Topic: Black History

[A-FRIEND]

In 1839 a group of  Mende Africans were taken  into slavery by Spaniards, to be taken to Cuba. They overcame their captors on the spanish ship Amistad, oddly enough that name meaning friendship.
The Mende forced the Spaniards to sail east toward Africa by day, but by night the Spaniards would head back toward Cuba. Eventually this led to them landing in the Long Island Sound where the Mende were arrested and put on trial.
What happens next is demonstrative of how insidiously evil slavery was, and the depths to which the US government would stoop. The United States wanting to return the Africans to Spain, lacking any other legal recourse, charged the Mende Africans( the very ones that were kidnaped) with violating America's anti-slave laws by bringing the ship into American waters.

The US Supreme Court, after some lenght, set the Mende free and put them back on a ship to Sierra Leone.

[A-FRIEND]

Inventions claimed by some notable people before the civil war, were often the ideas or inventions of blacks both free and slave. The free blacks knew that their inventions would suffer if they tired to patent them, so they had thier produts registered by white people such as lawers. Just as often as not, since the blacks most often could not read or write, their patents were stolen by the same people.
The slaves coudn't patent their inventions at all, they being property themselves their inventions were the proerty of the masters.

A few notable examples of technology flowing from the ones that actually do the work:

Eli Whitney got the idea of his cotton gin from a slave known only as Sam. Sam's father had solved the problem of separating seed from cotton by the use of a kind of a comb. Whitney simply mechcanized the comb.

Cyrus McCormick  famed for the McCormick reapers and tractors, worked so closely with a slave called Jo Anderson in developing the reaper that it's hard to discern where Anderson ended and McCormick begins, but McCormick got the patent.

A slave of Jefferson Davis brother,whose name was Benjamin Montgomery, invented a new screw propellor for steam ships, replacing the ineffecient paddle wheel. Not only did Jeff Davis steal the rights to the invention, but it was put to use by the south during the civil war to keep slavery intact.

Cotton Mather a famous preacher in colonial Boston, scientist and practicer of medicine knew of a inoculation against small pox as early as 1712. He learned it from a African slave. Found in his documents from the slave;"... take the Juice of the Small Pox, and Cut the Skin and put in a drop: then by 'nd by a little Sick, then a few Small Pox; and no body dye of it; no body have Small Pox any more. "

The lesson in this is that disenfranchised minorities look unproductive because they have no franchise. Historians of technology are just beginning to see that the slave inventors we know about are only the tip of a very large iceberg.

[A-FRIEND]

Although no WWII Medals of Honor were awarded at the time to any African Americans, researchers later determined that at least seven (and possibly more) black servicemen deserved this award.
Here are some examples of the Black soldier in action and the redress they recieved posthumusly:

 One of these men was Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers, who was severely wounded in action on 15 November 1944 but refused medical evacuation so that he might stay with his company. When their advance was stopped by enemy fire at Bougaltroff, France, on this date, Rivers’ tank helped cover the company’s withdrawal. Rivers was killed and the other crewmen were injured when their tank was hit by enemy fire. Rivers was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in January 1997.

14 December 1944  Lieutenant (later Captain) Charles L. Thomas was another of the seven African Americans posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor in January 1997. Thomas won this prestigious award for his heroism in action on this date near Climbach, France. Wounded in the initial enemy fire while storming the village, Thomas helped his comrades to safety at which time he was wounded again. Despite intensely painful multiple wounds, he directed the emplacement of two antitank guns and thoroughly briefed the platoon commander before allowing himself to be evacuated.

26 December 1944  First Lieutenant John R. Fox, a member of Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Division, sacrificed his life to direct defensive artillery fire to slow the German advance on Sommocolonia, Italy. Although most of their fellow infantrymen were forced to withdraw because they were outnumbered by the enemy, Fox and others in his observer party voluntarily remained in town to direct Allied artillery fire. Fox willingly directed fire onto his own position because it was the only way to defeat the attacking Germans. He, too, was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor in January 1997 for his valorous actions on this date.

