Morphological Confetti

Rhiannon Giddens' music is based on a collective number of slave narratives. This is an absolutely beautiful way to preserve the history of our enslaved ancestors; it addresses and expresses the very heart of wanting to be free from bondage. Thank you, Rhiannon Giddens. Lovely.

I have often wondered if I had a relative who fought in the Revolutionary War.  I have proof of the other major American wars that my enslaved and free ancestors fought and served, but the Revolutionary War remains a mystery.  However, I am proud to know that there were more individuals of color than Crispus Attucks and Peter Salem who fought and died in America's quest for Independence. American History: On April 17, 1775, black and white Minutemen fought British Soldiers at Lexington and Concord. This is something my high school History teachers never taught me. In fact, I doubt if they knew. “In Massachusetts alone, 840 minorities served in the Revolutionary War, 740 were recorded as black or mulatto and 100 recorded as Indians. Armed men and women, white and colored, repelled the British at Concord, Lexington and elsewhere. They fought at Bunker Hill. They were members of George Washington’s Continental Army.” Sources: Larson, Joseph S. "Profes...

The Slave Singing at Midnight By:   Henry Wadsworth  Longfellow Loud he sang the psalm of David! He, a Negro and enslaved, Sang of Israel's victory, Sang of Zion, bright and free. In that hour, when night is calmest, Sang he from the Hebrew Psalmist, In a voice so sweet and clear That I could not choose but hear, Songs of triumph, and ascriptions, Such as reached the swart Egyptians, When upon the Red Sea coast Perished Pharaoh and his host. And the voice of his devotion Filled my soul with strange emotion; For its tones by turns were glad, Sweetly solemn, wildly sad. Paul and Silas, in their prison, Sang of Christ, the Lord arisen. And an earthquake's arm of might Broke their dungeon-gates at night. But, alas! what holy angel Brings the Slave this glad evangel? And what earthquake's arm of might Breaks his dungeon-gates at night?

Interesting fact:   In 1780, Pennsylvania became the  FIRST state to abolish Slavery in America.  In 2010, the Southern Poverty Law Center identified 36 hate groups in the state of Pennsylvania; It's the seventh highest in the nation. In the United States there are 1,000 identified hate organizations.  In the end, Pennsylvania is a great state to visit, but I just wanted to share this for the sake of information and history.  Now, you can Smile.  Peace~ Sources:   blackfacts.com and thetimes-tribune.com

On this day, July 1, 1889, American abolitionist, author, and orator, Frederick Douglass was named Minister to Haiti.  Douglass was appointed by President William Henry Harrison.  The appointment lasted for 2 years until 1891. Frederick died four years later at his home - Cedar Hill - in Washington, D.C. in 1895. "What To The Slave Is The 4th Of July?" FREDERICK DOUGLASS SPEECH, 1852

In the American system of slavery, African Americans had many ways to resist the dehumanizing conditions that existed. The songs they sang (known today as Negro Spirituals) had a purpose: they were sung to express their grief, petition to their God, and soothe the pain of bondage. Most of the songs were made up from stories they heard in the Bible, but they all seem had the same underlining plea – Freedom. Here is an example: Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel? Deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel? They why not every man? He delivered Daniel from the lion’s den, Jonah from the belly of a whale, The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace, Then why not every man? Well, the ancestors were eventually released from bondage and entered into the American Aparthied system of Jim Crow. In these modern times, African Americans have marched, staged sit-ins, and fought up to the very moment Barack Obama was sworn in as president of the United States. So, what are we resisting to...

Today in history: In 1824, former slaves of African descent established a settlement in West Africa that would eventually become the country of Liberia . Thousands of African Americans from the Carolinas, Georgia, Maryland, and across the country joined in the settlement. There were many black people from the Caribbean who also joined the settlement. It was a chance to reconnect with Mother Africa and the people. Unfortunately, Some of the black folk (placed in power) who settled there brought with them "Mastas" mentality building huge replicas of plantation homes. They maintained their American style of dress and in some of their minds they became the new "Boss." This caused division and resentment among the indigenous people and the fighting and bloodshed has continued till this day. God bless Africa. Sources: Informationman.com and The Library of Congress Archives Photo source: Disney's Inc., Warner Bros. and Matt Groening

Denmark Vesey (Telemanque) was born 1767 in West Africa. As a child, he was captured by slavers and transported to the Americas. Denmark spent his early years on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas. In 1781, a slaver named Captain Joseph Vesey of Charleston, SC., purchased the young Denmark. Denmark would remain a “model” domestic slave for 20 years. Fortunately, in 1800 Denmark won a $1,500 lottery prize and used the money to purchase his own freedom. After becoming a free man, Denmark worked as a carpenter and made an honest living in the city of Charleston. Although Denmark was now "free," he was still dissatisfied with the plight of his brothers and sisters still in bondage. In 1816, Denmark co-founded a Charleston branch (Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church) the A.M.E. Church. Vesey would continue with church activities over the next few years. The year was now 1822 and Denmark Vesey made up his mind to mobilize the masses of freed and enslaved Africans for...

Map of Pain Despite this map of Pain I have my P ride I have my A mbition I have my I ntegrity, and I have my N ame Despite this map of Pain By: Stephen Bess

Did you hear? Harriet Tubman smiled one night in December; I wish I could’ve seen it. I wish there was a photographer or sketch artist who could’ve captured it at the very moment when Momma Tubman smiled. I imagine the moment; she closed her eyes and stretched her arms to the cold December sky as she gave thanks to God. “I give you all the praises and all the glory dear Lord! Praise you Jesus!" Moses shouted as she looked across the field towards that land called Canaan. It wasn’t long ago when she was back in Dorchester County, Maryland. She went back to get her people. Harriet Tubman was determined to facilitate the manumission of her family members. She would eventually achieve that mission, but on Christmas Eve night in 1854 she would call upon two of her brothers Benjamin, 28 and Robert, 35. There were two other men and a woman from a nearby plantation, John Case, 20, Peter Jackson (age?), and Jane Kane, 22. The December air was cold, but they were all warm and brimming with...

