不适，也完全不合时宜。
后来我们被带进一个陈列着多幅肖像画的房间，其中有一幅是一位非裔美国男性的画像。我们询问他是谁，能否了解有关他的一些信息。然而我们非但没有得到任何信息，反而因提问而遭到了训斥。我们被明确告知，他“并非奴隶”，只是负责为这所房子的主人纳特先生穿衣，并协助做些家务而已。
现在最让我困扰的是……在我亲自研究过这段历史后发现，其中确实有一个值得讲述的故事。
后来的历史研究证实，画像中的男子名叫弗雷德里克，是纳特家族所拥有的奴隶。历史记录显示，他大约出生于1802年，并在1837年鲁什·纳特的财产清单中被列为奴隶之一。后来，文献中又记载了他与妻子玛丽亚以及他们的孩子们的情况。研究还表明，弗雷德里克在奴隶劳工群体中承担着监督职责，而并非仅仅是个从事家务劳动的人。获得解放后，他改姓贝克，并继续在该地区生活和工作。
换句话说，他并非画像中一个无名的符号。他是一个有名字、有家庭、有生活、有历史的人。
然而，当我们站在他的肖像前，询问他是谁时……我们被劝阻不要提问，得到的解释则把他的生平经历简化为仅为努特先生效力的经历。
我们还询问了那些奴隶们住在哪里。得到的回答是，他们住在外面那栋据称“极其豪华”的砖砌建筑里，如今那栋楼被用作厕所。紧挨着它的则是一栋用木板封起来的木结构建筑。我们很自然地询问那是什么建筑。这时，我们被要求停止提问。
那次经历因为种种不当原因而深深印在了我的脑海里。尤其令人沮丧的是，显然有大量与纳特家族相关的被奴役者的历史资料可供使用。纳特家族的档案中存有诸多涉及被奴役者的记录，包括名单、财产清单、买卖契约以及种植园记录。因此，有大量信息可以用来讲述他们的故事，并帮助参观者更全面地了解这片庄园的历史。
朗伍德本身也与这段历史密不可分。建造工程因南北战争而中断，后来地下室部分则由奴隶劳工完成。纳特家族的财富与生活方式，实际上与支撑着他们的奴隶制度密不可分。
我明白历史建筑往往有着艰难而复杂的历史，我也并不期望这些历史是可令人欣然接受的。事实上，这正是我参观的原因。不过，我所期望的是……希望被奴役者的历史能够得到尊重并得到应有的关注——尤其是在这样一个其财富与存续都与该制度紧密相连的庄园里。
然而，在我看来，被奴役者所遭受的苦难与剥削在很大程度上被忽视了，而白人家族的财富与生活方式却被大肆颂扬。
最令人失望的是，我并未要求抹去这段历史或让它变得“温和易接受”。我所要求的恰恰相反。我想了解那些与这个家族共同生活的人——正是他们的辛勤劳动才支撑起了这个家族的生计，而这个家族的故事正是导览所着重讲述的内容。
我想知道他们的名字，他们住在哪里，他们的生活是怎样的，后来发生了什么，他们究竟是谁。
在参观一座南北战争前的种植园时，提出这些问题并无不妥。事实上，这些可以说是游客最应该问的问题。
也许自从我在2017年参观之后，这里的讲解方式有所改变吧。我真心希望它做到了。但以我的经历来看，那完全是浪费金钱，也错失了一个向游客普及美国历史上极其重要一部分内容的绝佳机会。
我是在将近十年前去的，至今仍记得当时有多不自在、多失望。基于我的经历，我不推荐参加这个游览。
我特意前往参观，是为了更深入地了解这个地方的奴隶制历史。我希望向那些曾在此处生活与劳作的奴隶们表达敬意，了解他们的经历、居住环境、生活状况，以及他们与庄园主家族之间的互动关系。我原以为这次参观会提及那段令人不安却又极其重要的历史——那段与奴隶制时期的种植园密不可分的往事。
可惜，实际情况并非如此。
整个讲解几乎完全围绕着建造并居住在那栋房子里的富裕家族展开——他们拥有什么、有多富有，以及他们享受着怎样的奢华生活。这种叙述方式显得极其功利且肤浅。几乎没有任何关于那些被迫劳动才使得这种生活方式成为可能的人的实质性讨论。
