Podcasts about Henry Highland Garnet

Let the Monster Perish (An homage to the late Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, PC(USA)) Psalm 112:1-5 Matthew 23:1-4

The first African American to earn a medical degree, James McCune Smith was a leader black intellectual, counting friends like Frederick Douglass and Henry Highland Garnet. He was known for both his scientific knowledge and his reformist activities during his lifetime and wrote extensively for Douglass' newspaper. However, today most are unfamiliar with Smith or his accomplishments. So this week, I am focusing on Dr. James McCune Smith. Who was he? And why don't know we know more about him? For transcripts, source material, and ways you can help support the show, please visit the website at www.civicsandcoffee.comSupport the show

 We start off our program with another segment from our black history series, this time on Henry Highland Garnet. After that, we work through David and Tim's stack of good news articles. The house rules now allow the federal government to transfer property back to the states. The COVID national emergencies are now planned to officially shut down. Socialism has been denounced in the House. And a court case win for the ProLife movement. All of this and more, here on Good News Friday 

On February 10, 1865, Rev. Henry Highland Garnet delivers a sermon in the U.S. House of Representatives. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Explore aspects of language used to talk about slavery, how language matters, how the work of enslaved people was sometimes left out of history, and how orators such as Frederick Douglass and Henry Highland Garnet addressed slavery/enslavement at the time. Paul Stewart, co-founder of Underground Railroad Education Center, discussed these topics and more with Brea Barthel for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Sunday MemoirsPreachers from the Past: Civil War PreachersA reading from BH365: An Inclusive Account of American History textbook on the Black Church.Sunday Memoirs  takes a look back in the past to find inspiration for the future. We will take time to share great inspiring accounts and building moments of the Black Church and others, depicting religious traditions and spiritual awakenings that contributed to the foundation of the church and our faith today.  At times we will share inspirational words to educate and encourage individuals on their journey of faith in God.This Sunday we will introduce a series called "Preachers from the Past", focusing on the preachers that risk their lives in many cases during enslavement to spread the message of the gospel and start some of our greatest churches and traditions of the day. Our journey takes to view short mentions of many preachers like Nat Turner, Henry Highland Garnet, Henry McNeal Turner (First African American Army Chaplain and Louis Napoleon Nelson. All ministers, educators, writers, and some of America's most active and influential Black leaders.These preachers did what they could during the 1700-1800's to help the community of the enslavement.  Although it had been through some hard changes and some endured harsh times in history, the black church and the preacher himself has always been a  safe haven for people of African descent during the unrelenting onslaughts of enslavement, racist bigotry, Jim Crow and other forms of oppression and suppression from before the Civil War all the way through and past the Civil Rights Movement. Even today, it still rings true of some preachers and their churches being a pillar in the community. Although,  preachers today must ask, are we still influential to our communities and making sure that they are taken care of any every way possible? Can we look back at some of the preachers during enslavement and learn from their relentless faith in God and apply this to today? Its a challenge, but we must ask and face the truth.This Sunday We Ponder:Preachers from the Past: Civil War PreachersPages 549Order a copy of the book at  https://www.blackhistory365education.com/joannescaifeCONTACT US833-FTH-INFOPO Box 151569Arlington TX 76015Check us out on social media:FacebookTwitterInstagramMusic By: Kirk Whalum, Title Song: Wade In the WaterEdited by: Juels N. Evans, Sound EngineerPicture: theconstitutional.com 

