This weekend and today, particularly, we celebrate George Washington, First President of the United States, known also as “The Father of His Country.”  He was also a slave-owner (though it should be noted that in his will he instructed that his slaves be freed upon the death of his wife).

While today we celebrate Washington’s Birthday and Washington himself, this month we celebrate Black History Month.  As we do, one question is: how do we reconcile Washington’s ownership of slaves?

Interestingly, Mount Vernon (Washington’s home) has created a “Ten Facts About Washington & Slavery” which is well worth reading.

What does all this mean? Does it undercut all of Washington’s many accomplishments?  Presumably not.  On the other hand, we cannot ignore that he participated (and, by some accounts, quite harshly) in the institution of slavery and slave ownership.

Some will say that Washington in owning slaves was merely a product of his time and place.  Perhaps.  But, we also see John Adams, the second President of the United States, did not own slaves, employed free Black men, and opposed slavery (though, it must be noted that Adams was against the Abolitionist movement).

So, how do we rate Washington and what do we make of his participation in the institution of slavery?  At a minimum, I’d say we need to make it a bigger part of the curriculum in schools.  It would be better if we did less to deify Washington and more to study his life and work as a person of flesh and blood with strengths and failings.

We heard a lot last year in the context of Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island about having a conversation about race in this country.  By all means. And, if we’re going to have that conversation, let’s start at the beginning of the story, and make sure that we talk about the reality of the Founding Fathers both good and bad.