Rhiannon Giddens- "Julie"

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.

Revolutionary War: Black Minutemen

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. "Professional Firearms Training." Professional Firearms Training. Web. 19 Apr. 2012.


"Selected Black Facts for April 19." Selected Black Facts for April 19. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. http://blackfacts.com/.

Lingering question from Longfellow

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?

Hateful Fact

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

Douglass, Haiti, and the 4th of July

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

Oscar Brown Jr: Bid em in Cartoon

Resistance Music

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 today? What is the new resistance? What has the majority of us in bondage (mental or physical)? What do our resistance songs sound like? In the 60s and 70s we had resistance music: Sam Cooke sang that A Change [was] Gonna Come; James Brown screamed, Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm proud; and in 1989 a group of Hip Hop artist like Chuck D, KRS One, and MC Lyte came together to protest Black on Black crime with their hit, Self Destruction. Honorable mention: All of Bob Marley's music. Can you think of any resistance songs of today? Is is all "Underground?" Help us out:

Today in History: Liberia

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

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 the sake of freedom. He was inspired by the revolution that had taken place in Haiti. Vesey’s rebellion was originally scheduled for July 14, 1822. He had gathered the support of 1900 men. His plan was to slay the masters, seize Charleston, S.C., and sail to newly independent black country of Haiti to escape retaliation.

This is all the information that two of Vesey's recruits needed to tell the authorities in Charleston about Vesey’s planned revolt. Vesey soon learned of the betrayal on June 16, 1822 and attempted to launch his rebellion, but authorities would seize him on June 18, 1822 before he could carry out this bloody mission. The authorities’ decision: 12 were pardoned and 37, including Denmark Vesey, were hanged. There are some who speculate that the entire Vesey plot was a hoax; Nevertheless, there had been many slave revolts in North America, South America, and the Caribbean since the beginning of the colonies. There would be more to follow:

Nat Turner, North Hampton County, Virginia --1831; Guyana, The Demerara Rebellions of 1795 and 1823; Jamaica's Baptist War, 1831-1832, led by the Baptist preacher, Samuel Sharpe; the Black Seminole Rebellion (Maroon and Slaves combined) 1835 and Joseph Cinque, Cuban Amistad ship in 1839.

Sources: africawithin.com, and siu.edu, and wikipedia.org

Poem 3: Map of Pain

Map of Pain

Despite this map of Pain

I have my Pride
I have my Ambition

I have my Integrity,

and I have my Name

Despite this map of Pain

By: Stephen Bess

Harriet's Smile

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 thoughts of freedom. They heard the song:

“Steal away, steal away
Steal away to Jesus
Steal away, steal away
I ain't got long to stay here”

They quietly and expeditiously took their first steps towards freedom and left that old troubled world behind; I said they left that old troubled world behind and didn’t turn back as they slipped into the darkness of the Maryland woods. Now, freedom was more than a word, and Christmas carried a truer meaning; it meant FREEDOM. Harriet would make many trips to Maryland after this, but this was a glorious one. She was the conductor on that train to glory one December night. "Glory, Glory Hallelujah," Harriet shouted as she gave thanks to God and smiled. Merry Christmas.

Photo source: The Baltimore Sun

Book on subject: Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, by Kadir Nelson

Sojourner...The Truth!

 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. (New York: Arno, 1968 [1878]), pp. 137-139. (excerpt from Aren’t I a Woman? Female Slaves in the Plantation South, Deborah Gray White, 1985)

Wikipedia.org

Note: Abridged excerpt.

Samuel Ringgold Ward

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

John Fairfield: Freedom Blood

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 sold away from their wives and children sold away from their mothers. His goal during his 12 years as an Underground Railroad conductor was to unite loved ones who had been sold off. This was often profitable for white men who made a career in helping fugitives. Slaves would save money for years and give their life savings for freedom. Fairfield would often take their money. However, his ultimate goal was freedom. So, if they didn’t have money he would still ask them to join him.

John Fairfield would fight to the death to achieve freedom for the African in America and often made those he led to freedom pledge the same. He was not afraid to use the gun and often did so when it came to freedom for all. The receivers of his passionate bullets were often white and he had no remorse for those who stood in his way. He once told the Quaker abolitionist, Levi Coffin that “…Slaveholders are all devils, and it is no harm to kill the devil.” John Fairfield would go on to lead this often bloody quest for freedom until he himself was reportedly killed in the late 1850s during a slave revolt in Tennessee. This period in American history would mark the beginning of the Civil War (1861-1865). This would also mark one of the bloodiest of times in American history.

Note: The Undergound Railroad was a network of over 3,000 homes and other "stations" that assisted fugitive slaves in their quest for freedom

Sources: http://www.nationalcenter.org, http://www.freedomcenter.org, www.americaslibrary.gov and Wikipedia.org

Source and book on subject: The Creole Mutiny: A Tale of Revolt Aboard a Slave Shipby George Hendrick & Willene Hendrick (Author)

The African Spirit: Ring Shouting

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 a Spiritual, and the ring began to move, at first slowly, then with quickening pace. The same musical phrase was repeated over and over for hours. This produced an ecstatic state. Women screamed and fell. Men, exhausted, dropped out of the ring.”

Nowadays, the ring shout is not so obvious. Individuals may take off running completely around the church. I was recently amazed when I witnessed this because the woman was older and very large. I’ve also seen where a few men and women would form a circle and dance - in the spirit - inside the circle. At this point, some of the choir members are “shouting” and ushers on the floor are attending to individuals within the congregation who are also "caught up in the Spirit." Yes, the Spirit is still with us even in the wilderness. My wife loves to say, "you can take an African out of Africa, but you can’t take the African out of them." Well my love... at least not completely.