Carl Ellis, Jr. joins co-hosts Cyril Chavis, Jr; Noelle Shaw; and Alafia Bailey in discussing the ways that the church has been held captive by traditions and anti-Christian beliefs and practices. They talk about un-churchables (people allergic to institutional church as we know it), white Christianity-ism, the future of Christianity among African Americans, and much more! If you are wondering how the church relates to and engages the surrounding culture, tune in!Dr. Carl Ellis is the Provost's Professor of Theology and Culture for Reformed Theological Seminary. He is married to Professor K.A. Ellis, the love of his life and partner in ministry. 02:03 Intro of Dr. Ellis06:31 Definition of Ancestor 11:25 Intro of Garnet 15:49 Unchurchables in the Nation of Islam and Hebrew Israelites23:31 What is white Christianity-ism?30:47 How have AfAms fought against Cultural Captivity in US?33:34 How have AfAms become captive to the culture?42:37 What's the future of Christianity in AfAm Community?47:41 Lessons on resistance from Henry Highland Garnet52:18 Black Presbyterians in History 54:05 Christian foundations of HBCUs55:11 Final Inspirations from Dr. Ellis57:39 Keeping up with Dr. Ellis58:30 Prayer Mentioned Resources:Free at Last? by Dr. Carl Ellis 

The year was 1882. We remember Henry Highland Garnet. Today's reading comes from Charlotte Brontë, the last lines from her longer poem entitled "The Missionary." — FULL TRANSCRIPTS available: https://www.1517.org/podcasts/the-christian-history-almanac GIVE BACK: Support the work of 1517 today CONTACT: CHA@1517.org SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Overcast Google Play FOLLOW US: Facebook Twitter Audio production by Christopher Gillespie (gillespie.media).

It turns out Beyonce isn't the first to say "Black is King." Speaking at a convention of 70+ freed Northern black leaders in 1843, Henry Highland Garnet gave a speech urging slaves to revolt and to emancipate themselves. He reminded the free blacks at the convention (including Frederick Douglass,) that it was not enough to bemoan the plight of slaves. Garnet wanted free black people and enslaved  black people to deeply understand that their fates and happiness were irrevocable tied together. He implored all black people, free or not,  to remember that they were born of kings and queens in Africa; he urged them to reject the degradation of slavery and to channel the divine within them. Garnet valued liberty as a holy right that he believed black people must fight for even at the risk of death. Liberty, Garnet believed, was a spirit sent out from God. He urged each and every black person to "wake up," to find power in their numbers, and to take back their God-given freedom. In this episode, Steven Anthony Jones reads An Address to the Slaves of the United States" and ends the episode with Claude McKay's poem "If We Must Die."

Anna Mae Duane shares how two fugitive slave boys, James McCune Smith and Henry Highland Garnet, grew up to inspire abolitionists before the Civil War. Douglas Egerton of Le Moyne College tells the story of the daring escape of an enslaved man, Robert Smalls, and his ensuing successful legislative career.

Henry Highland Garnet encourages, or actually demands, that enslaved Americans throw off their chains and debates Douglass over how best to resist slavery.

Two powerful, and badly neglected, forces in our national history around race are featured in Educated for Freedom: The Incredible Story of Two Fugitive Schoolboys Who Grew Up To Change a Nation by author & educator Anna Mae Duane. The 1800's debate between two students of the NY African Free School, James McCune Smith & Henry Highland Garnet, echoes to current issues.

In the 1820s, few Americans could imagine a viable future for black children. Even abolitionists saw just two options for African American youth—permanent subjection or exile. Anna Mae Duane’s book “Educated for Freedom: The Incredible Story of Two Fugitive Schoolboys Who Grew Up to Change a Nation” tells the story of James McCune Smith and Henry Highland Garnet, two black children who beat the odds, finding freedom as their country struggled to grow from a slave nation into a free country and forever altering the course of American history in the process. Join us for a discussion of their heroic story with Anna Mae Duane in this installment of Leonard Lopate at Large on WBAI.

A profile of Henry Highland Garnet, an escaped slave who rose to prominence as a fiery abolitionist preacher and called on slaves to revolt and take their freedom. Show notes and sources are available at http://noirehistoir.com/blog/henry-highland-garnet.

As we head into Black History Month we'll hear stories about Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner and Dr. King. But there are so many other fascinating stories to tell. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll hear about a remarkable school for young black students in 19th Century New York City. We'll also spend an […]

At competing rallies in El Paso Texas, President Trump rhetorically gelds poor Beto O’Rourke. And the President is continuing to cut down his opponents as Democrats scramble after a particularly disastrous week. What a time to be alive, and the 2020 race has just barely begun. Then, do animals feel pain? Finally, on this day in history, Rev. Henry Highland Garnet becomes the first black man to address the U.S. Congress. We will remember his excellent sermon.

