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Page A2-The Chronicle, Thursd* New documents 'puts you right By HENRY DUVALL Special To The Chronicle Alter poring over more than 3 million documents in a locked vault at the National Archives, five historians have produced a documentary histopteof slave emancipation that ^Puts you right on the scene." "The Destruction of Slavery," an 852-page book published in January, paints a scene'that has gone largely unrecorded, based oa. documentary witnesses to emancipation. The book chronicles the transformation of the Civil War into an unintended war against slavery, since federal authorities under the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln had originally insisted that the conflict "must be a war to restore the national-* union and nothing more." But southern black slaves saw the sectional conflict in a different light: a war for their freedom. And from this perspective, the documents reveal the major role slaves played in their own emancipation ? a role that "saved" the nation, says Joseph P. Reidy, a history professor at Howard University. Reidy, one of the five editors of the book, says, "We are trying to make the reading public and historical profession aware of the essential connection between Afro-American history and American history. ... "We are trying to convince a wider audience that AfroAmericans saved the Union and destroyed slavery, and did them both at the same time. This is the only wax could've been accomplished," he adds. ? "The Destruction of Slavery," published by the Cambridge University Press, is the second volume of a projected 10-volume series called "Freedom: A Documentary History of Emancipation, 1861-1867." >From the estimated more than * > million documents examined most of them previously unknown to scholars - the five historians selected, catalogued and indexed some 50,000 which thgy h*lif!Vft tffll the stnry nf emancipation. The voices of slaves, as well as slaveowners, Union and Confederate soldiers, government officials and even President Lincoln, are captured in the documents. "These documents are so vivid, they put you right on the scene," Reidy says. A fugitive slave named John Boston, seeking freedom by serving the Union Army, in 1862 wrote a letter to his wife, Elizabeth: "... I trust the time Will Come When We Shal meet again And if We dont met on earth We Will Meet in heven Whare Jesas ranes (reigns)..." In an 1864 letter to President . Lincoln, a Maryland slave named Annie Davis pleaded: "Mr. president It is my Desire to be free, to go to see my people on the eastern shore, my mistress wont let me you will please let me know if we are free, and what i can do. I write to you for advice. ..." An apology is not enough By The Associated Press LITTLETON, Colo. - A special prosecutor said that an apology was not enough and charges may be filed against a prospective juror for her racial slur against a black man on trial for murder. The father of the woman had asked the court last Thursday if his daughter. Andrea Hnfnowi v , -? ""RVJ, 24, of Aurora, could apologize for making the remark. She was jailed for several hours last Wednesday for contempt of court after a judge learned what she had said. But special prosecutor Craig Silverman said last Thursday that Please see page A16 * ly, March 6, 1986 i ry history book on the scene' Led by University of Maryland historian Ira Berlin, the PrMdmmi Qnn#K?r?i - . . . -...w MUW wvitiuyiu kIWIVIJ Project began in 1976. The research found that the slaves "put their loyalty, their labor and their lives in the service of the Union" to place the issue of their freedom on the Civil War agenda. * For three years the research team, which also includes historians Barbara J. Fields of the University of Michigan, ThavoBa Gtymph orthe UtiHter- ~ sity of Texas at Arlington and Lesbe S. Rowland of the-University of Maryland, worked in a vault at the National Archives to explore the possibility of writing a history of emancipation from the perspective of those emancipated. Examining more than 3 million documents took its toll at times on Reidv. who was recentlv honored by the American Historical Association, along with two other editors, for their work on the first "Freedom"volume, "The Black Military Experience." "It was emotionally exhausting, and I was drained by the horror," he says. Then he would feel a "sense of exhilaration" when he saw how the slaves persevered and made gradual achievements. "The kind of power in these documents is just overwhelming." Through persistence, the historians found that the slaves "forced federal soldiers, Union and Confederate policymakers and eventually their own masters into positions they never intended to hold - (and) became the prime movers in seeming their own liberty." "We are telling the story of a number of emancipations, which are part of the overall process of , slave emancipation," Reidy says. ;i i H. Rap Bro> "Allah (God) will not chance the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves," he said, again quoting Muhammad. "How do we surpass what the reality of this country is? The struggle begins with the self. We must change ourselves in order to change society. If you are not willing to struggle, it doesn't matter if you're black." Al-Amin became known in the '60s as a militant, primarily because of his stand that blacks should arm themselves and