 

23 March 1945  Another of the seven African-American soldiers posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in January 1997 was Staff Sergeant Edward A. Carter, Jr. After the tank on which he was riding came under enemy fire near Speyer, Germany, Carter voluntarily led a 3-man group across an open field against the enemy. Two of the men were killed and one was seriously wounded in the attempt, but Carter continued alone until he, too, was wounded and forced to take cover. Although eight German soldiers were sent to capture him, Carter managed to kill six of them and take the other two hostage. As he led his prisoners back to his unit, he learned valuable information about enemy troops in the area.

5-6 April 1945 The only one of the seven WWII African-American Medal of Honor winners still alive to receive his award in January 1997 was Second (later First) Lieutenant Vernon J. Baker. In fighting near Viareggio, Italy, Baker showed extraordinary heroism by singlehandedly destroying two enemy positions as well as two more with his men’s aid. He then covered the evacuation of his company’s wounded by drawing enemy fire to an exposed position. The following night he voluntarily led a battalion assault against the enemy through minefields and heavy fire.

7 April 1945 Private First Class Willy F. James, Jr., was killed while attempting to aid his fatally wounded platoon leader. As lead scout on a maneuver to secure and expand a vital bridgehead, James was pinned down for over an hour. During that time he observed enemy positions in detail, then used that information to help his platoon plan a new maneuver. James died while leading a squad during the assault. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in January 1997.

22 August 1945 Colonel Julian G. Herne, Jr., commander of the black 24th Infantry Regiment, accepted the surrender of Aka Island, the first formal capitulation of a Japanese army garrison.

The void of  men and women of color in our history books is nothing less than shameful. It is my hope that all will take a little time to learn of the contributions of people of color in our history, often with no hope of reaping any benefits.
From the Black fighters that fought with George Washington in Yorktown, Va. forcing the surrender of Cornwalis and thereby helping in the very birth of this nation, to the Black troops that helped stopped Robert E. Lee in Appomatox, Va., forcing his surrender and thereby reuniting this country.

Everything from inventions to just awesome examples of the will of the human spirit to survive such degredation as slavery and racism to this day, is exemplified by Black Americans.

Thanks Witt for your participation. Thank you Petro for your contribution, but I'm still curious to have my question answered.
And thank you RG for the encouragement to go forward  with these posts.

This brings these proceedings to a close.

[cafeRg]

Thank you Earl for leading Black History Month. Its was very interesting and enlightening. History brings understanding to the present. We need to do more history on cultures.

 

[A-FRIEND]

Once again Black History month is upon us. I invite all to join me.
I would like to start with the hall marks of a warrior.
A warrior takes part in the conficts thrusted upon him never flinching in the face of danger.
A warrior runs the gauntlet with dignity and a fierce determination to keep fighting toward the goals of indisputable rightness.
A warrior exhibits the kind of courage and leadership that beckons fellow warriors to follow regardless of indignities, insults, injuries, or even death.
A warrior need not display mass weapons, but can lead, fight, and conquer using nothing more than truth.
Even in death a warrior leads by leaving a legacy of courage, honor and truth that forever exposes the hypocrisy of the system and powers that be.

We lost two such warriors recently. Rosa Parks and Coretta Scout King.
Mrs. King led a life of quiet dignity. She was the first victim of racist violence at the beginning the King era fighting for equality.  She suffered her home being bombed and had it not been for her and the children being in the back of the house, she would have been the first martyr.  
 Rosa Parks led a life long battle for equality, freedom, dignity and education. Her impetus? She was tired being treated with disrespect. Her courage to sit down gave America the backbone to finally stand up.
There's just too much to say about these two for this small forum.

Let us not forget their examples, for the struggle is not over.

[cafeRg]

Thanks Earl for doing another series for Black History Month. Maybe we can rope ya down and keep you here and Splash around with us.

