VISITING BLACK AMERICA: HISTORY AND SITES $ 18.95
PREFACE: TRAVEL FOR HISTORY..………………………………………. p.
CHAPTER ONE: THE EARLIEST YEARS…………………………………… p.
THE FIRST BLACK TO VISIT NORTH AMERICA: ESTEBANICO
PRELIMINARY BACKGROUND: SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SLAVERY INFORMATION
THE FIRST BLACK COLONISTS: INDENTURED SERVANTS
THE IMPORTATION OF BLACK SLAVES
THE INTERNAL SLAVE TRADE
SLAVERY ON EARLY PLANTATIONS
DRAYTON HALL
MAGNOLIA PLANTATION
BOONE HALL
THE BLACK BELT OF THE DEEP SOUTH
CHAPTER TWO: THE EARLY REPUBLIC …………………………………… p.
SLAVERY AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS
SLAVERY AT MOUNT VERNON OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
SLAVERY AT GUNSTON HALL OF GEORGE MASON
SLAVERY AT MONTICELLO OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
FREE BLACKS AT FORT MOSE
EARLY CHURCHES OF BLACKS
SAVANNAH
CHARLESTON
PHILLIS WHEATLEY
CHAPTER THREE : FOLLOWING THE DRINKING GOURD ……………… p.
VESEY CONSPIRACY
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
SOJOURNER TRUTH
HARRIET “MOSES” TUBMAN
FREDERICK DOUGLASS: FOUNDER OF CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
JOSIAH “UNCLE TOM” HENSON
CHAPTER FOUR: THREATS TO FREE BLACKS IN THE NORTH ……… p.
“FUGITIVE” ANTHONY BURNS OF BOSTON
SOLOMON NORTHUP, TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE
DRED SCOTT
FREE BLACKS AS WHALERS
CHAPTER FIVE: THE WESTWARD MOVEMENT …………………………… p.
BLACKS IN THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
FOLSOM, CALIFORNIA
REV. JEREMIAH SANDERSON
MIFFLIN WISTAR GIBBS
DOWNIEVILLE
CHAPTER SIX: THE CIVIL WAR ERA ----------------------------------------- p.
FREE BLACKS OF THE SEA ISLANDS (SOUTH CAROLINA)
BLACK CIVIL WAR HERO: GORDON
BLACK CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS OF THE 54TH REGIMENT
BLACKS ON THE MARCH TO THE SEA
MASSACRE AT PORT PILLOW
CHAPTER SEVEN: RECONSTRUCTION …………………………………………. p.
BUFFALO SOLDIERS
RECONSTRUCTION SENATOR HIRAM R. REVELS
FRANCIS LEWIS CARDOZO OF SOUTH CAROLINA
HO FOR KANSAS: PAP SINGLETON, THE BLACK MOSES
NICODEMUS, KANSAS
CHAPTER EIGHT: BLACKS AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY ……………. p.
PLESSY v FERGUSON
BOOKER T WASHINGTON AND TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE
NOTEABLE BLACK INVENTORS
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
ELIJAH MC COY
ROSA YOUNG: THE MOTHER OF BLACK LUTHERANISM
BLACKS AND THE KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH
CHAPTER NINE: THE THIRTIES AND FORTIES ………………………………… p.
CARTER G. WOODSON: FATHER OF BLACK HISTORY
THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS AND THE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE
DORIS MILLER: HERO OF PEARL HARBOR
BLACKS BUILDING THE ALASKAN HIGHWAY (ALCAN)
TEXAN GROUND BREAKER JUANITA CRAFT
JOE LEWIS: THE BROWN BOMBER
CHAPTER TEN: THE FIFTIES ………………………………………………………….. p.
NAT KING COLE
BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION, TOPEKA
JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL
LITTLE ROCK NINE OF ARKANSAS
DADDY KING OF ATLANTA
ROSA PARK
JACKIE ROBINSON, NUMBER 42
CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE SIXTIES …………………………………………………… p.
GREENSBORO: THE WOOLSWORTH SIT-IN
FREEDOM RIDERS
JAMES MEREDITH
MARTYRDOM OF MEDGAR EVERS
1963 MARCH ON WASHINGTON
BLOODY SUNDAY: SELMA, ALABAMA
BENJAMIN ELIJAH MAYS, THE MENTOR
MINISTRY AND MARTYRDOM OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE SEVENTIES ………………………………………………. P.
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED
MUHAMMAD ALI, THE GREATEST
SIDNEY POITIER: HOLLYWOOD BREAKTHROUGH
CHAPTER THIRTEEN THE LEGACY GOES ON …………………………………… p.
