"Oh, Say Can You See..." In Context

April 20, 2024 (Vol. 18 No. 20) - I guess it was inevitable. Within days of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the mouth of the Baltimore harbor, a self-appointed group of community activists proclaimed that the replacement bridge should be christened under another name. It seems that, at least in their eyes, Francis Scott Key was an unredeemable racist who should be stricken from our history. They propose that the replacement bridge be named for the late Congressman Parren Mitchell, a civil rights pioneer and first black man elected to Congress from Maryland. Make no mistake about it, Mitchell is worthy of the honor, However, as a historian, I happen to believe that Key is, as well. There are those among us who want to view history through a 21st century filter that ignores the context of past events. Yes, there are aspects of Key's record that do not appear favorable in the light of today's reality. But here's the rub: Francis Scott Key did not live in the 21st century. He lived in the 19th century, a time where he was honored among his peers and was even considered somewhat liberal when it came to his attitudes toward race. I have no problem in pointing out the flaws in the man. But can't we do so with an understanding of the social, moral and political constraints of his time? I have no problem removing confederate civil war statutes that glorify "The Lost Cause" from public grounds. After all, by definition, the confederates were engaged in treason. On the other hand, I have no problem of public remembrances of the Civil War, including the recognition of those who sacrificed their lives for a misguided cause. I feel the same way about Key. Frankly, whether or not he was "a good man" is not a slam dunk either way. My view is, that in the context of his time, the good Key did for the people of Baltimore, Maryland, and the United States - black and white - outweighs the negatives. I don't believe we should whitewash our history. But I also don't believe we should erase it, either. The only ethical approach to the study of history is to do so within the context of the times. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.