Good Morning POU. We continue our look at the Nadir of African American History, the period after Reconstruction and approximately right before the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1893, William Frank Fonvielle, an African American student at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, left on a summer road trip through the South. He was editor of his … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread: The Nadir of African American History
Slavery
Tuesday Open Thread: The Nadir of African American History
Good Morning POU. This week we will look at the "Nadir of American race relations" (also called the Nadir of African American history) as described by historians as the period after Reconstruction through the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. A period overlooked in most history courses, as if African Americans disappeared after the end of the Civil War and popped up again … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: The Nadir of African American History
Friday Open Thread: A Slaves’ Christmas, Part 5
Good Morning POU! Today we look at the daring Christmas escape of 1854, as Harriet Tubman led her brothers out of the bondage of slavery. Harriet Tubman helped her brothers escape at Christmas. Their master intended to sell them after Christmas but was delayed by the holiday. The brothers were expected to spend the day with their elderly mother but met Tubman in secret. … [Read more...] about Friday Open Thread: A Slaves’ Christmas, Part 5
Thursday Open Thread: A Slaves’ Christmas, Part 4
Good Morning POU! Christmas was a popular time of year to run away to seek freedom in the Northern states. Slaves reasoned that they were less likely to be missed or apprehended on the roads at Christmas time than at any other time of the year, since they would not be expected to show up for work until after the holiday. Furthermore, whites were accustomed to seeing many … [Read more...] about Thursday Open Thread: A Slaves’ Christmas, Part 4
Wednesday Open Thread: A Slaves’ Christmas, Part 3
Good Morning POU! Many slave owners gave their slaves three days off at Christmas time. Some permitted fewer or no days of rest, and others allowed more than three days. On some plantations slaves were authorized to select a Yule log to burn in the main fireplace of the manor house. The slaves' holiday lasted as long as the log burned. Naturally the slave sent to fetch … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread: A Slaves’ Christmas, Part 3