  In October of 1858 Sojourner Truth gave a series of lectures in Silver Lake, Indiana, on the abolition of slavery. During the course of her lectures, rumors were circulated that she was actually a man posing as a woman. At her final talk, a man challenged the notion and asked Sojourner to prove her womanhood by allowing certain women in the audience to examine her breast. The challenge was soon put to a vote and the overwhelming vote was “aye.” Many of the women in the audience were appalled by the request, but Sojourner Truth appeared undaunted. She told the men that her breasts had suckled many a white babe, to the exclusion of her own offspring, and that many of these babies had grown to be better men than those in the audience. From her place in front of the congregation Sojourner Truth revealed her breasts and told the men that it was not to her shame that she did so but to theirs. Sources: Narrative of Sojourner Truth. A bondwoman of Olden Time, Olive Gilbert, comp. (...

Maryland History Samuel Ringgold Ward was born a slave in Maryland on October 17, 1817. In 1820, The Ward family escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad when Ward was around 3 years old. They eventually made it to New York where the young Samuel would attend school. Although he was too young to remember the brutality of Slavery, Samuel Ringgold Ward went on to become one of Slavery’s most eloquent orators. In 1839 Samuel became an agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society. His work also took him to Canada and Britain. Ward’s abolitionist work would continue throughout his life. He eventually retired in Jamaica where he died in 1866. Sources: Wikipedia.org and Blackpast.org

What is the first name that comes to mind when you think of The Underground Railroad? Harriet Tubman ? Yes! This is exactly what the public school system taught many of us. History teachers rarely spoke of any other conductors in The Underground Railroad. Now, Mother Tubman will always be the beloved star of the Underground, but there were others who courageously led hundreds or maybe thousands of enslaved Africans to freedom. For instance, a white southerner by the name of John Fairfield would lead hundreds to freedom through The Underground Railroad in the 1850s. Now, there were many whites who assisted the emancipation of thousands of Africans in captivity, but John Fairfield was from a slave-holding family in Virginia. Fairfield would often use his family history to his advantage and pose as a slave holder or bounty hunter on his trips south. Fairfield saw slavery as an evil institution and saw it first-hand as a youngster on the plantation in Virginia. He saw husbands sol...

Have you ever wondered why some black folk tend to “shout” or “get happy” during church service? Long ago, after or during the church service, some of the congregation would join in a “ring shout.” It is an African praise tradition that has survived a deliberate and somewhat successful campaign to "De- Africanize" the black man and woman here in America during slavery. Sadly, many of our black educated ministers and church goers have abandoned this form of spiritual expression. They associate this sort of behavior as “geechee,” “country,” or just plain unsophisticated. Fortunately, this African praise tradition has prevailed today in some black churches here in America. This is especially true down south thanks to black women. It’s one of the few remnants of African culture that was not completely destroyed by bondage. It’s part of our beautiful culture. It’s even more beautiful to behold. “The men and women arranged themselves in a ring. The music started, perhaps with...

I recently picked up a book at the used bookstore near my job. I know…that’s nothing new for me, but this book was old and the title immediately caught my attention. The title of this book is, Eneas Africanus , by Harry Stillwell Edwards. I said to myself, ‘what kind of animal is this about with a name like Eneas Africanus?’ I flipped through the book and read the dust jacket. I found out that this book is about a man. I immediately became interested enough to purchased the book for $2.00. Author information: Favored Southern American author, Harry Stillwell Edwards, first wrote this as a series that ran in the Macon Evening News in Macon, Georgia (of which he was also part owner and co-editor). It was considered his most popular work. As a matter of fact, the series was so popular that it would eventually be published as a book in 1920; it sold over three million copies. Grosset & Dunlap, Inc. republished the edition that I have in 1940 and it became popular all over again in the ...

One can only imagine the patriotic climate in America between the years of 1776 and 1800. 1776 was, of course, the year that America won its Independence from England in the Revolutionary war. America was now free! Crispus Attucks was now dead. Now, it’s time to build. America was finally free from the grips of British rule. Yes, freedom was the word of the day. Freedom for all citizens! Well, freedom as long as you were not of African descent. Gabriel Prosser was born that same year of 1776, a slave to Thomas Prosser on the Brookfield Plantation in Henrico County, Virginia. Gabriel was of African descent. In fact, he was an African born under the American system of slavery! However, it seems that his owner, Thomas Prosser, was somewhat of a "liberal" master and allowed the young Gabriel to be educated. Yes, Gabriel learned to read and write. Prosser also allowed the young and growing Gabriel to learn the trade of Black Smith. This skill would be a benefit to Gabriel becaus...

I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend, but I am also looking forward to a little research. I am focusing on black resistance in the diaspora next week. Nat Turner led an insurrection against slavery in August of 1831 that left over 50 whites dead. Women and babies were not exempt from the carnage. He said that it was a mission ordained to him by God. This horrific deed that cost the lives of innocent babies and human lives was meant to send a message -- Let my people Go! This band of more than 75 black men wanted freedom at any cost. They were eventually caught and put to death for what they beleived. Nat Turner was said to unmoved by his fate. Today, these men would be called terrorist, but were they really? Some might say that living under the conditions of forced servitude drove Nat Turner into a murderous mission for freedom. Well, I'll let you decide. Was it insurrection or insanity? Coming Soon: "The Birth of a Nation" (2016) Directed by Nate Parker ...

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 wa...