Although George Washington was opposed to slavery on paper, he saw them as a necessity to being a successful landowner. He left instructions in his will that all of his 124 slaves be freed after his wife died. He also ordered that younger black people be taught a trade or educated, and he provided a fund for the care of the sick or aged. Of the eight presidents who owned slaves during their presidency, Washington is the only one who freed all of them. His will indicates that he did foresee a biracial society.
Washington’s actions may be connected with the fact that 90% of people with the surname Washington are African American. Many African Americans simply chose their last name once it was allowed, and some people suspect that the fame and respect for Washington led to many of them choosing “Washington.”
See Jesse Washington, Washington: The ‘Blackest Name’ in America, The A.P., Feb. 21, 2011.