control their own communities. But he said the title was a misnomer. "If a man steps on your foot, is it militant because you scream, or is it militant because you push him off?" he said. "We must be careful that we do not let the ones that oppress us define us." "I have always sought truth," he said. "My involvement in the '60s came as a result of believing that what I was doing was right." Al-Amin said he converted to Islam for the same reason. Rlarlr n*nnU mm mmmm |n>wpiV JI1UUIU IIUl OilUTT themselves to be defined simply by color, he said. One of the tools of oppressors is taking away the ability of a people to define themselves, he said. "How do we define black people?" he asked. "They have tried to define us \>y color, but the strongest bond between people is belief. Peoplehood is determined by belief. This is not a struggle of color; it's a struggle of right versus wrong." Al-Amin described Islam as "a program of austerity that enables one to deal with any situation you may encounter in life." Islam encompasses faith in Allah (Ood), prayer, fasting, sincerity and seriousness, he said. "It is a simple way, it is direct and straight," he said. "It is a state where men are applauded L I * Apartheid firsth A Fourfold System Members of the delegation reported glaring differences and inequalities in the education systems provided for South African students. The South African school system is divided into four separate systems for whites, blacks, coloreds (those of mixed racial parentage) and Asians. Thompson said that there is a "high differential in funding and a high differential in academic programs.*' "We found that, in the schools, by state policy, for every $1 a black African receives, a colored receives $5, Asians $9 and whites JlO," Thompson saicT. "Additionally", dRT state government controls syllabi for each program taught in Africa. Blacks are being taught the basics. That means that blacks are taught arithmetic and whites are taught algebra." DIUH I Tk- nit ? I no 0MIIU Loaumy l I1C9 Dlinu Thompson also said that black students are hindered by the fact that, until the fourth grade, - they are taught in their native languages, not English. Moreover, only 2 percent of the teachers in black schools have baccalaureate degrees, and only 20 percent have completed high ~ school. Thompson termed the situation "the blind leading the blind." The delegation found that, not only is there an abundance of white teachers, but the ratio of students to teachers is much lower in white schools. There are 33 students for every teacher in black schools, while in white schools the ratio drops to 10 students for every teacher. 'The Way Things Are' When the Americans, who met with South Africa's minister of education for African schools, questioned the inequality of the school systems, Thompson said they were told simply that "that's just the way things are/' "Officials offered no apologies, and they often said, Tm for that; however, our government will not agree,' " Thompson said. "In some instances, they said apartheid enabled blacks to lead a better life than they would otherwise lead. They told us they caniv 9 I EAST |.|| ?' ' fc 1. Mod YII . - From Page A1 * wci 3. Laui 4. Brov " " "" a* 5. - Etna f* .!_ * ior meir gooaness. ivien are com- 5, ores mended for struggling against 7. smii wrong. * Rcy "Islam represents the only true 9 Suni revolution where man can truly iuori be transformed. If you can effect change within yourself, then you 10. M< can effect change in those things J'* *e around you." 13 - 14. Fa 15. Sil CHILD-SIZE rh RELIEF THE DORCOL* PEDIATRIC I FORMULAS f 1WSOO?SP*LABOB*TO?IES DIVISION OF SANOOZ INC 1 The. WinstoivSalem Chronicle is published I \ ouoru Tkn.A^... l... it- 111 vfvij Miuisuciy oy xne II \ Winston-Salem Chronicle II \^H Publishing Co. Inc., 617 N. I Liberty St. Mailing address: i I \ Post Office Box 3154, . II \H Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102. I II \H Phone: 722-8624. Second- I \ class postage paid at I \ Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102. ,|| \M The Winston-Salem I \1 Chronfcle is a charter I \1 member of the Newsfinder II \j service of the Associated I H Press and a member of the I 16 Gu Audit Bureau of Circula- II p. m? tions, the National || i8. Newspaper Publishers II 19. Chi Association, the North I 20- ^ Carolina Press Association || ^ and the North Carolina || 23 mi Black Publishers Associa- I II *c tton. I 25. Sh< Subscription: $18.52 per 1 26 A year, payable in advance 1 j? (North Carolina sales tax in- I & o? eluded). Please add $5.00 I 30. wi for out-of-town delivery. I si. PUBLICATION U8PS NO. I 32 067910. . 1^^ > * and From Page A1 nnt K1a/<Ue uiKa ?? ? ?? aw* iuiw wnavM nuv ?IC 4IMUIIICU kU ICKU and that if we wanted to help we should send someone to help them." Thompson said the school officials suggested that the delegation arrange to have a center set up in South Africa to train black students. They also asked that Americans bring black South Africans to America to study and send them back to teach in the schools. Members of the delegation visited Cape Town, Johannesburg, So wet o, Pretoria and the University of the North. A Nation Of Contrasts passports, delegation members were afforded privileges that black residents do not receive. Thompson said he was impressed by the scenic beauty in South Africa. "It is a beautiful country,'* he said. 