Mount Vernon is often referred to as  a “shrine.” The language significantly shapes how it is preserved and understood. It emphasizes a respectful and patriotic view that usually highlights George Washington’s legacy. At the same time, it also downplays the complete history of the site, especially its past as a plantation that relied on enslaved labor. In the reading, it states,” Some slaves were moved there from family estates, while others were sold to mitigate fiscal crises. African American labor restored the fields and idealized past, but their politics challenged the balance of power”.(Scott E. Casper,2009,1463). It is essential to grasp the true history of Mount Vernon and the complex African American roles that played a massive part in the memory of Washington and slavery.