Showing posts with label _African American Cemeteries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label _African American Cemeteries. Show all posts

June 11, 2021

Where the Air Grows Thin: A Shared Passion for History



Simone Jacobs, LCSW-C


“We are here today to say - we were here.” Rev. Dr. Caesor Johnson, Spring Hill Baptist Church


This weekend as part of the Slavery Inventory Database, Maddy and I attended “Precious Memories: How they Linger,” an event to re-dedicate the burial grounds of those enslaved by Patrick Henry at his Red Hill Estate in Brookneal, VA. For those of you who don’t know, Patirck Henry was the founding father best known for his declaration, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death.” I’m not the first person to point out the irony of a man who ignited the fires of national independence while at the same time enslaving people. When Patrick Henry gave his speech, those enslaved to him worked his land and cared for his family but did not get to hope or share the very freedoms he was pursuing for himself, his family, and his country. 


But I’m going to save a discussion of that particular type of hypocrisy for another day. Partly because these kinds of experiences of hypocrisy at the various sites we visit, often leave me depleted. Sometimes when we go on our #fieldtripfridays, I get angry, despairing, and frustrated at the past, present, and future. I often leave these kinds of events feeling disappointed, sad, and afraid. This may seem strange--why would I continue to participate in activities that leave me feeling so overwhelmed and exhausted by the emotional intensity? 




I’ll tell you why I do this--it’s because there is something in these historical excursions that is more powerful than the negative psychic overload. In these historic places, in these moments shared with others who choose to engage, I feel something. It’s almost as if the air grows thin, as the lines between past and present blur, I hear more clearly the whispers of the past, of those who have gone before, and I am, we are, at once nothing - small specks of dust in midst of a brief moment in the vast universe - and yet not. I become part of something bigger, not just a witness to a past long gone, but an active participant in the long and ongoing narrative of the human race. Because in these moments, in these forgotten stories, or well known stories, in the revelations of history that are both good and bad, glorious and horrific, profound and mundane, there are moments of wonder, connection, and peace. 




Those who were enslaved did not get to sit on top of the hill and survey their territory with a sense of ownership as they played the fiddle surrounded by their grandchildren. They did not get to feast in delight at what they had produced. They worked hard, they were abused, tortured and killed in service to a master who cared little for their worth as members of the same human race. And yet they survived. They persevered. They lived lives that were worthy, honorable, and dignified, even when they weren’t treated that way. And that’s why I go. I go to honor those who came before, so that I can stand here today. I go to pay my respects to those who chose to keep on living in spite of the horror, in spite of the sorrow, in spite of the fears, shame, and humiliation. They lived, and so I  write about them, know them, honor them, and say thank you. 


But what difference does my experience make to them? I don’t know, but it makes a difference to me. These events change  the way I view the world, in the past, present, and future. Bringing to light this history, standing with those who share the same past or interests, connects us, so we can share our grief, burdens, and joys, we are no longer alone. In the present it affects how I interact with those who struggle, with those who suffer, and with those who lift themselves up on the backs of others all the while claiming they stand on their own. My participation also makes a difference in the future. It matters when we choose to uncover a headstone, trace a forgotten family tree, attend an event, and connect with others who share this same passion. Because sometime in the future, someone will discover something in the history we have preserved, that helps them reconnect with themselves, their story, and perhaps find the courage to face adversity, rediscover their dignity, or reclaim the honor and respect for something that was once deemed shameful. I believe that all these experiences - the stories told, the events attended, the cemeteries recovered, the work of finding history - make a difference. I believe that now and sometime in the future, the disconnected name in an accounting ledger will mean something. The enslaved did not live meaningless lives that nobody will remember. I remember, we remember, and hopefully so will you. 


“Their story has not died. It just hasn’t been told.” 
Rev. Dr. Ceasor Johnson, Spring Hill Baptist Church, Brookneal, VA


February 2, 2021

Sugarland Ethnohistory Project

Team Slavery Inventory Database (SID) went on a fabulous #fieldtripfriday! We are so grateful to Kenny Sholes of the Montgomery County, Maryland Historic Ag Reserve for being our guide and leading us to some fantastic places. First stop was the historic Black community of Sugarland where we met descendants Gwendora Hebron Reece & Suzanne R. Johnson. We were also joined by Jeff Sypeck and Glenn Wallace Weitz. All four are members  of the Sugarland EthnoHistory Project and authors of ‘I Have Started for Canaan: The Story of the African American Town of Sugarland’. It was really exciting to see a group of descendants and community members come together to tell the story of this small yet hugely important community. And I say hugely important because all of these small, dwindling, historic Black communities were our backbones. They were here, on the land, long before any 20th century development and in some cases already established prior to the Civil War. We were so happy to have spent some time with these folks. 