BILL COSBY, SYMBOL OF DECENCY
JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN, DEAN OF SOUTHERN HISTORY
MAYA ANGELOU: THE MILLION-MAN MARCH
REGGIE WHITE, MINISTER OF DEFENSE
SECRETARY OF STATE, CONDOLEEZZA RICE
HUNGER, THE CRUSADE OF “PASTOR” OTIS WOODARD
OPRAH WINFREY: QUEEN OF ALL MEDIA
FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT: BARRACK OBAMA
DR BENJAMIN CARSON: “RUN, BEN, RUN”
POSTLUDE: THE RIGHT STUFF …………………………………………………… p
BACK COVER
This book is an attempt by the author to help others vicariously relive history by visiting the many sites of black history that are easily accessible to the average traveler. Yet this book is not just a directory of sites, but also a lively biographical approach to black history, that of itself, makes for interesting reading. The many photographs and illustrations help the readers to journey back into time; while the brief narrative approach makes for easy start-and-stop reading.
Black history is laden with stories of tragedy, courage and feats of overcoming unbelievable obstacles. The author of this book believes that the blacks featured herein provide the desired “habitual visions of greatness,” a phrase associated with Alfred North Whitehead, that motivates us to be all that we can be (Whitehead, Aims of Education). In the book of Philippians 4:8 the inspired Apostle Paul tells us: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Visiting Black America provides such worthy visions through great African-Americans who lived lives of selfless devotion to others.
PREFACE: TRAVEL FOR HISTORY
History comes alive and seems so real when a person travels to locations where great events had actually taken place. When one sees concrete objects associated with historical meanings, the mind is able to conjure images that recreate the dramas of the past. Black history is laden with stories of tragedy, courage and feats of overcoming unbelievable obstacles. Historic figures like Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr. and others can best be understood when tied to locations closely associated with their lives.
Dr. Cornel West, an African-American believes “Deep education requires a habitual vision of greatness” (Facebook, October 12, 2012). Most of the heroes I set forth here came from deeply religious homes and a good number were ministers. Some of their successes can be attributed to the fact church leaders were the best educated, when education was such a vital key; yet it was so often their Christian faith that kept them going in a life of service to others. It was a sense of service that makes all of them worth emulating.
A number of the sites mentioned in this book were from personal visits by the author as he toured the country while conducing travel study tours for college students. While trekking there were opportunities to meet notable people. In my quest for black history I met well-known blacks such as Ralph Abernathy, Shirley Chisholm, John Hope Franklin and Otis Woodard.
Of course, students met many “great” blacks while roaming the country, just plain good friendly people. Meeting people from different races and cultures helps promote good will and an appreciation of achievements by others. Students who took my studies tours earned college credits, usually four semester credits in social studies. The real plus was visiting areas outside the Midwest, beyond our parochial world. Most of the original tours were in the United States, of thirty days duration, and concentrated on geographical regions of the nation. Later tours included Mexico, Russia, Kenya, Tanzania and European countries. This book, however, centers on blacks history of the United States and Canada.
At the end of each day of exploration, discussion sessions were held at our lodging facilities to compare observations. Before offering college courses for Dr. Martin Luther College, informal tours were led by this professor for just plain enjoyment. Since the potential for learning was so great on these trips, formal syllabii were drawn up and presented to the DML College Board of Control for adoption as courses.
Students who had joined those educational expeditions over the years found history can become alive and meaningful just by roaming historic sites. Where scheduled local guides were not available we tried to carry on conversations with the locals. As much as possible, we tried to room right at the historic sites and to eat picnic style lunches right on location.
In the course of arranging and carrying out the plans for college tours, it became evident to me that racial prejudice was still alive in the country. When administrators of historic sites read Dr. Martin Luther College (named after the German Reformation leader) written on the letterhead, the name was often mistaken for Dr. Martin Luther King College. When I wrote to the site of the former Jefferson Davis plantation in Mississippi requesting permission to visit, I received a letter addressed to Dr. Martin Luther King College denying my request – even though the time requested was within the hours of operation. A similar occurrence took place when I made a reservation with a dude ranch in Wyoming, a ranch I had visited earlier with my family. When our study tour group arrived we found our assigned sites were down by the horse barn. After the desk receptionist saw we were white, she quickly reassigned us to a more favorable location by the clubhouse.
Actually, experiences such as these can be valuable as teaching moments. Our visit to the Jefferson Davis retirement mansion with an extensive park-like setting off of the Gulf of Mexico gave us a lesson in subjectivity-objectivity. While our guide at this Jefferson Davis family-run operation in Mississippi talked of how “mistreated” Jefferson Davis had suffered at the hands of the Yankee victors, he did not answer student questions about the slave labor used to build the elaborate mansion. Students also noticed propaganda type books were sold in the gift shop of the visitor center, while the major scholarly biographies of Jefferson Davis were noticeably absent. However, I have noticed over the years that fairer treatment of minorities has been clearly discernable. More historical sites and information centers have also been added since then to promote black history.
