Perspective 3 of 13 | The Slavery Project
If there is ONE person we have all heard of in black history, who stands out because we actually know who she was and what she did, We are all familiar with the Queen Harriet Tubman, neh Araminta Ross. The details of her story may not be well known but we know “Harriet Tubman” and we know “Underground Railroad” and we know she delivered the enslaved to freedom!
Not only was the Underground Railroad a bold movement of resistance but it was a joint venture between white people and black people who did not agree that enslaving human beings was a good idea.
So why is this article not titled: ‘Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad’?
Because this is not a 4th-grade report on black history.
No, there is a much stronger, much more powerful reason.
A few things stood out to me about Activism during the years of American Slavery:
- There was Activism during the years of American Slavery.
- This was a joint venture between whites and blacks.
- John Brown, as well as two of his sons and others believed so strongly in not denying people the right to be free that they laid down their lives for that belief.
As did any white person who participated in the Underground Railroad.
This was treason at the time so both their freedom and their lives were at risk. They placed themselves at risk for fighting back against a society that was conditioned to believe they were superior and enslaving others in such a heinous way was good and right.
We will see this social conditioning of superiority rear its ugly head later in history during the German-Jewish Holocaust; History repeats itself.
While the black story is often told and retold – rather obscurely – it’s important to recognize certain details that speak to the human spirit, because this unites us all.
The case of John Brown was a powerful one Because he led a slave revolt.
>>>>>>skiiiiiiirrrrrrt<<<<<<<<
Rewind that back.
You heard that right.
Nigga
Leda
slave revolt!
Only he was white.
Now why on EARTH would a white man lead a slave revolt?!?!?!
Because black history is HUMAN history, that’s why.
It was people like John Brown who understood that oppression for some of the people was oppression for ALL of the people. It was simply a matter of time. This is the reason why separation of the people is a big No-No in terms of retaining your individual rights.
In moments of manipulation, that kind of realization is not so readily understood by the populous.
If the people are not united, FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER, the likelihood of that same oppression eventually making its way down the pipeline to YOU is simply a matter of time.
Is simply a matter of time.
This is why it is so important that People remain United. Allowing a government to divide people is Never a good idea. Ever. To retain their power they will always create some reason to separate people and we have to be Attuned to that in order to retain Our power.
The power is in the people.
It always has been. It always will be.
As long as the people stay United.
[No I am not anti-government; we Need government at least in this part of our human journey. But we also bear the responsibility of Joint government as democracy calls far. It is for the people, by the people and in order to make that so, the people need to be actively involved in supporting – not only criticizing – those who bear the responsibility of creating an environment we all want to live in. We are Co-Creators in that, are we not? But That’s another topic for another day]
If there was one lesson I learned from studying the holocaust (and there were many lessons to be learned) it was the dangers of allowing government separation. The educators I was privileged to have made a point of highlighting that importance. They were all Jewish 🙂
John Brown understood this at its core but he is often overlooked in black history as is pretty much any white person who participated in Activism at the time, and there were many. John Brown’s history is black history. Black history is white history because it is HUMAN history.
So because John Brown, as a white man, gave his life for something he believed in – Human Freedom – and because this is the “Cultural Connection” the title is:
John Brown and the Underground Railroad.
He was a part of the Underground Railroad and knew Harriet Tubman. He believed in so much more than “black people should be free”.
He believed A L L people should be free.
And that is important to note.
In every history book, you will find people who are oppressed in a host of ways – all different cultures, “races”, religions, sexes, and you will find a desire to be free and a fight for that freedom.
It is the same with afro-american history. It is Not different from other people’s history.
We are Not the exception to the rules of humanity as belief systems often present themselves to us that we are. We have our own journey and our own story to tell, but it is a human journey nonetheless and just as equal to and important as anyone else’s story.
WE ARE a stellar example of passion, drive, force and connection in the world of History and in the continuation of expansion.
It is time we see ourselves as such ♥
It is time to Reclaim our Heritage !
The Cultural Connection 