Rare book dealers Heather O'Donnell and Rebecca Romney drop some knowledge about Henry Highland Garnet’s "Memorial Discourse,” the first address delivered to Congress by an African-American.

Clarendon Connection with Pastor Rohan Cameron. Visiting the past, Living in the present, Heading for the future spiritually. The parish of Clarendon is located in the center of Jamaica with Bull Head Mountain as the focal point. Call in to chat 661-467-2407  Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. was a Jamaican-born political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator. He was President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL). He also was President and one of the directors of the Black Star Line, a shipping and passenger line incorporated in Delaware. The Black Star Line went bankrupt and Garvey was imprisoned for mail fraud in the selling of its stock. His movement then rapidly collapsed. Prior to the 20th century, leaders such as Prince Hall, Martin Delany, Edward Wilmot Blyden, and Henry Highland Garnet advocated the involvement of the African diaspora in African affairs. Garvey was unique in advancing a philosophy to inspire a global mass movement and economic empowerment focusing on Africa known as Garveyism. Garveyism would eventually inspire others, ranging from the Nation of Islam to the Rastafari movement (which proclaim Garvey as a prophet) and the Black Power Movement of the 1960s. Garveyism intended persons of African ancestry in the diaspora to "redeem" the continent of Africa and put an end to European colonialism. His essential ideas about Africa are stated in an editorial in the Negro World entitled "African Fundamentalism", where he wrote: "Our union must know no clime, boundary, or nationality… to let us hold together under all climes and in every country.

Cleromancy- decision making, Martin Luther, Henry Highland Garnet, and The Music of Public Enemy. Bring the Noise. Leaders have to make decisions, and your decisions may cause controversy. What will you do in the face of opposition? The opinions of others are not orders on the road to your destiny. BRING THE NOISE. Bring your noise!

Oscar Newman, science teacher from Chicago Academy Elementary School, shares some history on Reverend Henry Highland Garnet, the first African American to make an address in the House chamber

Oscar Newman, science teacher from Chicago Academy Elementary School, shares some history on Reverend Henry Highland Garnet, the first African American to make an address in the House chamber

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH (17 August 1887 – 10 June 1940),was a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a proponent of the Pan-Africanism movement, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL). He also founded the Black Star Line, a shipping and passenger line which promoted the return of the African diaspora to their ancestral lands. Prior to the 20th century, leaders such as Prince Hall, Martin Delany, Edward Wilmot Blyden, and Henry Highland Garnet advocated the involvement of the African diaspora in African affairs. Garvey was unique in advancing a Pan-African philosophy to inspire a global mass movement and economic empowerment focusing on Africa known as Garveyism. Promoted by the UNIA as a movement of African Redemption, Garveyism would eventually inspire others, ranging from the Nation of Islam to the Rastafari movement (some sects of which proclaim Garvey as a prophet). Garveyism intended persons of African ancestry in the diaspora to "redeem" the nations of Africa and for the European colonial powers to leave the continent. His essential ideas about Africa were stated in an editorial in the Negro World entitled "African Fundamentalism", where he wrote: "Our union must know no clime, boundary, or nationality… to let us hold together under all climes and in every country…

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH (17 August 1887 – 10 June 1940),was a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a proponent of the Pan-Africanism movement, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL). He also founded the Black Star Line, a shipping and passenger line which promoted the return of the African diaspora to their ancestral lands. Prior to the 20th century, leaders such as Prince Hall, Martin Delany, Edward Wilmot Blyden, and Henry Highland Garnet advocated the involvement of the African diaspora in African affairs. Garvey was unique in advancing a Pan-African philosophy to inspire a global mass movement and economic empowerment focusing on Africa known as Garveyism. Promoted by the UNIA as a movement of African Redemption, Garveyism would eventually inspire others, ranging from the Nation of Islam to the Rastafari movement (some sects of which proclaim Garvey as a prophet). Garveyism intended persons of African ancestry in the diaspora to "redeem" the nations of Africa and for the European colonial powers to leave the continent. His essential ideas about Africa were stated in an editorial in the Negro World entitled "African Fundamentalism", where he wrote: "Our union must know no clime, boundary, or nationality… to let us hold together under all climes and in every country…