SLAVERY ON EARLY PLANTATIONS
DRAYTON HALL
MAGNOLIA PLANTATION
BOONE HALL
THE BLACK BELT OF THE DEEP SOUTH
CHAPTER TWO: THE EARLY REPUBLIC …………………………………… p.
SLAVERY AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS
SLAVERY AT MOUNT VERNON OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
SLAVERY AT GUNSTON HALL OF GEORGE MASON
SLAVERY AT MONTICELLO OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
FREE BLACKS AT FORT MOSE
EARLY CHURCHES OF BLACKS
SAVANNAH
CHARLESTON
PHILLIS WHEATLEY
CHAPTER THREE : FOLLOWING THE DRINKING GOURD ……………… p.
VESEY CONSPIRACY
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
SOJOURNER TRUTH
HARRIET “MOSES” TUBMAN
FREDERICK DOUGLASS: FOUNDER OF CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
JOSIAH “UNCLE TOM” HENSON
CHAPTER FOUR: THREATS TO FREE BLACKS IN THE NORTH ……… p.
“FUGITIVE” ANTHONY BURNS OF BOSTON
SOLOMON NORTHUP, TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE
DRED SCOTT
FREE BLACKS AS WHALERS
CHAPTER FIVE: THE WESTWARD MOVEMENT …………………………… p.
BLACKS IN THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
FOLSOM, CALIFORNIA
REV. JEREMIAH SANDERSON
MIFFLIN WISTAR GIBBS
DOWNIEVILLE
CHAPTER SIX: THE CIVIL WAR ERA ----------------------------------------- p.
FREE BLACKS OF THE SEA ISLANDS (SOUTH CAROLINA)
BLACK CIVIL WAR HERO: GORDON
BLACK CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS OF THE 54TH REGIMENT
BLACKS ON THE MARCH TO THE SEA
MASSACRE AT PORT PILLOW
CHAPTER SEVEN: RECONSTRUCTION …………………………………………. p.
BUFFALO SOLDIERS
RECONSTRUCTION SENATOR HIRAM R. REVELS
FRANCIS LEWIS CARDOZO OF SOUTH CAROLINA
HO FOR KANSAS: PAP SINGLETON, THE BLACK MOSES
NICODEMUS, KANSAS
CHAPTER EIGHT: BLACKS AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY ……………. p.
PLESSY v FERGUSON
BOOKER T WASHINGTON AND TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE
NOTEABLE BLACK INVENTORS
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
ELIJAH MC COY
ROSA YOUNG: THE MOTHER OF BLACK LUTHERANISM
BLACKS AND THE KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH
CHAPTER NINE: THE THIRTIES AND FORTIES ………………………………… p.
CARTER G. WOODSON: FATHER OF BLACK HISTORY
THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS AND THE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE
DORIS MILLER: HERO OF PEARL HARBOR
BLACKS BUILDING THE ALASKAN HIGHWAY (ALCAN)
TEXAN GROUND BREAKER JUANITA CRAFT
JOE LEWIS: THE BROWN BOMBER
CHAPTER TEN: THE FIFTIES ………………………………………………………….. p.
NAT KING COLE
BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION, TOPEKA
JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL
LITTLE ROCK NINE OF ARKANSAS
DADDY KING OF ATLANTA
ROSA PARK
JACKIE ROBINSON, NUMBER 42
CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE SIXTIES …………………………………………………… p.
GREENSBORO: THE WOOLSWORTH SIT-IN
FREEDOM RIDERS
JAMES MEREDITH
MARTYRDOM OF MEDGAR EVERS
1963 MARCH ON WASHINGTON
BLOODY SUNDAY: SELMA, ALABAMA
BENJAMIN ELIJAH MAYS, THE MENTOR
MINISTRY AND MARTYRDOM OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE SEVENTIES ………………………………………………. P.
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED
MUHAMMAD ALI, THE GREATEST
SIDNEY POITIER: HOLLYWOOD BREAKTHROUGH
CHAPTER THIRTEEN THE LEGACY GOES ON …………………………………… p.
