land, people, & arts

Story about MICHELLE OBAMA PLANTATION - Georgetown, SC area

By Dahleen Glanton and Stacy St. Clair Tribune Reporters

December 1, 2008

GEORGETOWN, S.C.—Tiny wooden cabins line the dirt road once known as Slave Street as it winds its way through Friendfield Plantation.

More than 200 slaves lived in the whitewashed shacks in the early 1800s, and some of their descendants remained here for more than a century after the Civil War. The last tenants abandoned the hovels about three decades ago, and even they would have struggled to imagine a distant daughter of the plantation one day calling the White House home.

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But a historical line can be drawn from these Low Country cabins to Michelle Obama, charting an American family's improbable journey through slavery, segregation, the civil rights movement and a historic presidential election.

Their documented passage begins with Jim Robinson, Obama's great-great-grandfather, who was born around 1850 and lived as a slave, at least until the Civil War, on the sprawling rice plantation. Records show he remained on the estate after the war, working as a sharecropper and living in the old slave quarters with his wife, Louiser, and their children. He could neither read nor write, according to the 1880 census.

Robinson would be the last illiterate branch of Michelle Obama's family tree.

Census records show each generation of Robinsons became more educated than the last, with Michelle Obama eventually earning degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Her older brother, Craig, also received an Ivy League education.

Barack Obama's campaign hired genealogists to research the family's roots at the onset of his presidential bid, but aides have largely kept the findings secret. Genealogists at Lowcountry Africana, a research center at the University of South Florida in Tampa, scoured documents to put together a 120-page report, according to project director Toni Carrier. She said the center signed a confidentiality agreement and is not allowed to disclose the findings publicly.

However, in his now-famous speech on race during the primary, Barack Obama stated he was "married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave owners."

Obama aides declined to discuss the report or allow Michelle Obama to be interviewed about her ancestry. She has said she knew little about her family tree before the campaign, but census reports, property records and other historical documents show that her paternal ancestors bore witness to one of the most shameful chapters in American history.

When Michelle Obama moves into the White House—a mansion built partially by slaves—she will embark upon a life her great-great-grandfather never could have envisioned for her. At antebellum estates such as Friendfield Planation, past sins are being revisited amid the celebration.

Frances Cheston Train, whose family bought the property in the 1930s and transformed it into a hunting preserve for wealthy Northerners, fights back tears as she reflects on how far the country has come since Robinson labored in the mosquito-infested rice fields along the Sampit River. Though her family never owned slaves, the 82-year-old heiress to the Drexel family banking fortune recalls the segregation laws that divided the Georgetown community.

"It's beyond healing," Train said of the Obamas' success. "What it has given everyone is a sense of pride that this amazing, intelligent and attractive couple could be connected to Friendfield."

Little is known about Robinson's life at the plantation, beyond that he worked in the riverfront rice fields after the Civil War. Local historians don't know how or when he came to Friendfield, but census records indicate that both his parents were born in South Carolina.

A map from the early 1870s, when Robinson was living on the plantation, shows three parallel rows of slave cabins, each with 10 to 13 buildings along Slave Street. But by 1911, only 14 were still standing.

Five single cabins remain today. With their massive fireplaces and wood plank walls, each tells a story about slave life on the plantation.

The small shacks, only 19 feet deep, housed several families at once, said Ed Carter, who now oversees the property. Large, stone fireplaces were used for cooking and heating. Attic space in the rafters beneath the gable roof offered a place for extra people to sleep.

The plantation's former owner, Francis Withers, built a "meeting house" for the slaves on the estate before 1841, and the South Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church assigned a preacher there. A fire destroyed the church in 1940, but a massive live oak still stands near the old site.

By the time Withers died in 1847, the family had expanded Friendfield to include six plantations and more than 500 slaves. At the height of the rice trade, Friendfield was one of the most lucrative plantations in the area, producing what was called Carolina Gold on more than 500 acres of rice fields, Carter said.

In his will, Withers, who was educated at Harvard University, provided for the care of his slaves, including the upkeep of the church and a salary for the preacher. He also requested that his slaves be treated with "great kindness and be fed and clothed." He bequeathed $50 a year to Charlotte Nelson, described as a "mulatto woman" who had been freed by his brother, for the rest of her life.

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News Release

Statement by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on African-American History Month

Today, we celebrate the start of African-American History Month. African-Americans throughout history have made significant contributions to scientific health research, medicine, and public health. Two notable examples include Dr. William Augustus Hinton, the son of former slaves, who became the first black professor at Harvard Medical School and gained an international reputation for his medical research, and Dr. Charles Drew, a physician, researcher, and surgeon, who forged a new understanding of blood plasma that allowed blood to be stored for transfusions.

As we celebrate the impact of African-Americans who serve as doctors, nurses, caregivers, and health care decision makers, this year’s theme for African-American History Month, “Black Women in American Culture and History,” gives us the opportunity to reflect specifically on the contributions African-American women have made to health care.  One shining example, is my predecessor, Patricia Roberts Harris, who served as the first African- American United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (which during her tenure became United States Secretary of Health and Human Services), and was also the first African- American woman to serve as a United States Ambassador.

While we take time this month to recognize these contributions, we also reflect on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”  And despite the progress we have made, we know that underserved communities may not have equal access to high quality health care.  Low-income Americans, racial and ethnic minorities, and other underserved populations often have higher rates of disease, fewer treatment options, and reduced access to care and coverage.

Here at the Department of Health and Human Services, we are working toward a healthier America and at every level, in every agency of our Department, you will find African-Americans playing an essential role in the critical work that we do. We are committed to ensuring that all Americans achieve health equity by eliminating disparities and doing what we can to improve the health of all communities.

