Great point, but I’ll suggest we consider that his slave owning experience may have enhanced his military governance. Why? Because roughly 5,000 to 8,000 Black soldiers served in the Continental Army because George Washington ordered policies that allowed Black men who signed up, or who were signed up, to be freed.

So yes I concede Washington had military readiness down. I’ll add that his slave owning background intersected with decisions that allowed for Black men’s lives to be sold one more time, now with the promise that this would be the last time.

Those who benefitted from the system of slavery, even indirectly, are the ones I tend to question more critically.