Join The Gist of Freedom as we welcome World Renowned Former Antique Roadshow Collector Phillip Merrill!  Mr. Merrill will discuss Commemorate Marcus Garvey's Birthdy, his artifacts related to The Underground Railroad First Family, The Still Family, Henry Highland Garnet and  Dr. Caroline Still. Learn more about Mr. Merrill at https://www.facebook.com/tellmemoreandthensome   Located at 1901 W. Girard Avenue in North Philadelphia, Berean Institute (formerly Berean Manual and Industrial School) was founded by Dr. Matthew Anderson in 1899. It provided a number of business and vocational courses for blacks when the doors of other institutions were closed to them. Having received its first charter from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1904, Berean Institute has since expanded its curriculum to meet students' changing needs. Its founder, Dr. Andersonserved as the Principal of Berean Institute until his death in 1928. His first wife, Dr. Caroline Still Anderson, served as a teacher and Assistant Principal for over thirty years. Dr. Anderson also founded the Berean Presbyterian Church in June, 1880, serving as its pastor. He also originated the Berean Savings Association. By Aslaku Berhanu

Join The Gist of Freedom, www.blackhistoryblog.com, as we welcome William Lambert's descendant Christina Streety-Napier! Lambert was a friend of radical abolitionist John Brown and, like the more militant abolitionist leader Henry Highland Garnet, Lambert called for the slaves to rise up against their masters. At times Lambert very publicly helped fugitive slaves escape to Windsor, Canada, which was just across the Detroit River from the city of Detroit. Lambert’s most famous incident occurred in 1847, when he had the owner of fugitive slave Robert Cromwell thrown in jail so that Cromwell could escape to Canada by boat. Abolitionist and civil rights activist William Lambert was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1817, the son of a manumitted father and a freeborn mother. As a young man Lambert was educated by abolitionist Quakers. Twenty-three year old Lambert arrived in Detroit, Michigan in 1840 as a cabin boy on a steamboat, and eventually started a profitable tailoring and dry cleaning business. Upon his death Lambert left behind an estate estimated at $100,000. Lambert was also a founder of the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and served as one of its wardens. I

Dating from its origin, the Negro press printed the names of black informants,Freedom's Journal listing those of Moses Smith, formerly of Baltimore, and Nathan Gooms of New York, in its issue of November 7, 1828. The mere appearance of these names in the columns of the weekly was a sufficient deterrent to die other informers whose identity the editors threatened to reveal. When Martin R, Delany was editor of The Black Underground  Dr. Martin R. Delaney, founder of the Pittsburgh Mystery in 1842 and later was co-editor of the North Star. In August 1858 two runaways were betrayed by John Brodie, who had promised to assist them in returning to Covington, Kentucky, to effect the liberation of relatives. Brodie's treachery nearly cost him his life.  He was seized by a group of Negroes, who proceeded to give him three hundred blows with a paddle, a stroke for each dollar he was supposed to have received from the slave-catchers. Only the presence of the influential Henry Highland Garnet saved Brodie from further punishment. The badly mauled informer delivered himself to the police authorities, to be placed in jail for safe-keeping

