Friday, February 24, 2006

My Enslaved Past

In honor of Black History Month I wanted to post a little note that I left on the Roberson Family guestbook. The Roberson family owned my ancestors who were slaves on the Cross Roads Plantation in Martin County, North Carolina. This fact is known because my family never left that region after slavery and still reside there today. As a matter of fact, my grandmother was raised on the same plantation her grandfather worked as a slave. Her great uncle is the late Rev., William Drew Robeson, who is the father of actor, activist, and singer, the late Paul Robeson. This is a part of my history that I continue to study and I am finding out more and more as time goes on. I hope that you will find this as interesting as I did. I wasn't angry at them for their part in history. I just wanted them to know the names of those people who were affected/infected by their part in history.The note:Stephen Bess
Tuesday, 12/23/03, 8:07 AM

Happy holidays!! I am a descendant of Ezekiel Roberson who was a slave on the Cross Roads plantation. I feel that your website is really important because it gives me a sense of connection to my ancestors in Martin County, NC. I am fortunate because there are many African Americans in this country who have no idea what land their ancestors worked and tilled. My grandmother, Eunice Roberson Best grew up in Robersonville and she taught me all that I know about that area and our family. She joined our ancestors in April of 1999. Her memory will live on forever along with the memory of those who preceded her.

From:
Washington, D.C.

P.S. By the way, a member of the Roberson family did contact me and thanked me for leaving that note. He is a business man in the Raleigh Durham area. He also encouraged me to continue my research. I thanked him.

click the post title for a link to the Roberson Family website

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow!! Stephen you are a great man. Harmony resides in the hearts of those who can see beyond fascism, and the atrocities associated with it. The inhumane and far-reaching repercussions of slavery can never be overstated. It takes a man of your calibre to seek understanding, forgive, and release not only yourself, but all of us from mental slavery. Sorry, this is too difficult, I can feel a fresh lump in my throat just thinking about it!!!!! It churns my stomach!!

Have a great weekend

Stephen A. Bess said...

This subject has churned many a stomach, but it is important to never forget. I won't forget for those African ancestors that never had the pleasure of returning to their loved ones in Africa. I sometimes imagine them and I'm sure that they spoke proudly of their family in Africa (in secret) whenever they had they opportunity. They couldn't wait to sleep at night because they would sometimes dream of their loved ones who would speak to them in their native tongue. Their images became more and more distorted as time passed until they didn't recognize their dreams anymore.

Rose said...

I am one of those folks who don't want to remember but know that I have too. That slavery hurts me,. I would like to trace my roots.

Anonymous said...

I hope it is alright for me to comment on this, It is something that churns in me too... even though I and my ancestors had no part. I never lived in the south but I do know very terrible things still happen today and elsewhere, I love the movie "amastad" it is very powerful!!!!! something people of any race can look to and learn from. All our families struggled and many have ancestors who suffered ....all for and because of diffrent reasons... we just forget that....my grandfather gave his life to make something for his decendants, he did do it of his own free will, which I understand makes it diffrent, but those of us who are amerians now because of the suffering of someone who came before, need to find a way somehow to come together against those who did and still do wrong - and do it in a way that says you try to crush us but struggle makes us more beautiful in the end.
I am very drawn to immagrants now and I reach out to them in honor of my ancestors ...... prejudice has many forms. Your letter was a very good idea ..... You are a voice for the past present and future.

Stacy-Deanne said...

It's wonderful when people can get in touch with their personal family history. I have been tracing the Indian side of my family as well as the black side. My great-grandmother and her side of the family were native Indians and so, I am curious to find out which Indians (by name) they were. I can't find out much about my black side past the people that are still living because all of my older black relatives are dead. The only ones still living are my aunts and uncles who were born in the forties. My aunt has been working on our family tree for years. I loved the post!

NML/Natalie said...

I think you're brilliant Stephen and it takes a person of great spirit to leave a note like that. I think it's wonderful that you know so much about your family. Remembering, knowing gives you a connection that many people are missing from their own ancestry.