'There is not a pothole in the street, no ttash and the country is very rich in mineral resources." Even though its members carried white passports, Thompson said the delegation was carefully monitored during its visits to school campuses. Men with walkie-talkies were never far behind the group during visits to the colleges and discussions with rectors. The signs of poverty and unrest, Thompson said, were never far away. ? "It was hard for us to sleep at night, and (iim to 1 V-m/A /* ?a?k - "V lumvu IV MVU VUICI IU KCCp OUTSC1VCS gO" ing," Thompson said. "We knew conditions were deplorable, and we knew the economics were deplorable. But we didn't know it was by design. That was inhumanity like I've never seen before." Thompson said the black Americans saw young mothers who chewed part of their food before giving it to their children and residents who walked nearly a mile for water. He also said the group narrowly missed viewing black students being shot in the streets by soldiers. 1 A Lukewarm Reception i i Black students were not entirely receptive > to the American delegation, Thompson said. * Many felt the black Americans were out- 1 WINSTON OGBURN .STATION iel Pharmacy 34 Laundry Center (Old Rural M'Pay (Claremont) 35 Paragon Food Center ldry Center (Claremont) ??1Be8U,y NORTHWEST it American Foods 36. Etna Gas h Cleaners 37. N.W, Bted. Pantry lolds Health Center 38. Hazel's Beauty ise Towers 39. Real Food Bakery 40. Ray's Fish HEAST 41. Joe's Shop Rite (Patterson) 42. Great American Foods !rit? Breadbox : 43 A cleaner World cord Boutique 44 Brown's Produce nit Market (13th & Liberty) 45 Ervin's Beauty Lem Seafood 46. Bojangles irview Cleaners ver Front Cleaners 4 . Winston-Safcm f jfMP I m M ff^>mn/r^/| I I H -/ BEItr* * in y By wJKwl > ? Soji ui I y ^T. r.-^S*' A Jfer Pv ^1 WmHHHPrv u I'f CA$ ^ I lma Chris 48 sicfe F^jk w A SiorooK s -'* nit Market (27th A Liberty) 53. Tickled Pink Cleaners (Oh tak's Drive Inn 54. Food Lion (University Plaa ick's Orocery 55. Fast Fare (Cherry St.) 3irls (Northampton) 56. Maytag Laundry (Cherry S op Rite (Northampton) 57. Forest Hills Curb Market Cleaner World (Carver Rd.) 58. RJR World Headquarters rver Food . 59* Jimmy the Oreek 5's Shop Rite (Bowen) 60. Fast Fare (30th St.) irett's (311) Super X Drugs Ico Oas (311) KAW (Coliseum) rden Harvest ?. OoWen Comb nurd's 64. Best Bookstore (Reynolds nes' Orocery T BS55SS55S5S5BS5S5SBSBBBSSSSSBB5 a t siders who could do little to help the cause of black South Africans. "Some of the blacks said,.'You represent Ronald Reagan, who is not in our favor,' " said Thompson. 'They had the attitude that if we, as black Americans, could not help ourselves, we could do little to help them. The feeling that we got was that blacks in South Africa want socialism, not capitalism and not communism. They want a system that will allow the masses to rise." Black South Africans also appear to place more emphasis on equality than integration, Thompson said. Reports And Recommendations. Following its return to the United States, the delegation met with Vice President George Bush and Secretary of State George Shultz to report its findings. . The delegation's recommendations included making more books and materials available to black schools, sending American teachers to Africa to upgrade faculties and offering black Africans scholarships to study at American schools. Thompson said the delegation is confident that its proposals will be acceptable to both the American government and the blacks in South Africa. Literacy And Liberation "Blacks in South Africa say, 'Liberation now, education later/ " Thompson said. "We're saying* 'Continue your education as you fight for liberation, for, once you gain liberation, you must be literate?* They said to us, 'Do not send big bucks and free the government of its responsibility. Send things that we can use at the grassroots level.' "We have no firm commitment, but we think the American government is loooking at spending about $20 million in attempting to respond to the recommendations." Other members of the delegation from North Carolina Were Dr. Robert L. Albright, president of Johnson C. Smith University; Dr. Robert J. Brown, a High Point businessman; Dr. William H. Greene, president of Livingstone College; Dr. Isaac Miller, president of Bennett College; Dr. Stanley H. Smith, president of Shaw University, and Mamie Thompson, consultant to :he president at Shaw, __ __ Mi????^^ 66. Paw's Grocery 67%^ - Amoco (Fourth & Broad y n f'W Hall Rd.) 68. Hop-in (First St.) 69. Food Fair (First St.) 70. Baptist Hospital 71. Amoco (Cloverdale) 72. Kroger 73. Hop-In (Stratford Rd.) ? 74. Papers A Paperbacks (Haner Matt) I 75. Crown Drugs (Hanes Mall) 76. Forsyth Hospital SOUTHSIDE 77. Rainbow News 78. Crown Drugs^Peters Creek) M 79. Marketplace 80. Gulf Gas (S. Broad St.) 81. Garden Harvest 82. Post Office (Waughtown Station) j| 83. Hop-In (Stadium Dr.) 84. Revco Drugs 85. Belview House 86. Gold Fish Bowl 87. Joe's Shop Rite (S. Main) Exit) DOWNTOWN II wry St.) ' gg Chronicle Office 89. Lincoln Barber 90. Post Office 91. Benton Convention Center 92. Cecelia's (Hyatt House) 93. Rite-Aid 94. Revco 95. NCNB Building 96. Wachovia (Main St.) 97. RJR Plaza 9S. Brown's Restaurant Shop, Ctr.) 99 Forsyth Seafood 100. Sanitary Barber Shop { y \ M ? *
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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