The lesser knowns of Black American History

T he history of America reflects people pursuing the reality of “… that all men are created equal …” Throughout our history freedom has been stained with racism, inequality and more often with the blood, sweat and tears of those who fought for our “unalienable Rights.”

Our history is a testimony to the strength, will and determination of individuals and groups of people who have made our history, I have termed these folks as the “lesser Knowns.”

The lesser knowns have impacted every area of our lives. They endured tragedy, disadvantages of every type and depravations unthinkable to our modern society. For every leader like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or President John F. Kennedy, there are hundreds of lesser knowns who are never taught in the classroom or publicly celebrated.

I admire the lesser known for their determination, successes, failures, faith, and humanity. The lesser knowns encourage and help me to keep a healthy view of history and a more positive view of our future. For the lives not celebrated, the deaths not memorialized, their deeds mostly unknown, allow me to share a glimpse into a few of whom these unknowns are.

One of the first men to die in the Revolutionary War, was a merchant, Crispus Attucks, a black man. Mr.

Attucks was a participant in the protest against the tax increases imposed by England on the colonists. He was shot more than once by English troops while part of the anti-tax demonstration in Boston.

Despite Hollywood’s best efforts to portray Cowboy history as being universally white – they were not.

History has left out that many cowboys were Black, Hispanic, and of Native American heritage.

Nat Love, better known in the west as “Deadwood Dick.” In his autobiography from slavery to cowboy to Pullman Porter to author of his own story, (The Life and Adventures of Nat Love, published in 1907, Wayside Press and reprinted in 1995, First Nebraska Paperback). A historical figure with an amazing life.

His book is worth reading and worthy of a Hollywood movie!

Without the Buffalo soldiers (Black soldiers) Theodore Roosevelt and his “Rough Riders” charge up San Juan hill would not have been the victory it was.

The eleven white men and seven black men who met at the Fairview schoolhouse south of Tyronza, Arkansas in 1934 to begin the Southern Tenant Farmers Union, (the first-time Black and whites joined together to plan a better future).

William Johnson was born into slavery, emancipated in 1820, and worked his way through pre-Civil War times to be one of Natchez, Mississippi’s leading businessmen.

Mr. Johnson kept a diary, wrote his own business letters, kept business records, and as a wealthy free Black man, owned his own black slaves.

Few Americans know that free Black’s owned (bought and sold) black slaves throughout the South.

William Johnson’s biography helps us understand the lives of hardships, cruelty, and exceptionalism of those who came before us are worthy to teach us today.

Mr. Johnson’s story is told in a little-known book titled, The Barber of Natchez (Wherein a Slave Is Freed and Rises to a Very High Standing; June 1, 1973 by Edwin Adams Davis, and William Ransom Hogan).

Scott Bond was from Madison, Arkansas. Madison is a small town east of Forrest City. The Scott Bond Cemetery was started by Scott Bond after white citizens of Madison and Forrest City disallowed black folks from being buried in the same cemetery as white citizens.

More intriguing than the story of the Bond Cemetery is the rise of Scott Bond from slavery to become one of the richest, if not richest man in all of Arkansas. His is an amazing and inspiring life!

In Mr. Bond’s biography written by his son Theo Bond and Dan Rudd (From Slavery to Wealth, The Rewards of Honesty, Industry, Economy and Perseverance, 1917, The Journal Printing Company) is an outstanding testament to the enduring and undying determination that Mr.

Bond displayed all his life.

Dr. Charles Drew, inventor of the first large-scale blood storage system and the first director of the American Red Cross blood bank. Through Dr. Drew’s work, he saved more American lives during World War II than any other person.

Turner Hall, Jr. of Hugo, Oklahoma. Mr. Hall was once owned by Civil War General Nathan Bedford Forrest and served in the Confederate army as a body servant for two Confederate soldiers and as an orderly for General Robert E.

Lee. Mr. Hall lived to be a hundred and four years old. He attended the last Civil War reunion in 1938 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Newsreel cameras captured Mr. Hall displaying his reunion medals as an example of the typical Black Confederate.

Al Arnold wrote Mr.

Hall’s biography, “A Modern Black Man’s Confederate Journey” documented the amazing life of his great grandfather and how “African Americans dishonor their ancestors by attempting to destroy Confederate heritage and by neglecting the historical impact that slaves had on both sides of the Civil War.”

In my own limited way, I celebrate their lives, share their stories with those willing to listen and learn.

Some of the lesser known stories have been recorded, others only have a mention as a foot note in history, most will never be known, but they made history. Our freedoms require a high cost to be paid and the lesser knowns paid the cost with their blood, sweat, tears, and lives.

Discovering and knowing these lesser knowns of Black American History, inspires and helps me to endure the struggles in my life. The lesser knowns did not depend on the government for handouts, these people dealt with death, discouragement, disease, hunger, difficulties unknown to modern people and they did not complain, did not whine, neither did they blame others and they did not give up!

What a lesson we can learn from these lesser knowns. Will you learn the lesson?

Clayton P. Adams, West Memphis, Arkansas, email: claytonpadamslll@ gmail.com.

Clayton Adams

Time in the Word