Photo Source: http://www.negrospirituals.com/song.htm, http://everyscreen.com/photos_04/LondonBlackChurch

Book on subject: Come Shouting to Zion: African American Protestantism in the American South and British Caribbean to 1830 By: Sylvia R. Frey, Betty Wood

Eneas Africanus

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 North.

Now, Eneas Africanus is the story of a “devoted southern darky” named Eneas. Well, his full name was likely Eneas Tommey because Major George E Tommey owned him.

He was the Major’s favorite.He was a “vanishing type” who was true and faithful to his “white folks.” He was good “ol nigger Eneas.”

The year was 1864 and Federal Troops were closing in on Major Tommey’s stock farm and plantation. The major panicked because there was no one around to hide and relocate the family valuables and heirlooms. The troops had all retreated South to Jefferson County without any packages. So, the Major went to his trusted old Negro, Eneas. He gave Eneas specific instructions to take his valuables, Confederate money and a treasured heirlooms to the Tommey Home, located in Jefferson County. Eneas started his journey on a wagon equipped with an old flea bitten mare named, “Lady Chain,” a young pony called “Lightning” and a smile.

Eneas was a “vanishing type” who was true and faithful to his “white folks.”

Well, Eneas did vanish. This relatively short trip took Eneas on a journey that lasted for eight years. He traveled over 3350 miles and made connections with good “white folks” in at least seven states. How did that happen? You see, there were several counties in the south called Jefferson County. Eneas would ask for directions, but his inability to articulate where he was going took him everywhere else but ‘home.’ Eneas continued his journey throughout the South. He told everyone along the way about how wonderful ‘Marse’ Tommey was and how well he treated his slaves. He described a grand Plantation adorned with beautiful Oaks and luxurious fountains. They all felt that he was a lying “black rascal,” but likeable and humble. Somewhere along the journey Eneas was able to make some money from Major Tommey’s young pony. ‘Lightning’ was now a young racehorse and Eneas won races all across the South with him. He was also able to find a young mulatto wife in Alabama who joined him on his journey. They eventually had two children.

Well, It’s now October of 1872. The war is over and the slaves are “free.” Eneas was finally able to reconnect with his Master. They were both elated to see each other! Eneas told Major Tommey about his eight-year journey and all about the money that he made racing the horse. He also told the major all about his new young wife and two children. Naturally, Eneas offered Major Tommey all the money that he won racing and a lifetime of servitude by him and his new family. The Major told him to keep the money, because Eneas along with his wife and children were payment enough.

Eneas Africanus was a “vanishing type” who was true and faithful to his “white folks.” He was last of the good ol’ “southern darkies” or was he?

Freedom or Death: The Prosser Rebellion of 1800

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 because this allowed him to be hired out to different plantations for work. Gabriel worked and he learned. He learned and he worked. He began to hear that there were black people in other parts of the world who were also oppressed as he was. He heard of a man named Toussaint L'Overture, who led the Haitian people to Independence in 1790 after defeating the French. Gabriel also heard of the French Revolution that followed. He saw that people all over the world were fighting and dying for freedom at any cost. Gabriel Prosser began to think about freedom.

The year is now 1800 and Gabriel is 24 years old. It was time for freedom! He began to talk to other slaves and he spoke to them about revolution. He spoke of Toussaint and what he did in Haiti. Gabriel urged them all to join with him to take back their God given rights as men. His support grew. They were mostly slaves, but some were also freeman, white artisans, religious supporters, and French sympathizers. Gabriel soon had his army, which included the support of over 1,000 slaves.

The Plan

The event was planned for August 30, 1800. Slaves from adjoining counties would all meet just north of Brook Bridge on Brook Turnpike. They would immediately kill all plantation owners in the area to secure the secrecy of their plot. The rebels would then proceed towards Richmond and meet in Petersburg. The plan was to take over the capital city of Richmond, kidnap Governor James Monroe, and persuade him to accept their demands.

The rebels set out on their mission on August 30th, but torrential thunderstorms and downpours washed out key bridges and delayed their plan of attack for one day. The delay proved to be costly for Gabriel and his band of slaves. 27 of the alleged co-conspirators were captured, tried, and hung. Governor, James Monroe soon put out a description of Prosser and a reward offer:

"...Gabriel is a Negro of a brown complexion about 6 feet 3 or 4 inches high, a bony face, well made, and very active, has two or three scars on his head, his hair is very short...He can read and write, and perhaps will forge himself a pass, or certificate of his freedom..."

Reward Proclamation

September 9, 1800

James Monroe, Governor

The young general, Gabriel Prosser, was captured and executed on October 10, 1800 at the city gallows. His adopted battle cry of “liberty or death” forged him a place in black history. It was the battle cry which led Toussaint's army in 1790. Ironically, it was also the battle cry of Virginia’s first governor, Patrick Henry, as he addressed an audience in Richmond at the Virginia Revolutionary Convention, March 23, 1775. Today, there are no statues or memorials dedicated to Gabriel Prosser in Richmond, VA. He is said to have planned the first mass black insurrection against the United States government. In the end, Gabriel was one of the greatest patriots of African descent. In fact, he was an African born under the American system of slavery. He died trying to free himself from that system. Gabriel Prosser spoke of revolution and now he is finally free!

Sources: http://www.csusm.edu/, hartford-hwp.com

Insurrection or Insanity

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

Source: teachingamericanhistorymd.net

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