Civil War Part Five : Letter From a Soldier

For anyone who has doubts about the mindset of the Black men recruited to fight and defeat their former masters, the following letter will let you know how many of them felt.

A letter home.

Samuel Cabble, US Colored Troops 55th Massachusettes Infantry(colored) 1863

Dear wife, 

I have enlisted in the army. I am now in the state of Massachusettes but before this letter reaches you I will be in North Carolina, and though great is the present national difficulties I look forward to a brighter day when I shall have the opportunity of seeing you in the full enjoyment of freedom.

I would like to know if you are still in slavery. If you are, "it will not be long before we shall have crushed the system that now oppresses you". In the

Civil War Part Four:The US Colored Troops and the Emancipation Proclamation

The Civil War began in 1861. At that time there were approximately four million African Americans living in the US. While there were almost half a million free African Americans at that time, most were still enslaved. 

The Emancipation Proclamation, proposed by President Lincoln, promised freedom, but only after the war. 

Many Black and white abolitionists, including Frederick Douglass, and New York Times Editor Horace Greeley, had long implored the President to free the enslaved. But, while Lincoln's personal view was that all people everywhere should be free, his main objective was the preservation of the Union.

In a letter to the President, Douglass famously proclaimed:

"Once let the Black  man get upon his person the brass letters ‘US’, let him get an eagle his button, a musket upon his shoulder, and bullets in his pockets and there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned his right to citizenship in the United States".

But Lincoln would not allow Blacks to fight until it became clear

Civil War Part Three: Antietam, A Turning Point?

In 1862 the Civil War was in its second year, and victory was not a certainty for either side. Also, Britain and France were considering recognizing the Confederacy to preserve their sources of cotton from America.

President Lincoln was being urged to let Blacks fight to bolster Union Troops. But, Lincoln was said to be waiting for a major military victory, which would give him a stronger hand in freeing the slaves and allowing them to fight. His opportunity came at the Battle of Antietam later that same year, where nearly 23,000 Union Troops died in a single day. Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.

But, Antietam was considered by Lincoln to be somewhat of a victory, albeit bittersweet because Union Army Commander, George B. McClellan failed to destroy Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army, and Lee was able to retreat. Antietam was then followed by Union losses at both Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, Virginia. 

With all of this, the President seized on the moment to make his argument for freeing the slaves, which he did in 1863 by executive order under his authority as Commander of all American Military Forces. In that same year, the US Colored Troops(USCT) were established. Those Blacks willing to fight were promised freedom. Lincoln was now able to announce his Emancipation Proclamation. 
The tide of the war would now turn.

Besides, McClellan who had always refused to consider allowing Blacks to fight, further straining relations with Lincoln, was relieved of his command.

The Hidden History of Slave Revolts in the Americas

It is ridiculous to suggest that any person who is held by force of arms, and subjected to the worst treatment humanly possible could be happy. For centuries those enslaved in America, the Caribbean, and around the world tried escape, revolt, and any other means they could to gain freedom.

A few years ago, while attending a workshop for the Thomas Day Education Project on Black History, I overhead a caucasian gentleman explaining to a workshop attendee how the slaves owned by his ancestors were "happy". This lie has been told in America for centuries,

The Civil War, Part Two: Confederate General Howell Cobb, In His Own Words

Who was Howell Cobb(1815-1868)of Georgia? He was one of the founders of the Confederacy, the speaker of the Georgia House, and later governor of Georgia in the early 1850's. In 1862, the second year of the Civil War, Cobb was a Brigadier General for the rebel Confederate(South) forces in northern Virginia. And, later that year, Cobb was promoted to the rank of Major General for the district of Georgia and Florida. But, some feel that Cobb's notoriety

The Civil War, Part One: "Oh, Give Us a Flag...", Songs from the Civil War

  

During the first two years of the Civil War, the song, "Oh, Give Us a Flag", reflected the feeling of many Blacks. Below is a link to a version of the song by the late Richie Havens. The song's author is unknown. 