Dating from its origin, the Negro press printed the names of black informants,Freedom's Journal listing those of Moses Smith, formerly of Baltimore, and Nathan Gooms of New York, in its issue of November 7, 1828. The mere appearance of these names in the columns of the weekly was a sufficient deterrent to die other informers whose identity the editors threatened to reveal. When Martin R, Delany was editor of The Black Underground  Dr. Martin R. Delaney, founder of the Pittsburgh Mystery in 1842 and later was co-editor of the North Star. In August 1858 two runaways were betrayed by John Brodie, who had promised to assist them in returning to Covington, Kentucky, to effect the liberation of relatives. Brodie's treachery nearly cost him his life.  He was seized by a group of Negroes, who proceeded to give him three hundred blows with a paddle, a stroke for each dollar he was supposed to have received from the slave-catchers. Only the presence of the influential Henry Highland Garnet saved Brodie from further punishment. The badly mauled informer delivered himself to the police authorities, to be placed in jail for safe-keeping

Digging up our roots seems to be the thing these days.  There are a host of genealogy resources available for anyone who cares to (re)discover their familial past.  Still, in the Americas people of African descent who want to take part in this digging encounter barriers; often there are gaps in the family histories of those whose members were bought and sold on a whim.   As she takes readers on a remarkable historical journey, Carla Peterson, author of Black Gotham:  A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City (Yale University Press, 2011), illuminates the challenges of (re)discovering family histories and along the way, readers glean much about US national history. Armed with determination, patience beyond measure, and with several doses of serendipity, Peterson, Professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park, takes her desire to return and find elements of her past to the archives of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.  Her persistence reveals to readers a new view of nineteenth century Gotham, as Washington Irving called the city of New York.  For example, Black Gothamprovides support for social historians who would argue that the New Negro movement–often solely associated with the Harlem Renaissance–began in the ante-bellum era.  And, those interested in the education of free African Americans pre-1865 may find it fascinating that many of the 19th century’s black elite were a part of New York’s African Free School system–the Mulberry Street School, in particular.  Celebrated alumni include James McCune Smith, Alexander Crummell, Henry Highland Garnet, George Downing, the Reason brothers–Charles and Patrick–as well as Peterson’s great-great grandfather, Peter Guignon, and her great-grandfather, Philip White.  As Peterson rediscovers her paternal family’s New York history, she at times laments the obscurity to which the women in her family were relegated; she does her best to remedy this, however, as she uses facts and imagination to piece together their lives. While the book divulges new perspectives on freedom–or the lack thereof–for black New Yorkers in the nineteenth century, it also is instructive with regards to methods of research for those who seek to dress up the scraps of memory mothers, fathers, grand-aunts or grand-uncles choose to share. Needless to say, the acts of both forgetting and remembering are found not only in personal narratives of history; the journey upon which Peterson embarks also forces readers to consider how and whom institutions choose to forget and/or remember–indeed, how the nation selectively forgets and remembers. Sankofa is an Adinkra symbol of West Africa’s Akan people that means “to go back and take it.”  It describes one impetus for Dr. Carla Peterson’s journey for she indeed goes back to see; Black Gotham:  A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City attests to the fact that her insistence pays off significantly–both for her personally, and for lovers of history alike.  Read alongside a virtual archive http://archive.blackgothamarchive.org/ wherein one can find documents and images of New York’s black elite of the nineteenth century, the narrative moves one steadily along, inspiring new critical questions and intrigue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digging up our roots seems to be the thing these days.  There are a host of genealogy resources available for anyone who cares to (re)discover their familial past.  Still, in the Americas people of African descent who want to take part in this digging encounter barriers; often there are gaps in the family histories of those whose members were bought and sold on a whim.   As she takes readers on a remarkable historical journey, Carla Peterson, author of Black Gotham:  A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City (Yale University Press, 2011), illuminates the challenges of (re)discovering family histories and along the way, readers glean much about US national history. Armed with determination, patience beyond measure, and with several doses of serendipity, Peterson, Professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park, takes her desire to return and find elements of her past to the archives of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.  Her persistence reveals to readers a new view of nineteenth century Gotham, as Washington Irving called the city of New York.  For example, Black Gothamprovides support for social historians who would argue that the New Negro movement–often solely associated with the Harlem Renaissance–began in the ante-bellum era.  And, those interested in the education of free African Americans pre-1865 may find it fascinating that many of the 19th century's black elite were a part of New York's African Free School system–the Mulberry Street School, in particular.  Celebrated alumni include James McCune Smith, Alexander Crummell, Henry Highland Garnet, George Downing, the Reason brothers–Charles and Patrick–as well as Peterson's great-great grandfather, Peter Guignon, and her great-grandfather, Philip White.  As Peterson rediscovers her paternal family's New York history, she at times laments the obscurity to which the women in her family were relegated; she does her best to remedy this, however, as she uses facts and imagination to piece together their lives. While the book divulges new perspectives on freedom–or the lack thereof–for black New Yorkers in the nineteenth century, it also is instructive with regards to methods of research for those who seek to dress up the scraps of memory mothers, fathers, grand-aunts or grand-uncles choose to share. Needless to say, the acts of both forgetting and remembering are found not only in personal narratives of history; the journey upon which Peterson embarks also forces readers to consider how and whom institutions choose to forget and/or remember–indeed, how the nation selectively forgets and remembers. Sankofa is an Adinkra symbol of West Africa's Akan people that means “to go back and take it.”  It describes one impetus for Dr. Carla Peterson's journey for she indeed goes back to see; Black Gotham:  A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City attests to the fact that her insistence pays off significantly–both for her personally, and for lovers of history alike.  Read alongside a virtual archive http://archive.blackgothamarchive.org/ wherein one can find documents and images of New York's black elite of the nineteenth century, the narrative moves one steadily along, inspiring new critical questions and intrigue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

