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Clouds of smoke probably filled the skyline from the blast of canons being fired during the French Revolution from 1789-99; where political change in France reached the American shores in 1789. A French spy Victor Collot, traveled conspicuously through the US in 1796 noting the weaknesses in its western border. The Federalist controlled Congressed passed a series of laws known as the Alien and Sedition Act. This was intended to curb political dissent and limit the political participation of immigrants by easing deportation and prolonging the time required for citizenship. What is a slavery? A situation in which one person has absolute power over the life, fortune, and liberty of another. The practice of keeping individuals in such a state of bondage or servitude. Slavery was outlawed by the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution according to Black's Law Dictionary. What is a prisoner of war? a person usually a soldier, who is captured by or surrenders to the enemy in wartime. Out of those descriptions, what does the misery, pain, and suffering of others teach one or make one feel that they should continue to marginalize a majority of one demographic of a population? Has America not learned any lessons from it's pass prisoners of war or indentured slavery times? Is it safe to say in the 21st century America is a social distance society, under the bondage of a Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris Administration; the conditions of Covid19 bring about reemerging elements, and feelings of those conditions. Many are challenged with having to stay 6 feet apart, wear a mask to stop the spread of various variants with limited to no social gathering. And family gathering have transition to video sharing platforms if you can afford to pay for an internet connection. Whether Newton's law or ring around the rosy, for every action there is a reaction, what goes up must come down and what goes around comes back around like a planet rotating upon its axis; assuming that a majority of people would want to live as slaves, prisoners' of war, is very cruel and unusual punishment for any living human being who has not been a nuisance to that society or community. Mt. Vernon, the estate and mansion which was built by those who toiled the land that went on for many miles into the overseer's quarters, wharf, storehouse and clerk's quarters, kitchen, shoemaker's shop, greenhouse slave quarters, slave cabin, and the slave memorial and cemetery. George Washington inherited 10 slaves at the tender age of 11, when his father Augustine died. In 1799, the Mount Vernon estate was home to a community of 317 slaves including women, children, and men who had no choice to live there. To commiserate the resilience of such a people who over came many inhumane conditions and challenges, during the recent 2021 Wreathlaying Ceremony more graves were uncovered for remembrance. A ceremony was held in the Slave Memorial Cemetery to salute Gum Springs Community. An African American community originated on 214 acre farm bought in 1833 by West Ford, a freed man, skilled carpenter, and manager of the Mount Vernon estate. The freedman's school begun in Gum Springs in 1867 at Bethlehem Baptist Church encouraged black settlement. Today, Gum Springs, Virginia has more than 2,500 residents up to 500 descended from the original families, and a few of those families were in attendance at the 2021 Wreathlaying Ceremony such as Mrs. Ada Singletary who is a long-standing resident and pillar of the Gum Springs community who recently celebrated her 101st birthday, March 22, 2021. Mr. Ron Chase, a lifelong resident of Gum Springs, VA and is the founding director of Gum Springs museum and President and CEO of the Gum Springs Historical Society. And Mrs. Linda Allen Hollis, an author and her work focuses on preserving the collective heritage of the family patriarch, West Ford and his descendants. The sound of acorn's hit the brick pavement, while the birds chirped in unison at the Mt. Vernon slave cemetery as the announcer said their names in the remembrance of Grace age 5, Penny age 11, George age 7, and Kate old enslaved at the mansion. The ceremony was presented by the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association and Black Women United for Action. "Walk humbly in truth at Mt. Vernon," Sheila Coates, President of (MVLA) shared with all in attendance. As the music selection "I want Jesus to Walk with me," played the trees blew in the wind while the eagle sored over the slave cemetery at Mt. Vernon. "Feel the spirit, it's with us. Bound and enslaved by Washington's, talents of slaves have been carved out, work of black smith and mansion built by the hands of the enslaved who appreciated the work. The truth of the present, self governing people left us work to be done to make the country more just and equitable," Mrs. Porter expressed from the podium. "Resilience" was the word to describe the Gum Spring's community West Ford. When you think about resilience you thing about the names and what they had to do and choices made to live based on faith, hope and love. Faith is evidence or hope for substance not seen and standing at cross roads tapping back into thing that held on to belief, you are evidence of tat faith and love, "facilitate and foster resilience in your own lives. Proceed in gratitude," Mrs. Porter shared. From a miraculous even in 1833 a black man purchased land in Virginia. West Ford guarded tombs at the cemetery and was caretaker of slave cemetery shared a descendant of the family Mrs. Linda Allen Hollis. Long-standing resident of Gum Springs, VA Mrs. Singletary shared with all in attendance at the ceremony "hold on to God's unchanging hand build hopes on things eternal is her favorite songs, and wished all have the faith and hope everyone to love each other."
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April 2024
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