Philadelphia is the home of the tie between the Second Continental Congress and the Bank of North America. The founders of the bank, Robert Morris and Thomas Willing, were partners who trafficked in the buying and selling of humans. Morris was the first superintendent of finance and a signer of the U.S. Constitution. Willing was the sixth mayor of Philadelphia. The Bank of North America is the predecessor of Wachovia Bank. The Second Continental Congress is the predecessor of the U.S. Congress.

These institutions were involved in the horrific destruction of life, culture and human possibility that was the enslavement of Africans and their descendents in America. What has changed? Only the names, stockholders, boards and elected representatives.

I mean, on one hand, it’s comforting that these guys are definitely not going to lose your money. But on the other, you know: Slaves. Probably not even sexy ones.
DN: Let Me Hold Onto That For You

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 20th, 2007 at 8:30 am.