The mystery continues! Compare the medal worn by one of our Mystery Soldiers and the featured Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) medal. Are they one in the same? And if yes, what does this tell us about their military service?
As “luck” would have it friends, I happened to find myself sitting beside a colleague, Rick Romancito (TEMPO Editor, Taos News) as he interviewed the owner of the above historic image.
“Gloria” purchased the image 40+ years ago from an estate sale in Los Angeles, CA. In 1994 she had the image appraised, details of which are included below.
I’ve enlisted the aid of my own personal military advisers, True Lewis (Army) of My True Roots and Bernita Allen (Air Force) of Voices Inside My Head to help track down details regarding these distinguished Servicemen. Now I enlist the help of our genealogy community!:)
We’d love to confirm service details and if possible, identify and call their respective names! Are they in fact U.S. Cavalry 9th Regiment Company G Servicemen?
Wouldn’t it be amazing to know the origins of the medals they’re wearing so proudly and/or to connect this rare image to…
A few days ago, during her first week in 2nd Grade my daughter was asked by a fellow student, why she wore a “black mask”. It was not a question of innocence or curiosity. The same child, on the first day of school, brought a Vietnamese student to tears with mean-spirited, racially-charged comments about her ethnicity.
This from a 7 year old? Who will he be at 27 or 47 years old when there’s no authoritative figure in seat to mandate a less than sincere apology?
There are NO WORDS for how sick I am of the “race matters” discussion! Tired of explaining where racism and culture bias occurs to people who don’t have to live within its historic time stamp. Repulsed by people who wield their sickness openly and willingly, while expecting me to be patient, understanding and capable of looking beyond it.
Angered by having to educate my innocent 7 year old (I’ve been through this “coaching” twice already with my sons) about the crap she’ll have to face as a result of being sugar-honey brown!
Unbelievable I walked away from a life rooted in Civil Rights and Social Justice 15 years ago only to find we’ve made little to no progress in the struggle for freedom and justice. Feels more like we’re living in 1964 rather than 2014.
As the senseless deaths of black males continue to be a tragic American past-time, inconceivable the 1857 words Chief Justice Roger B. Taney spoke to Dred Scott and the world ring truer than ever! That black men…
“had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could be made by it.”
And this is our PRESENT DAY reality?!
My Great Grandmother Annie Jackson’s Jim Crow South admonishment and warning to her sons has found its 21st century incarnation and medium in ME?!
Tonight AAGSAR returns to You Got Roots?!, our BlogTalkRadio series kick-started to encourage cross-culture dialogues on issues impacting the lives and research efforts of People of Color.
On tap this evening, You Got Roots?! will go-in on racism, prejudice and culture bias as experienced by People of Color — both on and offline. A discussion that includes examining dynamics within the broader Genealogy community? FOR SURE but not exclusive to it!
Race-issues swirling inside the Genealogy community thrive due to society’s acceptance of race disparities as they apply to People of Color in general. Racism persists because society grants a select few permission to perpetuate it — and to be fair, because the “select few” make conscious decisions not to acknowledge and change immoral artifacts inherited from our blemished history.
Mainstream Genealogy thought leaders, companies and groups [unfortunately] take their social/engagement queues from peers and the culture at large. The result? A prolific, familiar dysfunction where the interests of People of Color are at worse ignored and at best, tolerated.
If you haven’t already, you must (yes, MUST) checkout Jay Smooth of Colorlines as in 4:38 minutes he breaks down why we’ve made very little headway in having a productive discourse on race — Moving The Race Conversation Forward.
“When we constantly focus only on individual stories it distorts our sense of how racism works. It encourages us to see racism only as the product of overt intentional racist acts by individuals that can be fixed simply by shaming and correcting those individual defects.
And it encourages us to see individual stories of transcending racism as proof that there is no more racism. That if we have a black President and Oprah is a billionaire then there must not be anything else to talk about. And any problems that other People of Color face must be due to deficiencies on their part. It must be a problem with THEM instead of a problem with THE SYSTEM.” – Jay Smooth
I’m with both Michaels — enough is enough. My patience and tolerance for the level of ignorance People of Color are subjected to — in ANY environment — is G-O-N-E.
I always marvel at brown/black folks who are at home in their own skin; so comfortable with self they shine BRIGHT in the presence of any audience.
For the American African-descendant that’s no easy task! In a culture yet to make peace with its deeply engrained race-hatred, brown/black children are often encouraged, trained and taught to be anything other than their naturally beautiful selves.
Embracing and loving you in America takes courage — and character. That’s why I dig Culinary Historian Michael Twitty of Afroculinaria so much!
Black. Jewish. Gay. Educator. Activist. Antebellum Chef, fighting for Culinary Justice AND sanctioning his own words too — BLACKIFIED?!
Unapologetic. Brilliant. Gifted. Michael. What’s not to admire?!:)
Today’s launch is all about the listening audience getting to know us, the African American Genealogy and Slave Ancestry Research Community (AAGSAR), better and vice-versa. I’m the first to admit this audience complete with its platform and tools are ALL NEW to me! I have 1 whole TEST show under my belt!:)
With all of the amazing opportunities we have before us, we have more than our fair share of challenges. Never has there been a more critical time to talk, connect, build and grow together than now.
And when I say “we”, I’m not just referring to People of Color. I mean WE — people who can find common ground and purpose to advance forward. True progress requires vested effort and community collaboration.
Welcome and You Got Roots Intros (Luckie Daniels, Host & Bernita Allen, Co-Host)
Let’s Talk Interview (Bernita) — What you need to know about Luckie but were afraid to ask!:)
AAGSAR Community Callers (Luckie/Bernita) — share a bit about who you are, where listeners find you online and why AAGSAR works for you? Dial-in: (347) 838-8307
Listening, Twitter & Chat Community Questions/Comments (Bernita) — what would you like to know or share? Have at it! Dial-in: (347) 838-8307
Weekly TECH TIP — Why Your Online Narrative Matters (Luckie Daniels)
You Got Roots?! 