Morphological Confetti

A group of enslaved men [including Solomon Northrup] waiting for work instructions Over the weekend, I went to see the film, 12 Years a Slave, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northrup. Overall, I thought that it was a great film. In fact, it was unlike any other film that I have ever seen depicting the lives of enslaved Africans in the United States.  Solomon Northrup’s narrative does what so many have tried to convey through fiction; it took an educated, talented, free, family man and placed him into the chains of slavery. However, Northrup didn't have to jump into any time machine or fall into a trance just to find himself in the middle of the antebellum south. Instead, he was an educated African American family man living in the North during one of America’s darkest times in history – Slavery. In an instant, Solomon Northrup was betrayed and found himself in chains. It didn't matter whether he was educated or a family man, but that he was a strong, able-bodi...

I'd like to think that his "heavy" chest was his heart - his courage. Besides, he had enough "old marks" from that old whip. It was time make some marks of his own in this world. God bless your descendants Mr. Tom. I hope you made it beyond Ohio. Peace~

A Kromanti Maroon from Surinam communicates with a man from Ghana.  The Maroons have maintained their African language for over 400 years.  Very touching.

Winfrey Giving $12M to New African-American Museum - ABC News

In five to ten years from now, someone reading this post may meet a little boy named "Django."  Now, please don't assume that this future boy's mother got this name from the current film by Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained .  The choice for this name may be for various other reasons, which has nothing to do with film [Yeah, right]. Side-note : Something inside prevents me from seeing  Django Unchained , but I'll probably end up seeing the film. For example, the name, Django , is a Romany term meaning, I awake . It is best known as the nickname of Belgian jazz guitarist, Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt, whose fame has led to its use throughout music. Django is also the name of a web development framework. So, you see, the mother may be a fan of the famed guitarist, Django Reinhardt [Yeah, right].  Or, maybe she is a fan of Sean Penn, who portrayed a musician that admired Django Reinhardt in the Woody Allen film, Sweet and Lowdown [Yeah, ...

I can appreciate this history as a US Navy veteran:  On September 25, 1861, the Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, accepted enslaved Africans into the Union Navy.  However, they were not allowed to exceed the rank of "boy" and they also received less wages, which included daily rations and a monthly pay of $10.  White Union sailors received rations and a monthly pay of $13.  By the end of the Civil War, African Americans received the rank of non-commissioned officers or petty officers; however, there were no African American commissioned officers during the Civil War.  The African American sailor would not see a person of color in an officer's uniform until the Second World War with the Golden Thirteen . Oh Navy! Photo Source:  African American Sailors on the USS Miami in 1861 in Plymouth, North Carolina. (URL: www.gowildnc.org)

In November, I will visit the country of Uruguay in South America. This is not a planned trip or vacation; I was invited as part of an effort to introduce students in Uruguay to African American culture. Specifically, I will teach students about the African influence in American culture as it pertains to music. This comes easy to me because it stays near the front of my thoughts; however, my challenge is that most of the students speak limited English. I’m attempting to brush up on my Spanish in an effort to communicate as effectively as possible. Otherwise, I will depend on the universal power of music, and the supreme power of God, who will lead and guide me on this venture. You may giggle, but I took my time to inform the Morphological Confetti community because I wanted to make sure I had my plane ticket. This entire trip is funded by the arts council, but I had to be perfectly certain that my ticket was in hand. I truly give thanks to God for this opportunity, but I would ...

Who knew that Frederick Douglass had a great smile?  Whenever I think of Slaves or Freedman, I think of individuals who have been mistreated and worn.  However, this is not true.  Read this description of Frederick Douglass around the time of this death: His appearance on the platform was imposing. His height was over 6 feet and his weight was fully 200 pounds. His complexion was swarthy rather than black. His head was covered with a great shock of white hair. A large head, low forehead, high cheekbones, and large mouth, with gleaming white teeth , were some of the noticeable characteristics of his appearance. As a speaker he was characterized by his earnestness. He made but few gestures and used simple language. My thoughts and imagination: As I look at his face, I imagine him in a happy moment smiling or laughing.  Looking at his eyes, I can imagine that is eyes are barely visible depending on how wide his smile.  I imagine him at his most joyful time...

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?

January 1st has various meanings for different people and nations. If you are a person of African descent living in America, it is the day that President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law. That law granted immediate freedom to the enslaved in the Rebellion. I imagine that it was a day of great celebration, excitement, trepidation, and finally, uncertainty. In the years before the proclamation, it was the time after Christmas, and slaves were usually cotton “ginning,” which is the process of separating the lint from the seed. For some slaves, January was also called “Heartbreak Day” because it was the day when fathers, sons, daughters, or mothers were hired out by the master to do contract work on other plantations. Today, it is a celebration of the New Year – a new beginning and opportunity to start fresh with a new slate. However, we must never forget the struggle of our African ancestors. They struggled and they prayed so that we can h...