But, before you hear the song, here's some brief   history.

In 1863 the Civil War was in it's second year, and President Lincoln

Civil War Intro: Blacks in the Civil War: A Series in Seven Parts

In August 2013, The Color of History I will begin posting an seven part series on the strong commitment, and brave contribution of Black/African American & Latino soldiers and citizens in the American Civil War.

Here are the topics to be covered, in the order in which they will be published.

1. Oh, Give Us a Flag!
2. The Howell Cobb statement
3. Antietam: A Turning Point?
4. The establishment of the Bureau of US Colored Troops(USCT)in      1863
5. Letter From a Soldier 
6. Spy vs Spy
7. The Siege of Petersburg, Va

Stop & Frisk: A History

Stop & Frisk, in New York and other American cities is just the latest version of the practice of white men with guns stopping black men because they viewed them as "suspicious". We know, full well by now, that during slavery armed "slavers" stopped black males wherever they found them, assuming them to be runaways, and therefore, subject to suspicion. 

But, even free black men and boys(free blacks numbered more than 400,000 in the 1700 & 1800's) could be stopped by anyone, and put in bondage, even if they had documents declaring them legally free. This practice continued after the Civil War, and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1865. 

In 1865/66, so called, Black Code laws were passed in southern states restricting the freedoms of blacks. This happened after the Civil War. Even so, these laws made free black men "suspicious", and subject to

The Color of History, and the Color of Money

If you study currency around the world you'll find that countries tend to depict the images of their economic strength on paper, and coins. In England, the monarchy is pictured on British money as a symbol of power. In Iran, you'll see pictures of agricultural production, and so on. The point is that countries are proud of the resources that drive their economies.

In the early 1800's, American cotton production was an integral part of the  economy, and the images of enslaved Africans were shown, primarily, on Confederate and Southern currency. The images of slave labor validate the contribution of African Americans to the economy, overall .  

The picture below is graphic artist John W. Jones', "Slave Carrying Cotton", which is shown on 21 different bills of currency. For example, the bill below is from Louisiana. In all, there are 126 such slave images on Confederate and Southern bills.

                                             

The images are from Mr. Jones' book, Confederate Currency: The Color of Money. He discovered them, while working as a graphic artist, when one of his customers asked him to enlarge a bank note

Poet George Moses Horton, first to Protest His Enslavement in Print

Born in 1797, and called the "Black Bard of North Carolina",
poet & author, George Moses Horton was an entrepreneur as much as he was a writer. Although enslaved, he earned enough money selling his writings to buy his freedom, but his "owner" would not allow it. Horton was too valuable an employee to the plantation owner to be set free, a situation that was not uncommon.

Horton left no doubt, however, about his feelings towards slavery. Here is

Give Thanks to The "Real McCoy", and Many Other Black Inventors

Black Canadian-American engineer/inventor Elijah McCoy (1844-1929), a free Black man, had fifty-seven US patents to his name. Most notably, he invented an automatic lubrication system for the steam engines of locomotives and ships that allowed the engines to run for longer periods of time. Previously, an engine's metal parts would over heat, so the engine had to be stopped, allowed to cool down and lubricated again before being put back into use. This was a huge waste of time, and money.

To be sure, there were similar mechanisms in wide use to address the problem of metal engine parts overheating. But, none of them worked as well as McCoy's. These lubricating systems were a boon for the railroads because they allowed trains to run faster without having to be stopped and cooled down. When railroad engineers wanted parts for lubricating their engines they would ask for

Historic Stagville: DNA in the Brickwork

I visited Stagville Plantation, twenty miles north of Durham, NC, about ten years ago. On the eve of the Civil War, it had been one of the largest plantations in the Antebellum South. In 1977 it opened as a museum under the auspices of the State of North Carolina, Division of Historic Sites.

You may have to steel yourself the first time you visit a plantation where your ancestors may have been held in bondage, tortured, murdered, or worked to death. Many myths, and outright lies, have been used to describe what happened in such places. However, the courage, ingenuity and determination required to survive during slavery is the stuff of legend. Enslaved Africans weren't supposed to have those qualities, which is probably why this part of history has never been taught in American schools. 

