Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson

Sir if this is founded in truth, I apprehend you will readily embrace every opportunity to eradicate that train of absurd and false ideas and opinions which so generally prevails with respect to us, and that your Sentiments are concurrent with mine, which are that one universal Father hath given being to us all, and that he hath not only made us all of one flesh, but that he hath also without partiality afforded us all the Same Sensations, and endued us all with the same…

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Danita Smith
Sally Hemings: She was Only Fourteen

What I thought about as I have read about Sally Hemings (over the years) has been, “What about her mother? What was her mother’s life like?” When I now think about Sally Hemings and her mother, Elizabeth Hemings, I think about the words “Me too!”

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Danita Smith
A Massacre and American Uprising: Wilmington, NC 1898 (Part 3)

“They went from there across the railroad into what is known as Darktown and Brooklyn; they had sent a committee to remove all the white women and their children down town, where they had prepared a guard to keep them secure. They marched through the streets protected by these military and citizen regulators, perfectly safe.”

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Danita Smith
A Massacre and American Uprising: Wilmington, NC 1898 (Part 2)

Once the supporters of white supremacy in New Hanover County (Wilmington, NC) gained the desired victories on election day, November 8, 1898, they were not finished. There were other offices in the city they wanted such as mayor of the city, chief of police and aldermen—even though those positions were not on the ballot or up for change.

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Danita Smith
A Massacre and American Uprising: Wilmington, NC 1898 (Part 1)

“There is little doubt that if a Republican ticket is brought out for county offices, the situation here will become more serious than ever. The Democrats, have carried out their part of the arrangement with the Governor by changing their candidates for the lower House of Legislature, and they are furious over the talk of a Negro county ticket.”

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Danita Smith
Thurgood Marshall: His Most Famous Dissent

I, for one, am unsatisfied with the hope of an ultimate “political” solution sometime in the indefinite future while, in the meantime, countless children unjustifiably receive inferior educations that "may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.”

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Danita Smith
Self Help: Her Words of Wisdom (Ida B. Wells)

In the creation of this healthier public sentiment, the Afro-American can do for himself what no one else can do for him. The world looks on with wonder that we have conceded so much and remain law-abiding under such great outrage and provocation.

To Northern capital and Afro-American labor the South owes its rehabilitation. If labor is withdrawn

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Danita Smith
Breonna Taylor: Remember Her Story

Breonna Taylor was in her apartment at about 12:40 am on March 13, 2020. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, was with her. They had already turned in for the night and were in bed watching a movie, when Breonna fell asleep.

According to Kenneth Walker, they suddenly heard a loud bang at the door. They didn’t know who it was and thought it might be some kind of intruder at that time of night. Breonna yelled, “Who is it?” They heard no reply.

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Danita Smith
Darkwater: Voices from within the Veil

I was born by a golden river and in the shadow of two great hills, five years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The house was quaint, with clap boards running up and down, neatly trimmed, and there were five rooms, a tiny porch, a rosy front yard, and unbelievably

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Danita Smith
Robert Charles and Mob Rule in New Orleans by Ida B. Wells

The bloodiest week which New Orleans has know since the massacre of the Italians in 1892 was ushered in Monday, July 24, by the inexcusable and unprovoked assault upon two colored men by police officers of New Orleans. Fortified by the assurance born of long experience in the New Orleans service, three policemen, Sergeant Aucoin, Officer Mora and Officer Cantrelle, observing two colored

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Danita Smith
Kate Brown: U.S. Senate and Supreme Court Case

On Saturday, the 8th of February, I went to the Washington depot at 1 o’clock, waited until two, and purchased a ticket to go and return; I left the office and started to go to the car; on the platform there was a man who said, “Take the rear car.” I made no reply, but went in and took my seat in what they call the white people’s car; the cars left here at 2 o’clock, and I was about to return in the 3 o’clock

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Danita Smith
Chapter 11 - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

I now come to that part of my life during which I planned, and finally succeeded in making, my escape from slavery. But before narrating any of the peculiar circumstances, I deem it proper to make known my intention not to state all the facts connected with the transaction. My reasons for pursuing this course may be understood from the following: First, were I to give a minute statement of all the facts, it is not only possible, but quite probable, that others would thereby be involved in the most

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Danita Smith
Chapter 9 - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Bad as all slaveholders are, we seldom meet one destitute of every element of character commanding respect. My master was one of this rare sort. I do not know of one single noble act ever performed by him. The leading trait in his character was meanness; and if there were any other element in his nature, it was made subject to this. He was mean; and, like most other mean men, he lacked the ability to conceal his meanness. Captain Auld was not born a slaveholder. He had been a poor man, master only of a Bay craft. He came into possession of all his slaves by marriage; and of all men,

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Danita Smith
Chapter 8 - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

He died while on a visit to see his daughter at Hillsborough. Cut off thus unexpectedly, he left no will as to the disposal of his property. It was therefore necessary to have a valuation of the property, that it might be equally divided between Mrs. Lucretia and Master Andrew. I was immediately sent for, to be valued with the other property. Here again my feelings rose up in detestation of slavery. I had now a new conception of my degraded condition. Prior to this, I had become, if not insensible to my lot, at least partly so.

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Danita Smith
Chapter 7 - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

… ]I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else. It is due, however, to my mistress to say of her, that she did not adopt this course of treatment immediately. She at first lacked the depravity indispensable to shutting me up in mental darkness. It was at least necessary for her to have some training in the exercise of irresponsible power, to make her equal to the task of treating me as though I were a brute.

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Danita Smith