Lucy Terry Prince (c.1730-1821) was born in West Africa around the year 1730.  Lucy was stolen from West Africa as an infant and brought to the British Colonies (United States today) where she was owned by Ebenezer and Abigail (Barnard) Wells of Deerfield, Massachusetts;  she was five years of age.   In 1756, Lucy was joined in marriage to a free African American name, Abijah Prince.  Lucy and her husband lived for a time in a house built on the Wells' land at the eastern end of the property.  There are some scholars who believe that Lucy's husband, Abijah Prince, purhased her freedom in 1756.  Nevertheless, the young couple left the Wells home and settled in Vermont.  God blessed them with six children. Lucy Terry is credited with being the author of the poem, "The Bars Fight," describing the last Indian attack on residents of Deerfield on August 25, 1746. "The Bars Fight,” is the earliest kn...

I have great news for Morphological Confetti!  It was chosen by onlinedegree.net as one of the 20 best sites to learn about African American History.  I have so much passion for the history of Africans in America, so this is quite an honor. To God be the glory.  Peace~ Photo source:   bowdoin.edu Pictured above: Romare Bearden, American, 1911-1988, Heavy Freight ( from the 12 Trains Suite ), 1974, photo etching with hand coloring, Art © Romare Bearden Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

US President Barak Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia are set to arrive in Accra, Ghana late Friday evening. On Saturday, July 11, the Obama family is scheduled to have breakfast with Ghanaian President, John Atta Mills. Afterwards, President Barack Obama will address the Ghanaian parliament on development and democracy. The Obama family will then fly to visit the Cape Coast Castle (aka Slave Castles), which holds the dungeons that are connected to many African Americans and Africans in the Diaspora. It is the former headquarters of the British slave trade in West Africa. So, this will be a very important trip for the Obama family. Yes, it is official US business, but a trip like this has to especially touch the First Lady, Michele Obama, who is a direct descendant of Sub Saharan Africa. I’m wondering how she will handle facing the horror that her ancestors faced with the Cape Coast Castle dungeons? There are many who have passed out in grief or simpl...

THE SLAVE'S COMPLAINT A m I sadly cast aside, On misfortune's rugged tide? Will the world my pains deride Forever? Must I dwell in Slavery's night, And all pleasure take its flight, Far beyond my feeble sight, Forever? Worst of all, must Hope grow dim, And withhold her cheering beam? Rather let me sleep and dream Forever! Something still my heart surveys, Groping through this dreary maze; Is it Hope?--then burn and blaze Forever! Leave me not a wretch confined, Altogether lame and blind-- Unto gross despair consigned, Forever! Heaven! in whom can I confide? Canst thou not for all provide? Condescend to be my guide Forever: And when this transient life shall end, Oh, may some kind eternal friend Bid me from servitude ascend, Forever! by: George Moses Horton (c.1797-c.1883) Sources: poetryarchive.com and unc.edu, and ncarts.org Happy Juneteenth Everyone!

John Hope Franklin (2 January 1915 – 25 March 2009) "My challenge was to weave into the fabric of American history enough of the presence of blacks so that the story of the United States could be told adequately and fairly." Mr. Franklin, Thank you for your work and contribution to the history of African Amerians. Thank you most of all for your contribution to American history. God bless you. Rest now. Rest. Photo Source: dukenews.duke.edu

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~

I remember the watermelon man driving slowly through my small North Carolina town shouting, "Watermelon! Get your watermelon heah!" Folks would come out of their homes and buy them straight off the pick up truck including my grandfather. I remember he would buy a watermelon, put it in the cooler, and we would slice that baby open when the time was right. Yes, we would have ourselves a cool, sweet ol’ time. There is nothing like sweet, cold watermelon in the summertime. I know, black folks just love watermelon, right. Well, wait a minute because white folks love it too as well as Asians and Latinos -- everyone loves watermelon! Well, maybe not everyone but you understand. The love for this famous melon dates back 5,000 years when Africans grew it along the Nile Valley (Today known as Egypt and the Middle East). African explorer, David Livingston (1813-1873), describe It as being abundant in the Kalahari desert where it was thought to have originated; there, it grows w...

I honestly had no expectations as we approached the Sotterley Plantation visitor center, but suddenly there was a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I stopped to hold my stomach, and to try and detect what the problem could be. My wife was ahead of me; she turned around and asked if I was ok? I didn’t want to worry her, so I said that I was fine. I started walking again and the sick feeling increased. “I have to find a restroom!” My wife turned around and, again, asked me what was wrong? I admitted to her that I felt sick. She looked around, saw a restroom, and pointed in its direction. I made a quick dash. I came out of the restroom not long after and I felt a little better. I blamed it on the breakfast that we had an hour before at Bob Evans. Well, we finally reached the visitor center. I went in and purchased two tickets for the tour that would begin at approximately 1 p.m. We had almost an hour to kill, so we looked around at some of the artifacts and buildings that...