Historic Warren Cemetery

Our final stop on #fieldtripfriday was to the historic African American Warren Cemetery. This cemetery is a perfect example of Black history hidden in the margins. Spaces, often sacred spaces are carved out in the margins of our landscapes. They are hard to find, hard to see, yet, they are everywhere. 
We are so glad to have made new friends today and learned about all sorts of projects that people are doing. This is what #fieldtripfriday is all about: meeting new friends, seeing new sites, learning new things and making connections that enable all of us to better advocate for those who no longer can. -Maddy, Simone & Chris 

July 31, 2017

The Historic African American Community of Gibson Grove, Cabin John, MD

The Historic African American Community of Gibson Grove, Cabin John, MD



[Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission Sign located on site]

Moses Hall and Cemetery
Morningstar Tabernacle Number 88
Ancient Union Order of Sons and Daughters. Brothers and Sisters of Moses



"The African American community in the Cabin John and Potomac area needed a place where they could gather. Records show that Moses Hall was then built on land conveyed to Morningstar Tabernacle Number 88, on December 28, 1887, by George and Surilla Scot. An adjacent parcel of land was conveyed by John D.W. Moore on September 7, 1901. A cemetery grew up around the hall and was referred to as Morningstar Cemetery. While the hall has collapsed, we are told that it was a single, two story structure, painted brown with a cement floor. Each floor consisted of a single large room where dances, parties and meetings were held.


The hall served as a center for freed slaves to meet, socialize, celebrate and conduct business. All faiths were welcome and members included families from the church at the Pines, the Scotland church and surrounding area in Potomac. Dues went to help those in need and aided families when wage earners passed away or became sick. Moses Hall provided the African American community with an identity and an infrastructure of support. It also served to broaden the network of other lodges and halls already established by freed slaves in the metropolitan area. "































Gibson Grove A.M.E Zion Church
Founded 1898
Church, School and Cemetery



"Gibson Grove AME Zion Church was founded in 1898 by a group of freed slaves. The congregation was named Gibson Grove as a tribute to Mrs. Sarah Gibson who donated part of her families land to build a church, school and cemetery.


In 1861, Sarah, her husband Louis, and their two sons were freed by Union soldiers during the battle of Bull Run. In the ensuing chaos, Sarah and her sons became separated from Louis. She managed to cross Bull Run by balancing her sons, one on each side, and walking across a log placed over the stream. She found her way to Washington D.C[.] and later was reunited with Louis at the Shiloh Baptist t church, a known meeting place for freed slaves.


As slaves Sarah had worked as a seamstress and Louis had been a driver and field hand. After reuniting, they went to work on a Potomac farm owned by Frank Dallon. They worked there for 16 years, eventually saving enough to buy, in 1877, 4-1/2 acres on what is now Seven Locks Road.


In 1898, the Gibson's donated part of their land for a church. The original church, located just south of the current building, was built from logs harvested on the property. Baptisms took place in a damned portion of Cabin John Creek.


In 1923, a new church was built on the current site. A damaging fire occurred on Ash Wednesday in 2004, yet the historic white clapboard was spared for the most part and still stands today.


The original Gibson Grove Church was used as a schoolhouse until Sarah had a new one-room schoolhouse built nearby. Records show that the school was then rented to the County and it was named Cabin John Elementary School. References cite that the school was closed permanently in 1922 due to high cost and low attendance leaving twenty-four African American students without a school for five years. In May of 1926, the school board rented Moses Hall, and reopened the school."














Gibson Grove Cemetery



"Sarah Gibson wanted a place where African Americans could be buried with dignity, so a graveyard was established next to the original church. The last burial took place there in 1912. We know that there were at least three graves at the site of the current church. Eventually, a cemetery for the African American community was established around Moses Hall where Sarah Gibson was buried in 1929."