BILL COSBY, SYMBOL OF DECENCY
JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN, DEAN OF SOUTHERN HISTORY
MAYA ANGELOU: THE MILLION-MAN MARCH
REGGIE WHITE, MINISTER OF DEFENSE
SECRETARY OF STATE, CONDOLEEZZA RICE
HUNGER, THE CRUSADE OF “PASTOR” OTIS WOODARD
OPRAH WINFREY: QUEEN OF ALL MEDIA
FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT: BARRACK OBAMA
DR BENJAMIN CARSON: “RUN, BEN, RUN”
POSTLUDE: THE RIGHT STUFF …………………………………………………… p
BACK COVER
This book is an attempt by the author to help others vicariously relive history by visiting the many sites of black history that are easily accessible to the average traveler. Yet this book is not just a directory of sites, but also a lively biographical approach to black history, that of itself, makes for interesting reading. The many photographs and illustrations help the readers to journey back into time; while the brief narrative approach makes for easy start-and-stop reading.
Black history is laden with stories of tragedy, courage and feats of overcoming unbelievable obstacles. The author of this book believes that the blacks featured herein provide the desired “habitual visions of greatness,” a phrase associated with Alfred North Whitehead, that motivates us to be all that we can be (Whitehead, Aims of Education). In the book of Philippians 4:8 the inspired Apostle Paul tells us: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Visiting Black America provides such worthy visions through great African-Americans who lived lives of selfless devotion to others.
PREFACE: TRAVEL FOR HISTORY
History comes alive and seems so real when a person travels to locations where great events had actually taken place. When one sees concrete objects associated with historical meanings, the mind is able to conjure images that recreate the dramas of the past. Black history is laden with stories of tragedy, courage and feats of overcoming unbelievable obstacles. Historic figures like Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr. and others can best be understood when tied to locations closely associated with their lives.
Dr. Cornel West, an African-American believes “Deep education requires a habitual vision of greatness” (Facebook, October 12, 2012). Most of the heroes I set forth here came from deeply religious homes and a good number were ministers. Some of their successes can be attributed to the fact church leaders were the best educated, when education was such a vital key; yet it was so often their Christian faith that kept them going in a life of service to others. It was a sense of service that makes all of them worth emulating.
A number of the sites mentioned in this book were from personal visits by the author as he toured the country while conducing travel study tours for college students. While trekking there were opportunities to meet notable people. In my quest for black history I met well-known blacks such as Ralph Abernathy, Shirley Chisholm, John Hope Franklin and Otis Woodard.
Of course, students met many “great” blacks while roaming the country, just plain good friendly people. Meeting people from different races and cultures helps promote good will and an appreciation of achievements by others. Students who took my studies tours earned college credits, usually four semester credits in social studies. The real plus was visiting areas outside the Midwest, beyond our parochial world. Most of the original tours were in the United States, of thirty days duration, and concentrated on geographical regions of the nation. Later tours included Mexico, Russia, Kenya, Tanzania and European countries. This book, however, centers on blacks history of the United States and Canada.
At the end of each day of exploration, discussion sessions were held at our lodging facilities to compare observations. Before offering college courses for Dr. Martin Luther College, informal tours were led by this professor for just plain enjoyment. Since the potential for learning was so great on these trips, formal syllabii were drawn up and presented to the DML College Board of Control for adoption as courses.
Students who had joined those educational expeditions over the years found history can become alive and meaningful just by roaming historic sites. Where scheduled local guides were not available we tried to carry on conversations with the locals. As much as possible, we tried to room right at the historic sites and to eat picnic style lunches right on location.
In the course of arranging and carrying out the plans for college tours, it became evident to me that racial prejudice was still alive in the country. When administrators of historic sites read Dr. Martin Luther College (named after the German Reformation leader) written on the letterhead, the name was often mistaken for Dr. Martin Luther King College. When I wrote to the site of the former Jefferson Davis plantation in Mississippi requesting permission to visit, I received a letter addressed to Dr. Martin Luther King College denying my request – even though the time requested was within the hours of operation. A similar occurrence took place when I made a reservation with a dude ranch in Wyoming, a ranch I had visited earlier with my family. When our study tour group arrived we found our assigned sites were down by the horse barn. After the desk receptionist saw we were white, she quickly reassigned us to a more favorable location by the clubhouse.
Actually, experiences such as these can be valuable as teaching moments. Our visit to the Jefferson Davis retirement mansion with an extensive park-like setting off of the Gulf of Mexico gave us a lesson in subjectivity-objectivity. While our guide at this Jefferson Davis family-run operation in Mississippi talked of how “mistreated” Jefferson Davis had suffered at the hands of the Yankee victors, he did not answer student questions about the slave labor used to build the elaborate mansion. Students also noticed propaganda type books were sold in the gift shop of the visitor center, while the major scholarly biographies of Jefferson Davis were noticeably absent. However, I have noticed over the years that fairer treatment of minorities has been clearly discernable. More historical sites and information centers have also been added since then to promote black history.