有一个场景尤其让我记忆犹新。我们被带去观看餐桌上方的大木制风扇，导游解释说，当时必须有工人站在那里拉绳子来转动风扇，而这一家人则能在酷热中享用晚餐。然而，导游似乎并不把这当作一个说明其中存在的残酷不平等与剥削现象的契机，反而觉得这种情况挺有趣的。我觉得这极其令人不适，也完全不合时宜。
后来我们被带进一个陈列着多幅肖像画的房间，其中有一幅是一位非裔美国男性的画像。我们询问他是谁，能否了解有关他的一些信息。然而我们非但没有得到任何信息，反而因提问而遭到了训斥。我们被明确告知，他“并非奴隶”，只是负责为这所房子的主人纳特先生穿衣，并协助做些家务而已。
现在最让我困扰的是……在我亲自研究过这段历史后发现，其中确实有一个值得讲述的故事。
后来的历史研究证实，画像中的男子名叫弗雷德里克，是纳特家族所拥有的奴隶。历史记录显示，他大约出生于1802年，并在1837年鲁什·纳特的财产清单中被列为奴隶之一。后来，文献中又记载了他与妻子玛丽亚以及他们的孩子们的情况。研究还表明，弗雷德里克在奴隶劳工群体中承担着监督职责，而并非仅仅是个从事家务劳动的人。获得解放后，他改姓贝克，并继续在该地区生活和工作。
换句话说，他并非画像中一个无名的符号。他是一个有名字、有家庭、有生活、有历史的人。
然而，当我们站在他的肖像前，询问他是谁时……我们被劝阻不要提问，得到的解释则把他的生平经历简化为仅为努特先生效力的经历。
我们还询问了那些奴隶们住在哪里。得到的回答是，他们住在外面那栋据称“极其豪华”的砖砌建筑里，如今那栋楼被用作厕所。紧挨着它的则是一栋用木板封起来的木结构建筑。我们很自然地询问那是什么建筑。这时，我们被要求停止提问。
那次经历因为种种不当原因而深深印在了我的脑海里。尤其令人沮丧的是，显然有大量与纳特家族相关的被奴役者的历史资料可供使用。纳特家族的档案中存有诸多涉及被奴役者的记录，包括名单、财产清单、买卖契约以及种植园记录。因此，有大量信息可以用来讲述他们的故事，并帮助参观者更全面地了解这片庄园的历史。
朗伍德本身也与这段历史密不可分。建造工程因南北战争而中断，后来地下室部分则由奴隶劳工完成。纳特家族的财富与生活方式，实际上与支撑着他们的奴隶制度密不可分。
我明白历史建筑往往有着艰难而复杂的历史，我也并不期望这些历史是可令人欣然接受的。事实上，这正是我参观的原因。不过，我所期望的是……希望被奴役者的历史能够得到尊重并得到应有的关注——尤其是在这样一个其财富与存续都与该制度紧密相连的庄园里。
然而，在我看来，被奴役者所遭受的苦难与剥削在很大程度上被忽视了，而白人家族的财富与生活方式却被大肆颂扬。
最令人失望的是，我并未要求抹去这段历史或让它变得“温和易接受”。我所要求的恰恰相反。我想了解那些与这个家族共同生活的人——正是他们的辛勤劳动才支撑起了这个家族的生计，而这个家族的故事正是导览所着重讲述的内容。
我想知道他们的名字，他们住在哪里，他们的生活是怎样的，后来发生了什么，他们究竟是谁。
在参观一座南北战争前的种植园时，提出这些问题并无不妥。事实上，这些可以说是游客最应该问的问题。
也许自从我在2017年参观之后，这里的讲解方式有所改变吧。我真心希望它做到了。但以我的经历来看，那完全是浪费金钱，也错失了一个向游客普及美国历史上极其重要一部分内容的绝佳机会。
我是在将近十年前去的，至今仍记得当时有多不自在、多失望。基于我的经历，我不推荐参加这个游览。
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