Photography: This Year's Cotton Crop

These are some photos I took on the way to North Carolina two weeks ago. I love taking pictures of cotton. It's part of my heritage and who I am. Many of us (white and black Americans) would like to forget about the not so distant past when African Americans were slaves in this country, but it's difficult for me to forget because my family never completely left the county our ancestors were enslaved in. Therefore, I celebrate the beauty of that heritage in writing, pictures, and song (when I learn how to play an instrument or sing). *smile* I embrace and love that part of me that touches down deep...deep in my soul. Peace~

History: The Great Negro Plot

Today in history:

May 11, 1741
The execution of 31 Blacks and 4 Whites begins for their alleged conspiracy in the “Negro Plot”. 70 other enslaved Blacks are transported out of New York City.

Book on Subject: The Great Negro Plot: A Tale of Conspiracy and Murder in 18th-Century New York by Mat Johnson (2007).

I own a signed copy of Mat Johnson's book. I had a chance to attend his book reading in early spring. He seems like a really nice guy and I'm looking forward to reading his book. It's part of my summer line up. I have an idea of what I'll be reading this summer, but I need to "line" them up and get started. If you're like me you like to stay on the subject. In other words, if I'm reading about slave mutiny then I'll read about three other books on the subject. I don't know...I guess I'm hooked on African American history and the past. I mean, just look at my screen background at work. Yes, a field of good ol' southern cotton. I don't keep this picture as my background, but today was as good a day as any. Besides, it is part of my past and also part of my attire today because I'm wearing jeans. Enjoy your weekend. Peace~

Photography: The NC I See

Share-Croppers

By: Langston Hughes

Just a herd of Negroes

Driven to the field,

Plowing, planting, hoeing,

To make the cotton yield.
When the cotton's picked

And the work is done

Boss man takes the money

And we get none,
Leaves us hungry, ragged

As we were before.

Year by year goes by

And we are nothing more

Than a herd of Negroes

Driven to the field--

Plowing life away

To make the cotton yield.

These are photos that I took on Wednesday in Martin County, North Carolina. Martin County represents my roots here in America and cotton is where it all began. Have a great weekend!

Connected To Cotton

This is my view I get whenever I travel to North Carolina during the Fall season. I never get used to the splendor of the cotton fields when I am driving down Hwy 125/903 south. My grandfather spoke of picking cotton just to feed his family. That made me proud when he told me that because he did whatever he had to do to take care of his family; I'd like to think that I would do the same. I thought of him as I traveled back on Sunday listening to Curtis Mayfield (I listen to Curtis whenever I travel on Hwy 125...it's my little tradition). I listened to my music and I thought of grandfather as I looked across the cotton fields as far as the eye could see. The cotton field. It's a beautiful sight connected to an ugly past.