akblack10
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I visited the last plantation in Florida today. That's to say, the last standing home from the days of slavery and plantations in Florida, the Gamble Mansion and Plantation in Ellenton.
The Gamble House State Park sits on 16 remaining acres of what was once a 3600 acre sugar plantation. Built over a period of 5 years, starting in 1842, near the end of the Seminal Indian Wars. The Gamble House remains an outstanding example of Greek revival architecture, a beautiful mansion built in an extremely harsh environment considering the times. There were still occasional attacks by indians, the vegetation was extremely dense, mosquitos were everywhere, and of course, one had to deal with the hot muggy Florida weather, at a time long before air conditioners!
As I toured the mansion and its grounds, I thought, 'wow… what an amazing achievement,' which it was…. but then I remembered that Major Gamble, who built the mansion, had forced labor from 40 slaves brought to the plantation from his childhood home near Tallahassee. I imagined how difficult the life of a slave must have been in 1842 and I'm sure I have no idea the horror slaves experienced! How could this have happened anywhere much less here in America? Not wanting to over simplify the causes of slavery, I quickly concluded that at the time, 1842, slavery in the American South and in other parts of the world was considered "normal." Then I started to think about "what is normal?"
To many of my friends, living most of the year in a small RV like I have done for the last 3 years, is certainly not considered "normal." So to my vehicle-dwelling friends, don't worry too much about what society considers "normal." Remember that "normal" is not always correct, as is the case with slavery! Enjoy all the freedom a "vehicle dwelling life" allows and stop worrying about being "normal."
The Gamble House State Park sits on 16 remaining acres of what was once a 3600 acre sugar plantation. Built over a period of 5 years, starting in 1842, near the end of the Seminal Indian Wars. The Gamble House remains an outstanding example of Greek revival architecture, a beautiful mansion built in an extremely harsh environment considering the times. There were still occasional attacks by indians, the vegetation was extremely dense, mosquitos were everywhere, and of course, one had to deal with the hot muggy Florida weather, at a time long before air conditioners!
As I toured the mansion and its grounds, I thought, 'wow… what an amazing achievement,' which it was…. but then I remembered that Major Gamble, who built the mansion, had forced labor from 40 slaves brought to the plantation from his childhood home near Tallahassee. I imagined how difficult the life of a slave must have been in 1842 and I'm sure I have no idea the horror slaves experienced! How could this have happened anywhere much less here in America? Not wanting to over simplify the causes of slavery, I quickly concluded that at the time, 1842, slavery in the American South and in other parts of the world was considered "normal." Then I started to think about "what is normal?"
To many of my friends, living most of the year in a small RV like I have done for the last 3 years, is certainly not considered "normal." So to my vehicle-dwelling friends, don't worry too much about what society considers "normal." Remember that "normal" is not always correct, as is the case with slavery! Enjoy all the freedom a "vehicle dwelling life" allows and stop worrying about being "normal."