Stagville had approximately 900 enslaved Africans, working almost

Slavery in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries

Did you know that the United Nations (UN) does this report every year, listing countries that are the most egregious violators of human rights? Countries still involved in the slave trade, even today. I didn't either. But, while waiting for an appointment in an office lobby several years ago, I picked a copy of Fortune Magazine, to pass the time.  

As I browsed the magazine's topics I focused in on the UN's report on Worldwide Slavery. And, this was decades before the CNN reports on human trafficking.  I was surprised to see that Albania, in eastern Europe, was the number one violator that year(2003). After a few minutes I was called in for my meeting , however, I did come away with one fact revealing fact. That being, for centuries most  countries, cultures, and civilizations, at some point enslaved,  and sold, not only other people, but also their own.  

Slavery has been extremely profitable, and built dynasties over several hundred years. Exports of slaves from Japan were recorded in the third century. Throughout pre-modern history slavery came in, and, out of favor in China. And, sadly, today slavery is still rife all over the globe.

Now, the notion we've been feed in America is that people with dark skin were considered slaves no matter what their station in life, their education and training, or religion. Blacks were considered inferior to whites in every way. That was their destiny, with no hope of ever improving.

I bring this up because, in discussions about slavery and race over the years somebody always says "...well, how come Africans sold their own people into slavery"? I would ask those who say that to look at the history of their own ancestors. And that, takes courage.

Our Spirit Comes From our Ancestors, It's Up to Us to Make the Connection

Someone once said, "...our children hate us because we haven't told them about their ancestors". That someone was, Mia Angelou. 

I have to agree. Many people of African descent have such disdain for their history to the extent that they forbid their children from even talking about the subject. Some of this comes from shame, some from the continuing negative broad brush we've been painted with, and some from rank indifference. 

But, we are not alone when it comes to things in the past we'd like to forget. All civilizations throughout history have had hardships, been defeated in wars, enslaved by conquering enemies, etc. And, even though many countries still suffer some effects of their past, most do not hide the brutal facts from their children. Those discussions become part of the healing process to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself.

The history of the Americas, as it relates to slavery, contains thousands of examples of everything from bravery to ingenuity on the part of Africans, both enslaved and free. We need to take our heads out of the sand and, as the great Olympian Jesse Owens has said, "Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it, and you'll start believing in it".

This is what we must teach our children.

Michael Baisden Reminds All of US

Black History Means Black Responsibility

The most important lesson we can teach our children during Black History Month is that the color of their skin has an amazing story connected to it that began as the first people to walk the earth, whose technology built the Great Pyramids, and whose strength survived the brutality of slavery and Jim Crow. 

We must use the celebration of Black History Month to challenge them to create their own history. Our legacy only continues through them.

We have to ask ourselves, "Am I raising a future doctor or lawyer, or a future criminal or inmate? Am I setting an example that will create a better husband or wife, or a deadbeat and abuser?"

Parenting and mentoring is a powerful thing, you can nurture a genius or destroy a child's self esteem if you don't take your responsibility seriously.

Black History Month is about Black Struggle and Black Responsibility. Let's honor our ancestors by sacrificing for our children as much as they did for us.

Michael Baisden

Were There Free Blacks During Slavery?

Yes, there were free Blacks during slavery, hundreds of thousands. As early as 1619 a class of free Blacks existed in America. Their numbers included children born to free Blacks, mulatto children born to free black or white mothers, slaves who had escaped to freedom, children of free black and Indian parentage, and slaves who bought their freedom. Ultimately, of the almost four million Africans enslaved in America by 1810, 13% or, almost five hundred thousand of them were free.

Initially, the enslaved could also be freed if they served in the Army during the

Would You Deny Four Hundred Years of Your Own History?

America is the only country I know of that considers four hundred years of its own history a mere footnote, even though that history almost destroyed the country in the Civil War. Yes, I'm talking about the slave trade, and Jim Crow laws.

