The Colonization Society II

The vision of the American Colonial Society was slaveholders freeing their slaves and sending them to Africa. The ACS was an organization that was set up to transport African Americans to African continent, in the early 1800s. The organization was made up of slave merchants, and slaveowners, with some well-meaning abolitionists sprinkled in. Just prior to the Civil War General Robert E. Lee freed some of his slaves and offered to pay for those slaves interested in a trip to Africa. The American Colonization Society had established a colony on the west coast of Africa. Robert E. Lee had been aware of the growing divide in the Union of States even before he and his associate Jeb Stewart had been called upon to put down the armed raid on Harpers Ferry. The raiding party Lee was sent to put an end to was made up of black and white men, and led by the abolitionist, dubbed domestic terrorist, John Brown.

The thing that stood out to me about Robert E. Lee's assistance to his former slaves William and Rosabella Burkes was the fact that the Lee family and the Burkes family maintained a friendship and communications across a vast Atlantic Ocean that would allow Rosabella Burkes, to exchange messages with her family members still living in the area through Mary Custis Lee. Mary Custis Lee was able to share news and information about what was happening politically in the U.S. which was not good. Robert E. Lee who was at the time in the Union Army, was forced to choose a side when the Civil War broke out. 

Afrocentric Gifts
by GK Designs

Rosabella also shared information with Mary Custis Lee about the trials and tribulations of the Burkes who were learning to live in Africa, which after more than 400 years of slavery in the U.S. was a foreign land to all the African Americans that ended up in the little colony set up by the American Colonization Society. During the days of slavery in the U.S. all African Americans could be slaves, but the fact was, not all African Americans were slaves. Millions of Africans born in America lived as free people, and free from slavery.

The American Colonization Society was set up in part to deal with the situation of the African Americans living as free people. Slaves could be freed by purchasing their freedom, or the freedom of a family member from a master. White slave owners who had children by slave women could free their own children with a deed of manumission, once a child reached an agreed-upon. There were slaves who simply self-emancipated themselves by escaping slavery in one place to reside in an area free of slavery.

Overall, the ACS believed the presents of free blacks in the United States was a threat to the nation's wellbeing. There were also those members of the ACS that included the sprinkling of abolitionists who believed African Americans would only be able to fulfill their potential as human beings, in Africa and believed sending American Africans to Africa would allow them to live free of discrimination. The Burke family went to the ACS colony for the chance to raise their children in a place free of discrimination.

Quotes, Juneteenth
by GK Designs

Over the years Rosabella and Mary Custis Lee shared stories about family and friends. Rosebella would learn from Mary that war seemed inevitable. Much of what the two women shared in letters between them was later published in the Colonization Society's Journal, the Colonial Journal, and the African Repository, in 1859. Starting all over again for the Burkes family in Africa would be hard and take years. Eventually, the differences between the African American people deposited on the West Coast of Africa, and the African people in Africa would fade into each other forming a dependence on the other. The Burkes would open their home up to African people in need and in return the African people taught the Burkes the customs and traditions to prosper in Africa. The tiny ACS colony would grow into the country of Liberia. That fact alone fascinated and answered a question I had since learning about Liberia: Why do so many people in Liberia have American sounding names? 

Fabric Patches & Labels
by GKCSewing

Robert E. Lee would go on to prosecute a war against the Union Army he had once fought for. That would over many battles and much blood shed in the north and the south result in his surrender and the end of the Civil War. Lee's home would be captured by Union Forces, and a detachment of African American soldiers would be tasked with guarding Robert E. Lee's property and wife Mary Custis Lee. A pregnant Rosabella Burke would read about the war between the states on the other side of the ocean from her peaceful settlement in Africa. She would give birth to another child, and her first child to be born in the land of her ancestors, and she would name her newborn baby daughter, Mary Custis Burke.

What is Ancient Kemet?

