Stories from History
Here are three stories from history that have impacted me.
In 1865, Special Field Order No 15, was issued during the Civil War by Union General William T. Sherman in an effort to compensate Black Freed Men who served the Union Army. Reverend Garrison Frazier and 20 other Black ministers met with to request allotments of land. Black soldiers in the Union Army were frequently not paid or paid less than their White counterparts. This Special Order granted 40 acres of land to Black freed men, and he ordered the army to lend them a mule. During and after the Civil War, Freed Black People often had trouble getting jobs. White business owners viewed them as a threat to White jobs, and paid them under market wages. This land allocation gave Black Americans a chance to farm, own land, sustain themselves, and make a living. Many individuals were able to claim land quickly. However, the next president, Andrew Jackson, quickly reversed the order when he took office. Many people did not have the opportunity to claim their land. Some who had claimed land were able to maintain it through Homestead Act protections. However, some who claimed land were run off, beaten, or killed by White communities.
Trail of Tears
When our enemy above (Andrew Jackson) took office in 1829, his major platform was Indian Removal. He pushed the Indian Removal Act through Congress with aims to move all Native Americans from the American Deep South into Oklahoma. He did take the time to execute a treaty agreement with the Natives, but most of the tribal members were against the treaty. Tribal leaders were bribed by White officials to sign. Once executed, Jackson began the forced removal of 60,000 Native Americans known as the “Trail of Tears.” Native Americans were forced to walk from Florida and Georgia into Oklahoma during a harsh winter with no provisions. Most of the Native Americans died of starvation, exposure, dehydration, and exhaustion. Jackson had economic interest in some of the land vacated by Native peoples, and the opening allowed for expansion of slave-owning plantations across the South.
Josiah Henson
The story of Josiah Henson was originally told to me by my former step-kid, who learned about it in Middle School. Praise God these teens are learning a somewhat accurate history because I was never taught about heros like this! Josiah Henson experienced the horrors of enslavement including beatings and separation from his family. Mr. Henson negotiated an agreement to buy his freedom from enslaver Isaac Riley. However, when Henson presented the payment, Riley changed the number on the agreement and cheated Henson out of his freedom. Henson escaped to Canada with his wife and children. Henson established his own land, school, and church in Canada, and traveled back to the United States to bring more enslaved people to freedom in Canada. On his land in Canada, he taught newly freed people skills needed to self-sustain and build a new life.
When we took a family vacation to Canada, my former stepkid requested we make a stop at the museum honoring Josiah Henson. The museum has original farming equipment, Henson’s home, and a church where Henson preached. It was truly a beautiful experience.
Church at the Josiah Henson Museum in Dresdon, ON. Henson preached at this church.
Photos from the Josiah Henson Museum, including his grave stone, a panel with his story, beautiful wooden chairs he made (Henson taught formerly enslaved people skills like woodworking), and a home on his property in Canada.
Sources:
https://www.vox.com/2016/4/20/11469514/andrew-jackson-indian-removal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Henson
Farming While Black: Soul Fire farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman p. 267