[A-FRIEND]

Good to be back RG. I have so many things pulling me in different directions now, but I'm honored to lead this journey.

During the Revolutionary war many blacks fought for America.
Harriet Beecher Stowe commented on this:

"It was not for their own land they fought, nor even for a land which had adopted them, but for a land which had enslaved them, and whose laws, even in freedom, oftener oppressed than protected. Bravery, under such circumstances, has a peculiar beauty and merit. "

At this time there were black freemen, but even they were not accorded the status of being full human beings.
Which brings us to Colonel George Middleton, black freeman.
It is not know when or where he was born and not much is known of his early life, but it is known he was a commander of one of the two all black units that served the Continental army. His command was known as the "Bucks of America".

As is the case with many blacks who fought in America's battles, the historical records of their deeds are minimal and/or absent.

What is known is   Colonel George Middleton and his Bucks of America fought bravely recieving a flag from John Hancock honoring him and his militia for outstanding military service.

George Middlteon became the first black to build a house on Boston's Beacon Hill.

For more on his later life:
http://www.nps.gov/boaf/georgemiddleton.htm

[Allen]

It is nice to meet you A-FRIEND.

I was not around when you posted in prior years, but, I certainly appreciate your leadership in this very important forum.

I was greatly saddened when both Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King died.  I wanted to share with you that my 5th grade daughter studied both women in school, and seemed to be genuinely very impressed with what she learned about them.  She even completed a major project on Martin Luther King.

Anyway, for my part, I wanted to assure you that I will most certainly read everything that you are gracious enough to share with us, and thank you in advance, for your greatly appreciated efforts.

[A-FRIEND]

Nice to meet you too Allen. I really appreciate your comment. We all can learn from each other so feel free to contibute. Last year Witt pulled a few factual surprises on me, which was most pleasant.

Now meet Isabella Baumfree born to slave parents James and Betsey. As there are no records of her birth, Isabella calculates, as best she can, her birth to be between 1797 and 1800.
She and her parents, being human chattel, became the property of one Charles Ardinburg upon the death of his father.
One of her earliest recollections is about all the slaves of Master Charles being move to    
their new sleeping quarters, which was a cellar dug under a new hotel that Charles converted into his new home. All the slaves slept there, young old, both sexes. The only light was from a couple window panes. Isabella shudders as she tells of the loose boards on the uneven floor that was oft as not filled with water and mud.
She wonders not at all at the accompanying illness suffer by them. Here is a most remarkable quote about here attitude toward this cruelty:
“Still, she does not attribute this cruelty–for cruelty it certainly is, to be so unmindful of the health and comfort of any being, leaving entirely out of sight his more important part, his everlasting interests,–so much to any innate or constitutional cruelty of the master, as to that gigantic inconsistency, that inherited habit among slaveholders, of expecting a willing and intelligent obedience from the slave, because he is a MAN–at the same time every thing belonging to the soul-harrowing system does its best to crush the last vestige of a man within him; and when it is crushed, and often before, he is denied the comforts of life, on the plea that he knows neither the want nor the use of them, and because he is considered to be little more or little less than a beast.”

At nine years of age Isabella was sold on the action block. Isabella’s masters up to this time were Dutch and as such she could only speak dutch, but the one’s that bought her spoke English. She suffered terrible beatings for that lack of understanding.

Fast forward to Isabella’s adulthood. She bore thirteen children, work in the fields and worked in the slave master’s house.
Eventually Isabella ran away becoming a preacher, lecturer, and abolitionist.
Hugh crowds came to hear her oratory.She travled all over the country, had audience with President Grant and was befriended by Harriet Beecher Stowe and other famous abolititionists. She preached from memory and spoke from her experiences and heart as she never learned to read.
One of her greatest oratories is entitled, ”Ain’t I a woman?”
Isabella Baumfree...We know her well. She is none other than Sojourner Truth.

Riveting reading:
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/truth/1850/1850.html

[A-FRIEND]

I found an accounting of Sojourner Truth's  "Ain't I a woman?"
She was speaking before a white audience on the merits of women's suffurage. It is an outstanding oratory given by a completly illiterate exslave.