Bougie Black Boy said...

Learning our histories is an amazing thing. I applaud you for your interest and ability to research. We'll definitely have to share stories like this.

Anonymous said...

I also think it is great to try and find out as much as possible about our anscestors. I give you huge amouts of credit for taking the time to research your past.
It absolutely breaks my heart in a million pieces to think of how the black peoples used to be treated in slavery! How uncaring the whites used to be of all races that were not white. The Native Americans, the Blacks, etc. it is just really sad.
I am thankful it is SO much better today, but sadly far from non-exsistant. The racisim and not treating everyone as an equal that is. Black, white, young, old, fat, thin, rich, poor, etc, it does not matter. We are all people and deep down we are all the same! I just wish everyone could feel that way.
Ok, sorry I will get off my soap box now. Even though I am white, the whole slavery thing really breaks my heart and makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Superstar Nic said...

Come check out my latest post when you get some time. I gave you a shout out!

Brea said...

Amazing. I wish I could trace my own history. It has been generations of broken homes and dead-beat fathers - the thought of the task overwhelms me.

Stephen A. Bess said...

rose-
I would like to know more about my mother's side. I know less about them.

tu s.tin-
It's difficult for me to deal with suffering of any kind by any human. Thanks for your very heart felt comment and what you said is very relevant to what I said in my post. My only plea to America is to acknowledge that something wrong was done to a people. I don't care for Reparations or any other kind of monetary compensation. I just want them to acknowledge that it took place and that it separated more love than we could ever imagine. Thanks.

stacy-deanne-
Yes, it's so important to know who you are. I applaud you trying to research the Native Indian side. I know that must be difficult because much of their history has been erased. I learned from grandmother a very interesting story about the Native American side. Thanks!

nml-
Thank for that wonderful compliment! I feel completely blessed that I am in touch with that side of my history.

SEJ-
Thanks! Yes, I know snippets of
your history and it sounds very interesting.

Faith-
Yeah, I think that racism, sexism, ageism, and other negative 'isms' will be around for as long as there is a planet Earth. We just have to do all that we can to change attitudes so that the very future generations will become more and more aware. Thank you so much for your comment.

Brea-
I'm not sure if you are a praying woman, but I pray when things become overwhelming. As long as you have faith it will never let you down.

Thank you all for your comments. They were very thought provoking and touching. Enjoy your day!

MZPEACH said...

That's absolutely wonderful that you know your history. I truly have a void in my heart because I do not know mine's. Well....not that far back. But I am working on it.

Geoffrey Philp said...

Stephen, this is an awesome post!
You have moved from recrimination to authenticity.
This is a post that should be memorialized.
Congratulations on this personal victory over the past.

Cheers,
Geoffrey

Stephen A. Bess said...

Brother Geoffrey,
Thank you so much. I feel fortunate to know as much as I do about that past. I give thanks to Lord and my grandmother who taught me so much about who I am. Peace~

Unknown said...

Stephen...you are so much stronger than I am, though I know you are undoubtly younger...I'm proud of you though it may sound strange, but I've drawn strength from reading this...it's helped ease some of the anger that's been rising in me of late...thank you for having the sensibility to realize and recognize the only way to recover from the past is to move forward and prosper.. stay blessed my brother..(((HUGS)))
....just me...daez

Anonymous said...

Stephen,
I was truly elated to read that you are a descendant of the Martin County Robersons. My Mom told me, many years ago, that we were related to Paul Robeson and that his father dropped the ‘r’ to become Robeson rather than have his children carry the slave-owners’ name. My family is from Parmele and Robersonville, NC. My grandfather was Samuel Roberson who married Maggie Highsmith. I currently reside in Orange County, California.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Jacquelyn-
Yes! our family is from Parmele and Robersonville as well. Yes, we are definitely cousins. It would take my grandmothers sister, Josephine Roberson to figure it all out, but yes. We are also related to some Highsmith through marriage. My uncle's name was Carl Highsmith of Williamston. He just died last year. You should email me so we can discuss this some more.

stephen.bess@gmail.com

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