Alamo Trust Board: White Washing History
Alamo Trust Board CEO Kate Rogers pressures board members against accepting primary source documentation of the Alamo’s history, resorting to aggressive tactics to push for the white-washed version
It has been brought to my attention that the leadership of the Alamo Trust Board, specifically Dr. Kate Rogers, is attempting to bully members into accepting the lies about the Alamo defenders. Dr. Kate Roger’s is the Executive Director of the Alamo Trust, a non-profit organization entrusted with the task of overseeing the daily operations of the Alamo site. Dr. Roger’s is leading the $400 million ‘Alamo Master Plan’. I have heard from numerous individuals that she is trying to disregard primary source documentation on the history of slavery and the Alamo. One instance that seriously concerns our community is that during a meeting, Rogers, screamed and approached an African American member of the board using inappropriate tones and body language. She apparently approached this member, face to face, screaming that what the board member was saying about Alamo defenders owning slaves, was only an “opinion.” This inappropriate behavior seems to be common place as attempts are being made to intimidate members into accepting the white washed version of Alamo history. There is nothing wrong with having a difference of opinion, opinion that it well reasoned and documented in primary source material, and not old racial fiction that has been handed down by white supremacists
The attempts to deny the history of the Alamo are not something that this community is willing to accept. Those of us who look at history objectively based on primary source documents will not be pressured into accepting untruths and racist myth in relationship to slavery, Texas Independence and the Alamo Story. William Travis, the weak commander at the Alamo owned slaves and went so far as to file lawsuits to return enslaved human beings to their masters in Louisiana. He also was the gas lighter and fire eater that howled against Mexico for refusing to return runaway slaves to their masters. One could argue that Travis helped to instigate the war with Mexico. The agents of the slavery dream in Texas were Houston, Crockett, James Bowie, William Travis, Lorenzo de Zavala, Stephen F. Austin, Juan Seguin, and Jose Antonio Navarro. Initially, they were manipulative in their self-interest to use the 1824 Mexican constitution to provide a ghost of an excuse. Later, they stopped pretending they were supporting democracy as it edged closer to a white supremacist war.
William Travis would use the race card and the issue of slavery to incite racial hatred against Mexicans. Of course, he stood to become wealthy by all of the turmoil he helped to create. The whirlwind that he co-instigated, in support of slavery, and the apparent greedy path that his law practice hoped to exploit, would soon come. Travis left Alabama seeking fortune in the form of land and slaves under a system that he and other immigrants to Mexico hoped to fulfill. Those leaving the slave holding states, seeking to enrich themselves in the cotton trade, using Black slave labor, were mostly ready to fight and jump on the Travis “War Party’ bandwagon. James Bowie, a major slave owner and a drunk was another slave owner. In the eyes of some, the Alamo became more sacred than a Buddhist Temple. Moreover, it always had a strong connection to the ideals of white supremacy and the institution of slavery.
I don’t believe in sugar coating the horrible denigrations so many Alamo historians have done either out of ignorance, racism, or fear of a white racist backlash that often involves physical threats to authors and activists that threaten to reveal the true agendas of the leaders of Texas independence. The proof of this racist history is enshrined in the Texas Constitution after the defeat of Mexico. Slavery was made legal and free Blacks that did not support white supremacy were chased out of the state.
After requesting a comment from The Alamo Trust Board they responded with the ‘default’ response as anyone would to these allegations:
The Alamo Trust, Inc. (ATI) and the Alamo’s Museum Planning Committee (MPC) are dedicated to obtaining community input and accurately presenting the Alamo’s complete history. We want to clarify that neither Dr. Kate Rogers nor any committee member has suggested disregarding primary sources. Additionally, while differing opinions may arise, the MPC has always maintained a respectful and constructive environment during discussions. ATI is dedicated to ensuring the comprehensive representation of the full Alamo’s history, including significant subjects such as slavery and the Texas Revolution, which will not be omitted from the future Alamo Visitor Center and Museum. We remain steadfast in our goal to present a comprehensive and accurate history of the Alamo when the museum opens in 2027.
Did we expect a different response? Did we expect her to say ‘yes i yelled at them’, of course not especially not from Kate Rogers. We expect Kate to do better and for the oversight of her position to ensure these actions do not happen again nor make any member feel attacked. Do better Alamo ‘Trust’.