 What is Ancient Kemet

Kemetism, Kemetics all refer to Ancient Kemet one of the names given to ancient Egypt by the then ancient indigenous inhabitants who lived in Egypt before the time of the invaders and colonizers. In modern day terms the term Kemet has become associated with viewing Egypt in its African Cultural Context because of the many significant links between Ancient Egypt and modern African culture such as hairstyles, headrests, and the skin color of mummies examined from ancient Egypt. Luckily for the children of the sun, our ancient black Egyptian ancestors hid everything in plain sight with the Egyptian art, sculptures (even with the vandalized noses), and painting from that time. That history was the driving inspiration behind my new Kemet Jewelry line with the inscription: Know Thy Self.

I realize that only so much history can be crammed into early learning materials, and I truly do understand how some important times in world history can be left out. But when history is taught from only one side of historic references African Americans seem to come out on the losing end. When I was in school during my formative years, I would love to have known that several of the Pharaohs mentioned in the bible I studied in Sunday School, were black. To be honest there was nothing in the bible that I can remember that said the people being referred to in my Sunday School lessons were white, either, but all of the biblical and religious images shown to me at that point in my life were white. Having a better historical perspective would have been helpful with my own self esteem.

Egyptian Cat Photo Ring
by GKDStore

I would have learned the truth about slavery, in that slavery was not just a black thing. Slaves came in whatever color was captured by the warring parties back then. Imagine my shock when I learned that those black pharaohs, I mentions, had slaves of their own. Or the fact that the first trade relationships with the motherland of the African continent ships brought slaves to African to trade for diamonds and gold. In short, I would have had a better clearer picture of world history than I had prior to my college years, especially when it came to slavery. Studying about ancient Egypt has taught me that African Civilizations are way older than Greek, or European civilizations, and that many of the modern-day advancements we enjoy in math, medicine, even warfare came from some of the ancient African civilizations. 

And Kemet, ancient Egypt, is a major part of that history, history holds many valuable lessons that the wise study and learn from, just asked the Greek Historians who studied in Africa. There was once a complicated time of Library index cards and rolls of viewable tapes when you had to go out and track down history. Now thanks to the internet history can, more or less, come to you. It is always helpful to verify your online sources when it comes to historic events and information but as one of the YouTube channels, I'm fond of watching, always says: "The truth is out there!"

Teach the younger generation early what we learned so late!

John Brown and Juneteenth

It is my belief that had he lived, John Brown would have been happy to participate in the first Juneteenth Celebration and support the cause he dedicated most of his later years in life. His fight against slavery was a cause that would eventually have him labeled a domestic terrorist by the slaveholders and slave merchants. A cause that would in the end take his life, along with the lives of more than one of his sons. 

John Brown's ancestors include Peter Brown, a passenger on the Mayflower, and Captain John Brown, before him, who fought in the Revolutionary War. John Brown would follow in the footsteps of his father, Owen Brown an abolitionist, civil servant, and trustee at Oberlin College. John, himself would become a fervent anti-slavery supporter. However, while his father Owen would choose the non-violent means to support the anti-slavery cause his son John would choose the more confrontative route. One that would strike terror into the hearts of those who believed in, and supported slavery.

Juneteenth Games & Decor
by GK Designs

John Brown was viewed by the slaveholders and slave merchants as the man (a white man) who not only wanted to arm the slaves against their masters, but who also planned to fight alongside them in a battle against the institution of slavery. Few things evoked fear in a southern household more than the idea of armed slaves coming for them.

"I have only a short time to live, one death to die, and I will die fighting for this anti-slavery cause."     

John Brown

John Brown's plan to raid the armory at Harper's Ferry to arm the slaves and activate his plan was put down by U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee, and his lieutenant J.E.B. Stuart. Men who would later become key parts of the Confederate army, who at the time of John Brown's raid were still serving in the union arm. John Brown himself was called crazy at the time for his confrontative stance against the institution of slavery that had stood for hundreds of years. Several of his sons, as well as black and white supporters would fight and die alongside John Brown in his battle against the institution of slavery.