Several ministers attended the second day of the Woman's Rights Convention, and were not shy in voicing their opinion of man's superiority over women. One claimed "superior intellect", one spoke of the "manhood of Christ," and still another referred to the "sin of our first mother."
Suddenly, Sojourner Truth rose from her seat in the corner of the church.

"For God's sake, Mrs.Gage, don't let her speak!" half a dozen women whispered loudly, fearing that their cause would be mixed up with Abolition.

Sojourner walked to the podium and slowly took off her sunbonnet. Her six-foot frame towered over the audience. She began to speak in her deep, resonant voice: "Well, children, where there is so much racket, there must be something out of kilter, I think between the Negroes of the South and the women of the North - all talking about rights - the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this talking about?"

Sojourner pointed to one of the ministers. "That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody helps me any best place. And ain't I a woman?"

Sojourner raised herself to her full height. "Look at me! Look at my arm." She bared her right arm and flexed her powerful muscles. "I have plowed, I have planted and I have gathered into barns. And no man could head me. And ain't I a woman?"

"I could work as much, and eat as much as man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne children and seen most of them sold into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me. And ain't I a woman?"

The women in the audience began to cheer wildly.

She pointed to another minister. "He talks about this thing in the head. What's that they call it?"

"Intellect," whispered a woman nearby.

"That's it, honey. What's intellect got to do with women's rights or black folks' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?"

"That little man in black there! He says women can't have as much rights as men. ‘Cause Christ wasn't a woman. She stood with outstretched arms and eyes of fire. "Where did your Christ come from?"

"Where did your Christ come from?", she thundered again. "From God and a Woman! Man had nothing to do with him!"

The entire church now roared with deafening applause.

"If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right-side up again. And now that they are asking to do it the men better let them."


 link to some of her other speaches:
http://www.kyphilom.com/www/truth.html

[brokenbutterfly]

The information provided is incredible, not to mention the time it must've taken to pull it all together and post.  Applause to A-Friend and Witt for the the time and effort.    I don't really have any information-just a suggestion to those who may be interested to read
The Classic Slave Narratives edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr. .Its a collection of four narratives about Frederick Douglas, Olaudah Equiano, Harriet Jacobs, and Mary Prince.  It's well worth the time.

[Allen]

A-FRIEND ~ I found your above two posts both fascinating.  What is even more important, is that I learned something of importance.

THANKS

[A-FRIEND]

Pssssst...BrokenButterf ly, don't tell anybody this, but I strongly disagree with your statement you don't have any information to add.  Your suggestion to read the slave narratives was a tremendous contribution and I thank you.

Allen I have found that different people learn different things from the same information. Would you share with us what it is you've learned? You may very well teach me something with your prospective.

[A-FRIEND]

Some notable inventions by African Americans that changed our lives.

Phillip B. Downing invented the drop mailbox with a hinged door. pat# 462096

Geroge Crum invented the potato chip in 1853. He was a chef in a resort in Saratoga Springs, NY.and one day a customer complained of his french fries being too thick.Even though Crum made a thinner batch, the customer still was not satisfied. Crum finally made some fries that were too thin to eat with a fork hoping to annoy this iritable customer, but to his surprise the customer loved them.

Sarah Goode, business woman and inventor. she invented a cabinet bed that, when folded against the wall, could be used as a desk complete with compartments and supplies. she owned a furniture store in Chicago and invented the small apartment bed. pat#322177 July 1885.  Her patent was the first ever obtained by a African American woman.

Norbert Rillieux,1806-1894. Rillieux invented and patented (1864) a vacume sugar evaporator. It made the processing of sugar faster, safer and more eficienty. The sugar was also of superior quality. His invention was used by sugar plants all over the world.

Benjamin Banneker, in 1770 of Maryland, invented the first American clock that struk off the hours.

More on Benjamin Banneker later.