Born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1842, the abolitionist orator Anna Elizabeth Dickinson was rhetorically brilliant. She gave powerful speeches that vividly described the horrors of slavery, giving a voice to the suffering endured by the enslaved. She was without fear when she challenged politicians by urging them to take immediate action against slavery at a time when women were relegated to “female matters” in the home.
In an age of the greatest orators, Anna Dickinson was one of the greatest. What made her stand out first and foremost was that, by using metaphors that illustrated the horrors of bondage on individuals and families, she HUMANIZED the enslaved. Her speeches also showcased intellectual rigor, as she employed logical reasoning and evidence to support her calls for equality and justice.
Born in 1624 near Jamestown, Virginia, William Tucker was the first documented Black child born in America. His parents, Antoney and Isabell, were part of a group of people who served Captain William Tucker and his wife, Mrs. Mary Tucker. As the son of African indentured servants, his birth marked the early stages of an emerging African American identity in the eastern coast of what would later become the United States.
Despite the customs of the time, Anthony and Isabella were allowed to marry and had William. At the time of his birth, there were 22 Africans in Virginia, all working under indentured servitude contracts. These Africans enjoyed similar rights and responsibilities as their white counterparts.
Not much is known about William Tucker’s life, but he was baptized in the Anglican Church, the first African child baptized in British North America. When William was around 10 years old, his parents were freed. After that, William and his parents established a farm in Kent County, Virginia. His personal experiences, marriage, children, and death remain a mystery, leaving fragmented pieces of his story for historians to study..
The 2-acre Tucker Family Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia is named after William Tucker. The cemetery, previously known as the Old Colored Graveyard, contains the remains of people believed to be related to William. Although there are unmarked graves, it is believed that William Tucker himself is buried here. Descendants of William Tucker still live in Hampton, Virginia today.
Looking out a window at the Daniels Architecture building at the University of Toronto on the second day of Doors Open. Sony A7ii, Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 lens via adapter. #photography#blackandwhite
I've only been once to Edinburgh for a day, but it was so lovely there - the city has a nice medieval flair with the castle sitting high on top of a hill. Maybe I'll be back one day for a longer trip.