Quotes, Juneteenth
by GK Designs

His own home was a station on the Underground Railroad. That is why I believe that even though he didn't live long enough to witness the June 19th, 1865, and the celebration that would signal the end of slavery. Nor would John Brown experience the extra added amendments to the United States Constitution (the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments) that brought an end to slavery all over this nation I get the feeling that the Juneteenth Day Celebration would surely have been worth remembering and celebrating to John Brown.

  

"I pity the poor in bondage that have none to help them. That is why I am here, not to gratify any animosity, revenge, or vindictive spirit. It is my sympathy with the oppressed and the wronged, that are as good as you, and as precious in the sight of God. You may dispose of me easily, but this question is still to be settled. The Negro question, the end is not yet."

 

John Brown

Why Black and White People Celebrate Juneteenth

 

Why should Black and White people celebrate the Juneteenth Day Celebration?  First of all the Juneteenth Celebration is a national holiday, intended to be celebrated by the entire nation. From the information I have been able to gather the majority of American African people who celebrate Juneteenth Day Celebration do so to honor their African ancestors who fought for and eventually gained their freedom from slavery in the United States. On that day (June 19th, 1865) the ball started rolling toward the official end of slavery in this nation that the Juneteenth Day Celebration is based. Even though the first official celebration of Juneteenth happened one year later, on June 19th, 1866. Since then, and long before Juneteenth became a national holiday American African descendants have celebrated Juneteenth as the end of slavery in this nation, and to honor the African ancestors who fought for, and did not live long enough to experience the freedom American Africans enjoy today.

What reason do non-American African people have to celebrate the Juneteenth Celebration?

There were many white, and other nationalities that were against slavery during the days of slavery and many of them were willing to put their own freedom, their property, and in some cases, their lives on the line in the fight against slavery. And, while many runaway slaves chose to self-emancipate themselves, thousands of other runaway slaves were helped by the clandestine system of escape known as the Underground Railroad. Set up and maintained, in many places, by white people. While June 19th, 1865, was the day that started this nation down the road to freedom for all, the addition of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution, added to the news presented in the reading of General Order No.3 a year earlier, abolishing slavery throughout the entire nation.

Juneteenth Games & Decor
by GK Designs

Black and White Abolitionists knew they were involved in illegal activity and as a result neither had any misunderstanding about what would happen to them if they were caught helping a runaway slave. As far as the slaveholders and slave merchants were concerned the punishment issued by the slave chaser was usually equal for any white person, or black person caught with someone else's property. So, the news shared in Galveston back in 1865 was enough to give rise to many white abolitionists rejoicing as well. Not only because there was a victory in their fight against slavery, but also, because no longer did white abolitionist need to risk life and limb to participate in the fight against the slaveholders.

Needless to say, that because of the covert operation of the Underground Railroad during the days of slavery, when not all black people were good, and not all white people were bad, few who participated in the Underground Railroad when out of their way to document their exploits. But there was one who did take that chance, the black abolitionist Mr. William Still. Due to a per-chance meeting with a runaway slave on the street that turned out to be his own brother, William Still decided to chronicle the experience of every runaway slave he helped, with the hope of giving each a written repository whereby they might find the necessary information to reunite them with long lost family members, separated by slavery. His hidden written records would become the book titled: The Underground Railroad.

Quotes, Juneteenth
by GK Designs

What is Juneteenth and why is it in the news?

 What is Juneteenth and why is it in the news?

Juneteenth is the celebration that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States, even though June 19th, 1865, was the unofficial beginning of the Juneteenth Celebration,  not all of the slaves in the U.S. were freed by Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, but it was a start. June 19th, 1865 was the day federal troops arrived in Galveston Texas taking control of the last Confederate stronghold in the southern state of Texas. The newly freed slaves were still not considered citizens of this nation, nor did the newly freed slaves have the right to vote. Constitutional recognition of their freedom would come with the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution, and the first official recognition of the Juneteenth Celebration would follow on June 19th of the year 1866.