Digging up our roots seems to be the thing these days.  There are a host of genealogy resources available for anyone who cares to (re)discover their familial past.  Still, in the Americas people of African descent who want to take part in this digging encounter barriers; often there are gaps in the family histories of those whose members were bought and sold on a whim.   As she takes readers on a remarkable historical journey, Carla Peterson, author of Black Gotham:  A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City (Yale University Press, 2011), illuminates the challenges of (re)discovering family histories and along the way, readers glean much about US national history. Armed with determination, patience beyond measure, and with several doses of serendipity, Peterson, Professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park, takes her desire to return and find elements of her past to the archives of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.  Her persistence reveals to readers a new view of nineteenth century Gotham, as Washington Irving called the city of New York.  For example, Black Gothamprovides support for social historians who would argue that the New Negro movement–often solely associated with the Harlem Renaissance–began in the ante-bellum era.  And, those interested in the education of free African Americans pre-1865 may find it fascinating that many of the 19th century’s black elite were a part of New York’s African Free School system–the Mulberry Street School, in particular.  Celebrated alumni include James McCune Smith, Alexander Crummell, Henry Highland Garnet, George Downing, the Reason brothers–Charles and Patrick–as well as Peterson’s great-great grandfather, Peter Guignon, and her great-grandfather, Philip White.  As Peterson rediscovers her paternal family’s New York history, she at times laments the obscurity to which the women in her family were relegated; she does her best to remedy this, however, as she uses facts and imagination to piece together their lives. While the book divulges new perspectives on freedom–or the lack thereof–for black New Yorkers in the nineteenth century, it also is instructive with regards to methods of research for those who seek to dress up the scraps of memory mothers, fathers, grand-aunts or grand-uncles choose to share. Needless to say, the acts of both forgetting and remembering are found not only in personal narratives of history; the journey upon which Peterson embarks also forces readers to consider how and whom institutions choose to forget and/or remember–indeed, how the nation selectively forgets and remembers. Sankofa is an Adinkra symbol of West Africa’s Akan people that means “to go back and take it.”  It describes one impetus for Dr. Carla Peterson’s journey for she indeed goes back to see; Black Gotham:  A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City attests to the fact that her insistence pays off significantly–both for her personally, and for lovers of history alike.  Read alongside a virtual archive http://archive.blackgothamarchive.org/ wherein one can find documents and images of New York’s black elite of the nineteenth century, the narrative moves one steadily along, inspiring new critical questions and intrigue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digging up our roots seems to be the thing these days.  There are a host of genealogy resources available for anyone who cares to (re)discover their familial past.  Still, in the Americas people of African descent who want to take part in this digging encounter barriers; often there are gaps in the family histories of those whose members were bought and sold on a whim.   As she takes readers on a remarkable historical journey, Carla Peterson, author of Black Gotham:  A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City (Yale University Press, 2011), illuminates the challenges of (re)discovering family histories and along the way, readers glean much about US national history. Armed with determination, patience beyond measure, and with several doses of serendipity, Peterson, Professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park, takes her desire to return and find elements of her past to the archives of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.  