CoAAG 4th Edition: FreedomTweet 2010 ~ What Does FREEDOM Mean To Me?
Sometime before 1865 in Washington-Wilkes, my 4th Grandfather Philip CARTER, a slave, returned at the end of the day from working the fields to find his Wife and Children sold away.
Oral history says that when Grandpa Phil thought to question his owner’s actions, he received a stern warning to “let things be”, being told he could choose another wife and make more babies.
Grandpa Phil did just that — “let things be” and in 1869 married my 4th Grandmother Annie FAVER CARTER and yes, they had many babies.
Fast-forward 20 years. In 1885 in Washington-Wilkes, my other 4th Grandfather, James WINGFIELD, an emancipated slave, returns from harvesting his land and heads to town to cash in his crops. Family history says that he purchased a pair of “brogans” and pick-up needed supplies for his pregnant Wife, Grandma Catie DICKEY WINGFIELD and their children, before heading to church to pray.
At some point between Downtown Washington-Wilkes, church and home something happened.
The details are unclear but it has been said my Grandpa James was accused of “talking back” to a white man. As a penalty, he was removed from his home on Whitehall Street, never to be seen again.
Grandma Catie was 7 months pregnant, with 4 small children at home at the time James disappeared. A year or so later, relatives found my Grandfather’s brogans and boots in the woods, at the bottom of a hanging tree.
Two Grandfathers and two instances that totally shifted my Family’s destiny. Both men defenseless; one a slave who dare not speak-up; one a free man, murdered because he dared to speak-up.
What Does FREEDOM Mean To Me?
Freedom means that not only do I have the RIGHT to advocate for fairness and justice ~ I have a RESPONSIBILITY to do so!
When I speak-up, my Grandfathers and all the other Ancestors who sacrificed that I might know FREEDOM, are assured their sacrifice was not in vein.
My community advocacy says, that I REFUSE to shame their memory and FREEDOM gift with complacency and idleness.
There are MANY days I am startled, saddened and angered by the reality of just how fragile our civil liberties are in this Democracy we live in.
When Congressman John Lewis can be spat upon and called nigger in 2010 Washington, DC — something is WRONG. When discrimination can be passed into law in 2010 Arizona — something is WRONG. When “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is still being debated on Capital Hill in 2010 – something is WRONG.
I’m honest in saying I’ve lost patience with prejudice and resent having to burden my children with the skill of navigating around its constant presence.
And for the record, I am completely comfortable with my ability to make folks [begrudgingly] shed their blinders — if even temporarily — to see that there is more to living up to the premise of equality than just speaking it.
No you will not find silence here. No, you will not be able to take comfort in my complacency. No, I will not allow you to make me invisible or my considerations unimportant.
I have the right — the FREEDOM — to demand as much from society as it demands of me.
To answer the blogger’s question ~ What does diversity matter?
EVERYTHING when you live in a culture that doesn’t offer it freely. EVERYTHING when to abide by it laws must be passed, sanctions invoked. EVERYTHING when as a consequence of silence and diminished action, one witnesses the very liberties her Ancestors have fought and died for, fade away.
Diversity, as does FREEDOM matters because there are those who believe it doesn’t matter. There are those that don’t face the challenge of its lack — DAILY, as I do.
So long as these people have a voice (or blog), God willing, so will I.
~ Luckie.
FreedomTweet2010 Blog | Twitter.com/Juneteenth2010
Amen and thank you. I love your voice – most days. It’s not always comfortable and I don’t always agree, but I am so grateful you keep speaking. Your figurative slaps upside the head keep me focused on the present as well as the past. Keep at it.
To think of what your 4th great-grandfathers went through makes me so angry! Part of me wants to curl up in a ball, and the other half wants to scream out loud! I can’t even imagine if it were me in your shoes.
I will never understand how one race, group, or religion can think his or hers is superior to another, or even how one individual can think he or she is better than anyone else for — any reason! There is just no logic to this way of thinking!
Okay, I admit that I had to google “diversity” to make sure I understood what it meant.
