In my search to authenticate Black history, one thing I learned early on from museum curators, historians and educators was to seek out "primary source" materials and artifacts. These could include: pictures, utensils of everyday life, antiques, letters, ect, that have been preserved by our ancestors and their descendants. In other words, items that can be verified as original.
My intention with this post is to introduce the reader to writings by three different Black men, from three different walks of life in the mid 1800's. Each writer demonstrates independence, devotion to family, and love of freedom.
As you read these letters, keep in mind that in many slave states it was illegal for enslaved persons to learn to read or write, punishable by death.
The first letter is by Samuel Cabble, Civil War soldier, the second by free, Black entreprenuer Thomas Day, and the third by former slave, Jourdon Anderson.
The following is a summary of each letter.
Samuel Cabble, Soldier
The first letter is from Civil War soldier, Samuel Cabble, US Colored Troops 55th Massachusetts Infantry, who volunteered to fight for freedom in 1863 when President Lincoln called on Black freedmen
to join the Union. At the end of the war, in 1865, Lincoln remarked that, "Without the military help of the Black freedmen, the war against the south could not have been won." When I first read this letter I was struck by soldier Cabble's passionate words about the impending victory over the Confederacy.
You can find the full text of Samuel Cabbel's letter at: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/blacks-civil-war/article.html
Thomas Day, Free Black man
Letter number two is from North Carolina furniture designer and manufacturer, Thomas Day to his daughter, Mary Ann who, along with her two brothers, was attending school in Massachusetts. Thomas Day was the largest manufacturer of furniture in North Carolina in the early to mid 1800's.
This letter reveals the love of family, and the character of Thomas Day. The trust he places in Mary Ann through this letter, recognizes her as his most responsible child, as well as his oldest. This was feminist thinking that was unheard of in the 1800's. His words can still be used by parents today in advising their children.
For the full text of Day's letter, and more info on the life of Thomas Day go to, www.thomasday.net
Jourdon Anderson, Former slave
Jourdon Anderson was enslaved in Tennesee. He, and his family, escaped to Ohio in 1865, and he wrote quite an interesting letter to former "master". The letter was written in response to one sent to Anderson by his former "owner" asking him to return to a life of slavery. It shows how important Anderson was
Anderson received his freedom in 1864, and was not about to give it up. In the letter, Anderson clearly feels much more satisfied with his situation, and about the better condition his family is in since escaping slavery.
He does, however, propose a condition that must be met before he would even consider returning, and even adds a little humor at the end.
Go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Anderson for the full text of Jordan Anderson's letter.
* * *
All three writings offer insights into the thinking of Black men as the Civil War was coming to an end with the Union Army on the verge of victory.
My intention with this post is to introduce the reader to writings by three different Black men, from three different walks of life in the mid 1800's. Each writer demonstrates independence, devotion to family, and love of freedom.
As you read these letters, keep in mind that in many slave states it was illegal for enslaved persons to learn to read or write, punishable by death.
The first letter is by Samuel Cabble, Civil War soldier, the second by free, Black entreprenuer Thomas Day, and the third by former slave, Jourdon Anderson.
The following is a summary of each letter.
Samuel Cabble, Soldier
The first letter is from Civil War soldier, Samuel Cabble, US Colored Troops 55th Massachusetts Infantry, who volunteered to fight for freedom in 1863 when President Lincoln called on Black freedmen
to join the Union. At the end of the war, in 1865, Lincoln remarked that, "Without the military help of the Black freedmen, the war against the south could not have been won." When I first read this letter I was struck by soldier Cabble's passionate words about the impending victory over the Confederacy.
You can find the full text of Samuel Cabbel's letter at: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/blacks-civil-war/article.html
Thomas Day, Free Black man
Letter number two is from North Carolina furniture designer and manufacturer, Thomas Day to his daughter, Mary Ann who, along with her two brothers, was attending school in Massachusetts. Thomas Day was the largest manufacturer of furniture in North Carolina in the early to mid 1800's.
This letter reveals the love of family, and the character of Thomas Day. The trust he places in Mary Ann through this letter, recognizes her as his most responsible child, as well as his oldest. This was feminist thinking that was unheard of in the 1800's. His words can still be used by parents today in advising their children.
For the full text of Day's letter, and more info on the life of Thomas Day go to, www.thomasday.net
Jourdon Anderson, Former slave
Jourdon Anderson was enslaved in Tennesee. He, and his family, escaped to Ohio in 1865, and he wrote quite an interesting letter to former "master". The letter was written in response to one sent to Anderson by his former "owner" asking him to return to a life of slavery. It shows how important Anderson was
Anderson received his freedom in 1864, and was not about to give it up. In the letter, Anderson clearly feels much more satisfied with his situation, and about the better condition his family is in since escaping slavery.
He does, however, propose a condition that must be met before he would even consider returning, and even adds a little humor at the end.
Go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Anderson for the full text of Jordan Anderson's letter.
* * *
All three writings offer insights into the thinking of Black men as the Civil War was coming to an end with the Union Army on the verge of victory.
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