‘Chatham For All’ event to focus on removal of Confederate monuments, symbols

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Chatham For All’s Mark Barroso is a life-long Southerner who grew up in Virginia and lived in Florida before moving to North Carolina in 1998. His mother’s side of the family settled in Franklin County in North Carolina the mid-1700s. He has been an investigative television journalist, a producer for national news networks, a documentary filmmaker and a soundman for films and television shows. He has a lifelong interest in history, politics, current affairs and justice for all. This week, the News + Record speaks to Barroso about the upcoming “A House Divided” panel discussion, set for 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Chatham Agriculture and Conference Center in Pittsboro.

In the “A House Divided” flyer, it’s written that the controversy over the removal of Confederate monuments is “challenging family histories, estranging neighbors, and distressing businesses and communities.” What’s most unique about how this has played out in Chatham County?

If you have believed your entire life that your ancestors fought and died for a noble cause, it’s very distressing to hear evidence and arguments to the contrary. It cuts to the core of a person’s identity, and I get why there is a lot resistance and anger. However, we are proud that the process for removal was done legally, peacefully and with respect after months of debate.

What’s the goal of this event on the 15th, and what can those who attend expect to hear and learn?

There were a lot of inconvenient facts and truths about the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era that were ignored when we went through school. A lot of these were made by people we loved and respected. It still stings a little, like I was betrayed by them to find out how racism was the foundation of a lot of what I knew about America, but if you’re swimming in a fish tank it’s hard to know about the bigger pond.

Our long-term goal is that people, particularly the next generation, have the facts, and not myths that gloss over history that make us uncomfortable.

Who should attend?

Everyone who is open to truth should attend. But the truth is complicated. Sometimes our leaders deceive us about why we go to war, or the purpose of a public policy, or a monument in the town square, and it’s not until sometime later that the truth comes out. Plus, it’s free and open to the public.

How were the speakers — scholars from UNC and Duke — chosen?

We reached out to a professor at UNC, who then recruited colleagues who are nationally renowned for their knowledge about this period in history. One is even a military historian. They have followed the events here and wanted to contribute to the conversation. We’re lucky to have them. The speakers include Dr. W. Fitzhugh Brundage, William Umstead Distinguished Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill; Dr. William Sturkey, Associate Professor of American History, Faculty Advisor of the UNC Center for the American South; Dr. Thavolia Glymph, Professor of History and Law, Duke University; and Dr. Joseph T. Glatthaar, Stephenson Distinguished Professor and Adjunct Professor of the Curriculum in Peace, War and Defense at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Given the tenor of the protests in Chatham prior to and after the removal of the monument in Pittsboro, are you anticipating protesters at your event?

We hope that people come to listen, learn and be respectful of other people’s right to do the same. We’re asking people to leave their signs and flags at home. If someone cannot be respectful, they will be asked to leave and possibly be escorted out by a sheriff’s deputy.

Chatham For All is producing this in association with AbundanceNC. What’s Chatham For All working on next?

As you know, the UDC has appealed the decision to remove the monument, and we will continue to support the County’s decision to defend themselves in court.

Some people think that the people behind this are all newcomers who want to erase history and change Chatham County. How do you answer that?

Well, yes, the influx of newcomers certainly is changing Chatham County and it’s only going to increase. I’m glad there are more choices of where to eat, more jobs and opportunities for people, and more diversity. The traffic in Pittsboro, however, not so much. You’d be surprised, however, how much support we’ve gotten from long-time residents, and many-generational Southerners, many of whom want to stay in the background because they think it’s too risky for them personally to rock the boat. As for erasing history, come on the 15th and find out.