Main Entry: di·ver·si·ty
Pronunciation: \də-ˈvər-sə-tē, dī-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural di·ver·si·ties
Date: 14th century
1 : the condition of being diverse : variety; especially : the inclusion of diverse people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization
2 : an instance of being diverse <a diversity of opinion
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity
Can you imagine a world without diversity? How boring would that be?!
FREEDOM — to be who you are and speak your mind without fear, ridicule, or guilt.
I so admire your spirit and your voice Luckie. Don't ever change!:-)
We who research our ancestry find on a daily basis that we are far more diverse than we ever imagined.
When I was hospitalized with a life threatening illness it was discovered I was a Sickle Cell carrier. As are one of my daughters and two of my grandchildren. I had to know more.
A noted lecturer, geneticist, at a genealogy conference asked me, “What difference does it make?” Yes, what difference indeed? Sigh!
-fM
i admire your connection to your history and your determination to speak on their behalf. You truly are standing on the shoulders of giants and your voice is powerful. Based on your experience, where does one begin in a geneaology search?
I notice that you list our form of government as a “Democracy.” It is actually a “Republic” form of government. President John Adams, who never owned slaves, said “a democracy is just another form of tyranny.” All of the founding fathers were fearful that the country could become a Democracy. In a Republic form of government we elect our representatives and senators, as well as a President. Abraham Lincoln would never have been elected in a Democratic form of government because he did not get a majority of the votes in the election. In a Democracy, the majority makes all the decision. In a Republic form of government, the rights of minorities were recognized because it was right in the eyes of God. The majority of Americans sometimes do not recognize peoples’ rights. The wonderful thing about a Republic is that the governing body can make the right decisions, provided they look to God for guidance.
No where in the Constitution is our form of government called a “Democracy.” It is called a “Republic.” Presidents also make this common error. President Obama and Bush have called our government a “Democracy.”
Luckie,
Once again, a powerful story, a powerful voice. A powerful message…It’s like I’m sitting right next to you while reading your post. The thought that came to mind was Martin Luther King’s message, “Let Freedom Ring” – a great speech then, and a great post now; yours.
Keep doing what you are doing. I enjoy your post, and learn so much from each one of them.
Kudos!!
The strength to carry on with life after going through so many adversities speaks to something might powerful.
We cannot begin to give the ancestors enough praise, enough honor, enough respect and enough thanks for their desire to keep on living.
But the least we can do is to tell their stories so they will not be forgotten. You have honored your ancestors so well.
Dave – I published your comments to the blog just this morning; took time for me to decide to do so.
While I understand your need to clarify the difference between a Republic vs. Democracy, I hope you understand that’s FAR from the core message of my post. Frankly, it’s a non-issue for me.
I believe I used the word “Democracy” once, yet addressed the historical absence of freedom and fairness throughout the post. I hope some of this message resonated with you — although it doesn’t appear so.
Everyone is entitled to his opinion, and so long as the line of respect is not crossed on OGR, I publish the comment.
However be mindful that neither of my two Grandfathers had the freedom to debate the definition of our government structure. Whether you define it as a Democracy or Republic — it did not protect them or their families.
Luckie.
Have you seen the new movie about “Princess Ka’iulani”? I am just now learning how much this movie means to the Hawaiian people. I have criticized the movie, I have praised the movie, but in the end the director chose to highlight a moment when the non-white people were given their right to remain voting citizens. I’m just now learning how important this truly was to the story. The story of the annexation still makes me weep, however there are threads of thousands of other stories woven through the annexation history that need to be heard. Yes, Freedom does matter when any portion of a society can be silenced!
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Pingback by CoAAG 4th Edition: FreedomTweet 2010 ~ What Does FREEDOM Mean To You & Me? « Our Georgia Roots | Our Ancestors of Washington-Wilkes — 19 June 2010 @ 11:18 amLuckie,
This is a very touching and moving post; it hits right to the core. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings about freedom. I think our ancestors are smiling on us today. Freedom Tweet was an excellent idea!
San