Podcast appearances and mentions of Emily D West

Hey ya'll! In this episode we take a trip to San Antonio and visit the Emily D. West* hotel. And then mosey on over to FL to check out a NASA launching pad. We want to hear from you! If you would like to message us with any stories or questions of your own please email us ate kate@katethebrave.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/teaandtarotpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/teaandtarotpodcast/support

Was the caller on the other line trying to tell me something? Could Emily Morgan herself be trying to tell me something? Have something you want us to cover? Fill out the form below! Topic Request Form Resources: The Emily Morgan Haunted Hotel History Emily D. West

In this episode, Joey reads the article for Emily D. West. Article can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_D._West Episode Image by Mattstone911 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28532228

The legend of the Yellow Rose of Texas holds an indisputable place in Lone Star culture, tethered to a familiar song that has served as a Civil War marching tune, a pop chart staple and a halftime anthem. Almost two centuries of Texas mythmaking successfully muddled fact with fable in song. The true story of Emily D. West remains mired in dispute and unrecognizable beneath the manipulative tales that grew up around it. The complete truth may never be recovered, but author Lora-Marie Bernard seeks an honest account honoring the grit and determination that brought a free black woman from the abolitionist riots of Connecticut to the thick of a bloody Texas revolution. A Lone Star native who grew up immersed in the Yellow Rose legend, Bernard also traces other stories that legend has obscured, including the connection between Emily D. West and plans for a free black colony in Texas.

The old folk song and marching song "The Yellow Rose of Texas" is a song that, according to at least one researcher,  credits the actions of a very brave young lady who was kidnapped from her hotel in Texas by Santa Anna's forces as they marched toward an expected battle with Sam Houston's forces in the area of San Jacinto. As the legend goes, Texas spies alerted her and asked if she could find a way to delay Santa Anna for a few hours so they could prepare their attack- which she did- helping to gain independence for Texas.  The words "Yellow Rose", were originally taken from a black folk song in deference to the shade of her skin. Some take it as a slur for her mixed race origin- take note- that is not intended here.,  She was a hero to Texas and to many Americans who knew the origins of the song. Her name was Emily D. West. ALL NEW LINKS AUGUST 2018 SUPPORT OUR SHOW MONTHLY AT PATREON Become an Assistant Producer at 1001 Stories Network ( a great resume enhancement) and support us at Patreon today! Here;s the link:  https://www.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork YOUR REVIEWS AT APPLE/ITUNES ARE NEEDED AND APPRECIATED! Catch RADIO DAYS now at Apple  iTunes!   https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-radio-days/id1405045413?mt=2 Catch 1001 HEROES now at Apple iTunes Podcast App:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-heroes-legends-histories-mysteries-podcast/id956154836?mt=2 Catch 1001 CLASSIC SHORT STORIES at iTunes/apple Podcast App Now:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-classic-short-stories-tales/id1078098622?mt=2 Catch 1001 Stories for the Road at iTunes/Apple Podcast now:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-stories-for-the-road/id1227478901?mt=2 ANDROID USERS- CATCH OUR SHOWS AT WWW.CASTBOX.FM  SUBSCRIBE FREE  THEN SHARE  THANK YOU 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales:  https://castbox.fm/channel/1001-Classic-Short-Stories-%26-Tales-id381734?country=us 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries:  https://castbox.fm/channel/1001-Heroes%2C-Legends%2C-Histories-%26-Mysteries-Podcast-id1114843?country=us 1001 Stories for the Road: https://castbox.fm/channel/1001-Stories-For-The-Road-id1324757?country=us Catch ALL of our shows at one place by going to www.1001storiesnetwork.com- our home website with Megaphone. Website For  1001 Heroes is still www.1001storiespodcast.com  (we redirected that one to www.1001storiesnetwork.com) Website For 1001 Classic Short Stories is still www.1001classicshortstories.com ( we redirected that as well) Website for 1001 Stories For The Road is still www.1001storiesfortheroad  (we redirected that one, too) Website for 1001 Radio Days is www.1001radiodays.com Links: Our Twitter:  @1001podcast Our Facebook: www.Facebook.com/1001Heroes Our Email:  1001storiespodcast@gmail.com

There are three (3) historical documents that support the existence of an Emily Morgan in connection with the time period immediately surrounding the independence of Texas. Emily ended up catching the eye of Mexican General Santa Anna, and against her will was forced to her tent and kept there for his amusement and entertainment. The legend goes, Santa Anna was so enthralled with Emily’s beauty that he was literally caught with his pants down when Sam Houston and troops rode into the fields of San Jacinto and decimated the Mexican army in one fell swoop; also capturing Santa Anna while he tried to escape. But, the story of the legendary Emily Morgan doesn’t end there, legend goes that Emily Morgan may have intentionally stayed behind in New Washington, and then became a prisoner of Santa Anna all in an effort to distract him and potentially act as a spy to learn his plans and potential troop movements. Whatever the case, Santa Anna was forced to attempt his escape in only a linen shirt and silk drawers. The only written account of this was captured by a visiting Englishman named William Bollaert, who captured the following in a diary entry from 1842 after being told the story by Sam Houston : “The Battle of San Jacinto was probably lost to the Mexicans, owing to the influence of a Mulatto girl, Emily, belonging to Colonel Morgan, who was closeted in the tent with General Santa Anna, at the time the cry was made ‘the enemy! They come! They come!’ and detained Santa Anna so long, that order could not be restored readily again.” The Texas State Library actually has documentation to even further reinforce the story and the myth. In 1837, “Emily D. West” applied to the Secretary of State for the Republic of Texas for a passport to return home, stating in fact that she had lost her “free papers” at San Jacinto in April 1836. The document with the Texas State Library further states that the Emily applying for the passport came to Texas from New York in 1835 with James Morgan, and further confirms that she was in fact a woman of color, but not a slave. The lyrics of the original song said the following: There’s a yellow rose in Texas, that I am going to see; No other darky knows her, no darky only me; She cried so when I left her, it like to broke my heart; And if I ever find her, we nevermore will part. She’s the sweetest rose of color this darky every knew; Her eyes are bright as diamonds, they sparkle like the dew; You may talk about your Dearest May, and sing of Rosa Lee, But the Yellow Rose of Texas beats the belles of Tennessee; When the Rio Grande is flowing, the starry skies are bright; She walks along the river in the quiet summer night; She thinks if I remember, when we parted long ago; I promised to come back again, and not to leave her so; Oh now I’m going to find her, for my heart is full of woe; And we’ll sing the songs together, that we sung so long ago; We’ll play the banjo gaily, and we’ll sing the songs of yore; And the Yellow Rose of Texas shall be mine forevermore. The immortalization of a black woman in song, especially one sung on the battle lines, and otherwise racially divided segments of white Texans comprises an unprecedented circumstance matched only by a second fascination that’s a quieter kept secret, but plays to the importance and impact of the diaspora. A love story between black people that was powerful enough to be immortalized in song. The woman and the song serve Texas history well, but they serve African American history, folklore and culture even better.