Reconstruction began before the American Civil War ended. A few weeks after Union General William T. Sherman concluded his march to the sea in Savannah, he met with twenty black men, including the Reverend Garrison Frazier, to discuss how to deal with tens of thousands of freed blacks who had left inland plantations and followed Sherman's forces to the coast. Frazier was asked, "What should we do with all these refugees?" He replied that the "best way we can take care of ourselves is to have land." Sherman responded with Special Field Order 15 to deliver "forty acres and a mule" to each freed slave.
That was over 100 hundred years ago. Today many African Americans have wondered what ever became of the “40 acres and a mule Promise” to our ancestors. With the assassination of Lincoln at the end of the war, Andrew Johnson, ordered the confiscated lands returned to their former owners. According to many historians, African Americans had to go back to work and be landless . . . and rightless . . . plantation laborers.
Now fast-forward to November 4, 2008. As many African Americans watched and listened to the latest poll results, our hearts raced with anticipation. We wondered if it were all possible for what we were seeing and hearing to be really true. Yes, we had followed the campaign with all of its turbulent flights. We watched the accusations fly. We watched and listened to the insults and yet we still wondered…is this a dream or reality? Could the 44th President of the United States be a black man?
Trust me this is not about just color. Its about acceptance. Its about being part of the United States of America. Finally, this marks our acceptance. After the Civil War, millions of formerly enslaved African Americans hoped to join the larger society as full and equal citizens. Although some white Americans welcomed them, others used people’s ignorance, racism, and self-interest to sustain and spread racial divisions. By 1900, new laws and old customs in the North and the South had created a segregated society that condemned Americans of color to second-class citizenship.
The world marveled at this achievement. Many people rejoiced with laughter. Some even did the “happy dance” for hours into the morning. Then there were those of us who could only shed tears. I am one of them. Although, I have never experienced being watered down with a fire hose, or participated in any “sit ins”. Honestly, I have only read about Black Codes and Jim Crowe. As a child, I can recall the fear that would overtake my body as I listened to the elders in my family reminiscence about the many times they witnessed the Klu Klux Klan march. Its very astonishing that my family is only four generations away from slavery. So, as the broadcasters announced the new President Elect my mind went back to the “40acres and a mule promise.” “You know what? I thought…they can keep the 40acres and a mule…we just took 50 states and the Whitehouse!
That was over 100 hundred years ago. Today many African Americans have wondered what ever became of the “40 acres and a mule Promise” to our ancestors. With the assassination of Lincoln at the end of the war, Andrew Johnson, ordered the confiscated lands returned to their former owners. According to many historians, African Americans had to go back to work and be landless . . . and rightless . . . plantation laborers.
Now fast-forward to November 4, 2008. As many African Americans watched and listened to the latest poll results, our hearts raced with anticipation. We wondered if it were all possible for what we were seeing and hearing to be really true. Yes, we had followed the campaign with all of its turbulent flights. We watched the accusations fly. We watched and listened to the insults and yet we still wondered…is this a dream or reality? Could the 44th President of the United States be a black man?
Trust me this is not about just color. Its about acceptance. Its about being part of the United States of America. Finally, this marks our acceptance. After the Civil War, millions of formerly enslaved African Americans hoped to join the larger society as full and equal citizens. Although some white Americans welcomed them, others used people’s ignorance, racism, and self-interest to sustain and spread racial divisions. By 1900, new laws and old customs in the North and the South had created a segregated society that condemned Americans of color to second-class citizenship.
The world marveled at this achievement. Many people rejoiced with laughter. Some even did the “happy dance” for hours into the morning. Then there were those of us who could only shed tears. I am one of them. Although, I have never experienced being watered down with a fire hose, or participated in any “sit ins”. Honestly, I have only read about Black Codes and Jim Crowe. As a child, I can recall the fear that would overtake my body as I listened to the elders in my family reminiscence about the many times they witnessed the Klu Klux Klan march. Its very astonishing that my family is only four generations away from slavery. So, as the broadcasters announced the new President Elect my mind went back to the “40acres and a mule promise.” “You know what? I thought…they can keep the 40acres and a mule…we just took 50 states and the Whitehouse!
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