Most of what is known about slavery and Jim Crow law by six generations of Americans comes from the following three sources. 1)Hollywood, where accomplishments of Blacks that were depicted on film often used white actors; 2) news organizations, books, college courses, etc, that omitted or distorted news about a whole range of issues concerning Black life; 3)the education system where Black history was not taught in schools. For this blog post let's  first take a look at the evolution of formal education in North Carolina,  my family’s American ancestral home.     

Since I am not a historian in the academic sense, I asked

Thomas Day: The "Father" of the Modern Day Furniture Industry in North Carolina

In the early to mid 1800's a free Black man was the largest furniture manufacturer in North Carolina. Yes, I did say a free Black man. A furniture designer of such notariety that the then governor of the state ordered desks for his entire cabinet from this particular entreprenuer. And, some North Carolina museums and churches still, to this day, have furniture designed and manufactured by him and his employees. Yes, he grew up free and Black, even though back then being free in one state didn't mean you were free everywhere in America.

The gentleman in question is Thomas Day, born in Virginia in 1801, later migrating to North Carolina taking the family furniture business with him. His parents both came from prosperous Black families who were free, and had been since the Revolutionary War between America and England. There were countless Blacks who were free during the period of enslavement, although American history never mentions them or their status. America wanted Blacks to stay in their place, poor, uneducated, and with no self motivation to improve their lot in life. They had plenty of motivation, but few opportunities.

I first became aware of Thomas Day in 2003 after several years of

Never read a better statement

The Movie, "Lincoln", and Elizabeth Keckley

If you've seen the Steven Spielberg movie, Lincoln, you might have noticed veteran actor Gloria Reuben in the role of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, who was a constant companion of the First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln. If you know your history, you know that Ms. Keckley  was an accomplished dressmaker, entrepreneur, activist, and author. I first became aware of her story in 2001 while working with the African American Cutural Complex, The NC Museum of History, and the Thomas Day Education Project , all in  North Carolina.

Elizabeth Keckley was born into slavery in Dinwiddie County, Virginia in 1818. As with most slaves she was treated with the brutality and sexual abuse that

A Freed Black Man Writes a Letter to His Old master

Enslaved Africans made numerous attempts to escape bondage. In many instances the newly freed recorded their experiences as both enslaved, and free. The record of their ordeal is documented in books, oral history, slave narratives, and family recollections.

The new, free life offered an income, better health and living conditions, and primarily, safety for the families. Safety for their wives and children, but, particularly their female offspring. These feelings are expressed by former slave,

Become An Historic Reenactor

Having worked as a volunteer on Black history in North Carolina for fifteen years, I found the door of opportunities wide open. Of the more significant of those was the chance to portray 1800's historic figures such as, furniture designer Thomas Day and, poet & author George Moses Horton. Also, I produced a short film documenting an important Civil War moment in time(see post on Princeville, NC).

Reeactors portray US Colored Troops, clergy, farmers and other average folks going about their lives at the end of the Civil War. It's fun and educational, and there are national and local reenactment groups in many places for you to connect with. Usually, no experience is necessary.

Unfortunately, since the American education system has never allowed the struggles or accomplishments of Blacks to be taught in the public schools, we must teach ourselves. As poet Maya Angelou has penned so eloquently, "History, despite its wrenching pain, can- not be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again".

However, finding people to reenact has been difficult. Some people are

Black Family Reunions: An Opportunity to Exchange Stories and Ideas

The family reunion offers a great opportunity to exchange stories and connect the dots of Black history to your family tree. Some, however, may not be comfortable with topics such as slavery itself, the Jim Crow era, and others sensitive areas. You may be the only one in your family who cares about your ancestors' past, but don't let that stop you.

Our ancestors worked hard, fought for freedom, and even rebelled against their captors, but their stories are not taught in American schools. We should take it upon ourselves to tell our own story, rather than accept the story others choose to tell about us.

Your search may not be in this order. But, the following may help.