Wow! This has been some month, huh?! Did we EVER think that #FreedomTweet 2010 would come to mean so much, to so many, OUTSIDE of our genea-family?

Did the Ancestors EVER think that we — their children — would be living as FREE as we do today? I often wonder if my Ancestors dreamed or imagined a better day. God, in my heart, I hope so.

Today marks the 145th Anniversary of Juneteenth — the nationally observed day commemorating the end of Slavery in the United States. On this day, starting in 1865 Galveston, Texas, Emancipated Slaves celebrated their new-found, but still greatly challenged — freedom.

So today, we speak and stand-up for FREEDOM. What it meant for our Ancestors of yesterday, and what it means to us today, their living legacies…

*******************

Luckie Daniels, Our Georgia Roots | CoAAG 4th Edition: FreedomTweet 2010 ~ What Does FREEDOM Mean To Me? ~ Freedom means far more to me today, than it did a month ago when I first thought of #FreedomTweet.

Jacky Gamble, Vermont Genealogy | Juneteenth Events ~ Thank you Jacky for sharing with us the Juneteenth event of Portsmouth, NH & supporting FreedomTweet 2010!

Vicky Daviss-Mitchell, Mariah’s Zepher | Texas Tradition Arizona Style: Honoring Juneteenth ~ Thank you Ms. V for showing us how to celebrate Juneteenth, Arizona style!:-)

Angela Walton-Raji, My Ancestor’s Name | In the Spirit of Juneteenth: They Fought for Freedom ~ Thank you Angela for educating us on the important role the Colored Troops played in the Civil War, fighting for our freedom.

Sandra Taliaferro, I Never Knew My Father | Carnival of African American Genealogy ~ Freedom Tweet 2010 ~ What does FREEDOM Mean To Me? ~ Thank you Sandra for summing freedom up quite nicely — Freedom for me is a life without barriers.

Joann, J-Macs Journey | A Legacy of Freedom – Life Lesson’s for Grand’s Girls ~ Thank you Joann for sharing the freedom legacy you’ve both inherited and pass on through your descendants.

Toni Carrier, LowCountry Africana | We’re Celebrating 7 Days of Juneteenth! ~ Thank you Toni & LCA for this PHENOMENAL contribution to the 4th Edition of CoAAG — 7 days of new FREEDOM historical records! Preservation of history offers freedom to many!

Toney Holley, For All My Relations | What Freedom Means to Me ~ Thank you Toney for sharing your reflections on freedom & how its meaning changed when you journeyed to Washington, DC.

Kristin Williams, Finding Eliza | To Be Where You Can Breathe… ~ Thank you Kristin for sharing the  beautiful 1917 letter to your Grandfather Mershell Graham. It’s a bittersweet reminder that though “free” our Ancestors did not truly experience “freedom”.

Susan, Nolichucky Roots | What Does Freedom Mean To Me? ~ Thank you Susan for reflecting on your Ancestors freedom journey from Europe and committing to heal slavery’s legacy so that we all can live free. So glad we could encourage you to *tweet*!:-)

********************

Thanks to all the Genea-Contributors and supporters of FreedomTweet 2010! You have indeed made this 145th Juneteenth a day of true celebration and thanksgiving!:-)

Hugs to you,

Luckie.

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

I REALLY had to think long & hard about broaching the matter of reparations here at the OGR blog.

The concern? My unconfirmed belief that the word reparation strikes fear and/or anxiety in the listener or reader – prompting him to switch on his mental *mute* button. In my head, I can see this person {head tossed back; eyes rolling} asking, “Reparations?! Are we STILL talking about that?!”.

Well, hey, at least I’m honest!:-)

However my responsibility to my Ancestors goes beyond digging-up roots & connecting the family dots. My accountability includes expressing what my Ancestors did not, & in most instances – could not.

Funny, this is actually the second time this week reparations has been the topic of my conversation! I hope the insightful Gal I had that chat with, will contribute here. She offered a new perspective that left me seeing the matter a bit differently. It’s amazing what clear, open dialogue can do!:-)

So when Renate of  “Just Thinking…” responded to my Freedom post of yesterday with the following comment, I knew immediately what my next post HAD to be:

This is why I believe, to a degree at least, in African-Americans right to reparations. Yes, I know it’s a delicate subject, and if carried out, there would be lots of things to consider, and yes, it would be tricky to determine who deserves to get what and why. However, when I see laws like this, I’m reminded that so many of our ancestors were HELD BACK, and not allowed to better their circumstances, even if they had the means to do so. Not only that, but I believe there is a link between the type of work that our ancestors were forced to do, and the debilitating and life-ending diseases that are found so disproportionately in the Black Community.

To speak to Renate’s comment, I must admit – I wholeheartedly agree.

In 1885, my 4th Grandmother Catie was pregnant with my Uncle Elbert WINGFIELD when my Grandfather, James WINGFIELD, was lynched in Washington-Wilkes.

She was a housewife, with 4 other children at home.  A farmer, James was lynched after he received a return on his crops. As told to me by her Grandson Elbert STRINGER, Catie was not permitted to question what had been done to my Grandfather or to even grieve in public — she had to move on as if nothing in her life had changed.

Pregnant, with small children at home & dealing with the loss of her husband — the only family income source, what did Catie do? I often wonder how my family makeup would look today had that event not taken place?

How many ENDLESS stories are there like Catie’s [or worse] in my family history & that of other African-Ancestored people?

I agree with Renate that reparations is a “delicate” conversation to have, but a necessary one nonetheless.

The U.S. Chattel System was a Government sponsored/supported institution. There should be accountability & some measure of restitution made for its impact to African-American families & culture.

Do I think this will ever happen? Unfortunately – NO. The bias with which this issue has been treated publicly is appalling. If there is a “rug” then reparations for African-American people has long since been “swept” under it.

Some of my readers & friends may take offense {really, it is not my intention}, but I must say when I witness the ongoing punishment of Michael Vick or Chris Brown — two men who without question, made VERY big mistakes – I am reminded of the hypocrisy this Country can be guilty of.

Two guilty men who have made restitution, in countless ways, for their wrongdoing to another human being and animals, find themselves still being punished by society & subjected to the reprimands of the law, while a Country whose wrongdoing exceeds their actions a million times over, feels no accountability beyond a begruding Senate apology, for the sins & trangressions it’s committed against MILLIONS of families.

Something is VERY wrong with this picture!

And bless God that even if my Catie could not voice it in 1885, today in 2009 her Great Great Great Granddaughter, Dona Amechia, sure can!

Luckie.

DISCLAIMER: If you choose to comment to this post, I ask that you please be respectful, cool & as objective as possible. Open dialogue is welcomed but let’s remember - we are all part of the same Tribe here – GeneaHolics!:-)

In honor of our Civil War Ancestors - Company E, 4th United States Colored Infantry!

Please also checkout Angela Walton-Raji’s ongoing project to tell the stories of our brave U.S. Colored Troops – www.ArkansasFreedmen.com.

Learning more of life everyday…

Luckie.