Brian Evans, a semiconductor scientist who is a descendant of abolitionist John Brown, echoed Douglass Greene’s concerns about how American history is remembered and taught.
“I think it’s very important on the 250th [anniversary] that we don’t venerate the founding fathers the way we have been taught to through school. They were not persons who wanted democracy. Remember, they were all slaveholders. They were not going to change that themselves,” Evans said.
Kevin Douglass Greene, a direct descendant of Frederick Douglass, and Brian Evans, a direct descendant of abolitionist John Brown, visit the President’s House slavery exhibit on Independence Mall. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
“We have to understand that they were — yes, they wanted to get away from King George, but they wanted to be King George in a new land. And so, they brought those ideas, etc., over here,” he continued.
Evans went on to say that he thinks the founding fathers had a bad record on human rights.
“Remember, women didn’t have rights. Non-property owners didn’t have rights,” he said.
Evans said the current Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Constitution is taking the country backward, contributing to voting rights disputes and opening the door to gerrymandering in states, including Tennessee and Alabama.
Douglass Greene and Evans said the country has a long way to go to address the legacy of slavery.
Evans said he is working with historically Black colleges and universities to teach entrepreneurship through a NASA partnership tied to a semiconductor patent he holds. He hopes the effort will create opportunities for future entrepreneurs of color.