The new health care law, the Affordable Care Act, will help reduce health disparities by expanding health coverage to 34 million Americans, preventing the worst insurance company abuses, and bringing new funding to community health centers, an important safety net for underserved populations.

Programs throughout the Department---from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Minority Fellowship Program, designed to increase workforce diversity for African-Americans in the areas of behavioral health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HIV/AIDS Testing Initiative, designed to reach out to specific high-risk populations---work to increase representation throughout the health workforce and improve outcomes.

Combined with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Strategic Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, these are key initiatives guiding us in our efforts to improve access to quality care and reduce health disparities. Today, we rededicate ourselves to the work of making sure that every American child, no matter where they were born or what color their skin is, has the chance to reach their full potential. We can and will continue to ensure justice in health care and improve the lives of millions of Americans.

###

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: February 1, 2012

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Press Release: World History Record Breaking From the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor  It is now official from the Guinness Book of World Records from London EnglandThe Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters from Georgia set the world record the largest ring shout in the world. History was made with the Shouter as leaders and with the help of many others from all over the USA. This was at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Washington DC. The first unveiling was in Richmond VA with Dr. Robert Stephens  And Dr. Mary Ellen Junda at the College Music Society Conference. Griffin Lotson first presented the idea in 2010 to help keep the Gullah Geechee culture alive and well for the next generation, and as they say the rest is history!!! World History Record Breaking The First Unveiling was in Richmond VA      

 

Press Release

From: Griffin Lotson Historian/Lecturer

 

The State of Georgia Governor gives historical Commendation. For the first time ever in Georgia’s history a Governor gave a full commendation to the Geechee Gullah culture and to The Georgian Geechee Gullah Shouters

This historical event took place on the 29 of July 2009 at the State Capitol in the Governor’s Office.

 

Georgia Governor Perdue’s official Photo Galleries

Of

The Georgia Geechee Gullah Shouters

 

 

The Governor of Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue

And the Georgia Geechee Gullah Shouters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are a gallery of Governor Perdue’s official press photographs

 

Of

The Georgia Geechee Shouters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://photos.gov.georgia.gov/gallery/9107848_DUM7B#607001561_Md7Bz

 

 

For more information call: Griffin Lotson (912) 571-9014

Email: georgia.geechee@gmail.com

 

	More About Gullah and the Golden Isles: ·  Geechee Tours & Lodging - Sapelo Island ·  Georgia-Sea Island Singers ·  Geechee Sweets - Order Sapelo Island Products Online ·  Outdoor Adventure Guides for The Golden Isles ·  Gascoigne Bluff ·  Sapelo Sojourn ·  High Tide's Guide to St. Simons Island ·  Brunswick and the Golden Isles ·  Visitor Information ·  St. Simons Island ·  Main Street Brunswick
"Passin' It Down" Return to Golden Isles Navigator Home Page... www.gacoast.com/navigator/iamsapelo.html     ChangingLINKS.com

 

Home > Fiction > General Fiction > Three

Three

Item# ISBN: 978-1-4349-9036-5

$24.00

by Dr. Katie B. Catalon

A young unmarried pregnant girl is left with an old colored midwife by a very angry father who never showed affection to his daughter. His intentions are to never see his daughter again or the child she is carrying. Unknowing to the father, the young girl gives birth to triplets. The old midwife knows the black heart of the father and makes arrangements to make it appear the young girl and one of the babies are dead. The midwife then makes arrangements to find the father of the triplets and assist them in leaving the parish. The couple is married and is later killed in an automobile accident. The triplets are adopted by different parents and never know about each other until years later, when a husband of one of them becomes a candidate in a mayoral race.

The old midwife keeps watch over the girls over the years without them being aware. Money is always available when there is really a crisis. Their mother was a wealthy woman and left a map where gold was hidden by their grandfather. Their mother, Angelica, never told her husband, Zack Beaumont, about her wealth. He knew he was marrying into a rich family, but he was not accepted by the genteel community.

Three rings and an old brown leather pouch hold the answer to a fortune buried in gold for the triplets. The secret rests with Carrie Benson and Big Ed. Big Ed is instructed by Carrie to carry out her wishes in the event of her death before the triplets went to her. Carrie is instructed by their mother that the three must be together when the secret unfolds to their hidden gold.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Katie B. Catalon is a retired cosmetology teacher with the Charleston County School District. She places emphasis on the fact that the thirty years were enjoyable years. She is the fourteenth president of the National Beauty Culturists’ League Incorporated, located at 25 Logan Circle N.W., Washington, D.C., 20005. She is the first vice president of the South Carolina State Cosmetologist Association. Dr. Catalon is a member of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary of Our Lady of Guadalupe Court 110 of Charleston, South Carolina. She is also a member of the YWCA of Charleston, recipient of the NAACP Sheroos Award, and recipient of the TWIN Women Award from the YWCA.

Dr. Catalon is the author of two published books, Cross Town Route and Down Home. She is married to Allen P. Catalon and is the mother of two daughters, Regenia and Sharmina (deceased) and grandmother of eight.

In humility and constant prayer, she states that her life will always be to serve and assist others in ways that will always be pleasing to Jesus Christ.

She is a member of Theta Nu Sigma National Sorority, a life member of Gamma Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, life member of National Council of Negro Women, and a life member of the NAACP.

(2008, paperback, 282 pages)

Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days.

Accessories

Three [E-book edition] This book is also available for download as an E-Book in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. Get the same great book to read on your computer or PDA! It's less expensive and it saves paper! NOTE: In order to view this e-book, your computer will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Many computers are sold with the program already installed, but if you don't have it, you can download it for free: CLICK HERE $19.00 ISBN: 978-1-4349-9036-5 [E-book]

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sherry a. suttles, executive producer VALA documentary