Her persistence reveals to readers a new view of nineteenth century Gotham, as Washington Irving called the city of New York.  For example, Black Gothamprovides support for social historians who would argue that the New Negro movement–often solely associated with the Harlem Renaissance–began in the ante-bellum era.  And, those interested in the education of free African Americans pre-1865 may find it fascinating that many of the 19th century’s black elite were a part of New York’s African Free School system–the Mulberry Street School, in particular.  Celebrated alumni include James McCune Smith, Alexander Crummell, Henry Highland Garnet, George Downing, the Reason brothers–Charles and Patrick–as well as Peterson’s great-great grandfather, Peter Guignon, and her great-grandfather, Philip White.  As Peterson rediscovers her paternal family’s New York history, she at times laments the obscurity to which the women in her family were relegated; she does her best to remedy this, however, as she uses facts and imagination to piece together their lives. While the book divulges new perspectives on freedom–or the lack thereof–for black New Yorkers in the nineteenth century, it also is instructive with regards to methods of research for those who seek to dress up the scraps of memory mothers, fathers, grand-aunts or grand-uncles choose to share. Needless to say, the acts of both forgetting and remembering are found not only in personal narratives of history; the journey upon which Peterson embarks also forces readers to consider how and whom institutions choose to forget and/or remember–indeed, how the nation selectively forgets and remembers. Sankofa is an Adinkra symbol of West Africa’s Akan people that means “to go back and take it.”  It describes one impetus for Dr. Carla Peterson’s journey for she indeed goes back to see; Black Gotham:  A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City attests to the fact that her insistence pays off significantly–both for her personally, and for lovers of history alike.  Read alongside a virtual archive http://archive.blackgothamarchive.org/ wherein one can find documents and images of New York’s black elite of the nineteenth century, the narrative moves one steadily along, inspiring new critical questions and intrigue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Examining the heightening of tensions in the 1850s in the lead up to the Civil War. The passage of the Fugitive Slave Act with the Compromise of 1850 saw African American liberty reach an all-time low. Not only were all African Americans now vulnerable to slave catchers, but protecting them from kidnapping was deemed illegal. The Dred Scot v. Sandford Supreme Court decision in 1857 further reduced African American rights, as all slaves were deemed to be property, not people. Institutions such as the Committee of Thirteen, a group set up to oppose the Fugitive Slave Act; state conventions; and public meetings that sought to defend the rights of black New Yorkers to ride the streetcars. In a series of cases foreshadowing the Montgomery Bus Boycotts of the 20th century, Elizabeth Jennings, Sarah Adams, and Reverend J. W. C. Pennington refused to get down from segregated streetcars, eventually forcing the desegregation of the streetcars through a New York State Supreme Court case in 1858. However, the difficulties of this decade forced a return to the argument for a back-to-Africa approach, and coinciding with the independence of Liberia in 1847, many were willing to give emigration a second chance. Thus the ‘African heritage’ side of the debate finally re-emerged in the political sphere as the Liberian Agriculture and Emigration Society was founded, Henry Highland Garnet endorsed Liberian emigration, and a national movement by Martin Delany to immigrate to Africa was established. Tensions between Garnet and the anti-emigrationists James McCune Smith, Frederick Douglass, and George Downing dominated the debates of the late 1850s. Here again, in response to continued and persistent oppression in America,  ‘what emerged from these conflicts was the Black community’s determination to stay in the United States and agitate for its rights’  http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/770