Freedmen Institute

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Freedmen Institute

Project dedicated to restoring and converting the over 100 year old Quinn Chapel AME Church into a mu Dr. Toran obtained his B.S. and Ph.D. Harrison YWCA.

ision of Physical Therapy and Health Sciences. degree from Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida; M.S. from Howard University, Washington, DC and Postdoctoral at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. He interned at Walter Reed Army Hospital and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC. He was frequently referred to as “the Walking Library” by his former mentor and Dean at Howard University because of his vast depth and breadth of knowledge and has been highly sought after for teaching responsibilities across numerous scientific and healthcare programs. In January 2002, he was given the “Key to the City” Fort Smith, Arkansas and a Declaration of “Dr. Eric J. Toran Day” by former Mayor, Ray Baker. Additionally, former Attorney General and State Senator, Mark Pryor, awarded him as Honorary Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arkansas. He has given numerous presentations across the country and has authored and co-authored a number of scientific journal articles. After years of pursuing his hobby of collecting documents, books, and artifacts of historical significance, Dr. Toran decided in 2015 to walk away from the classroom and develop his own academic institute. The Freedmen Institute is the beginning of this initiative. In 2015, he acquired the Tillman Shaw House, Fort Smith, Arkansas which is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places and began to restore it as the business office for the Freedmen Institute. The home’s previous owners used it as a hotel bed and breakfast under the name The McCartney House. In 2019, Dr. Toran purchased the over 100-year old Quinn Chapel AME Church to serve as the permanent location for the Freedmen Institute Black History Museum. Additionally, he purchased an adjacent building that once served as the Margie K. He envisions that the Freedmen Institute will one day serve as a walk-through museum and learning center, housing historical articles, documents and artifacts of local, state, and national interest. The online edition of the Freedmen Institute features a listing of one or more of the books, documents, articles, or artifacts from the collection to gain interest in the Institute’s collection.

08/04/2024

Why Kamala Harris is More African (“Black”) Than Many/Most African Americans

While it doesn’t matter the race of the presumptive Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, questions surrounding the 2024 presidential nominee provides an excellent opportunity for people to research and study the African Diaspora.

Of the Transatlantic Slave Trade only approximately 400,000 or approximately 4% came directly to the United States. The other 96% went to Brazil, the Caribbean and South America.
The majority of slaves in the USA came from years of “breeding” of slaves with other slaves and slave masters (primarily Europeans) with their slaves through forced r**e and other atrocities.

Genetic evidence shows that nearly 80-90% or more of all Jamaicans (Kamala Harris’ father) are of West African descent. They were taken from that region of Africa to work the sugar plantations in the Caribbean, Brazil, and South America. They were mainly from Ghana, Nigeria and central Africa and are from primarily the Igbo, Yoruba, Akan and the Ashanti, tribes.

Whereas, most African-Americans are of mixed European ancestry, most Caribbeans are genetically closer to being of African descent.

Kamala Harris’s Mother is from the Southern part of India where a large portion came from the Bantu people of Africa, as well (especially the Siddis Tribe). The darker hue of those individuals in the Southern part of India is both environmental and genetic in comparison to those of Northern India.

Both her Mother and Father were involved in organizations that promoted Civil Rights and frequently took Kamala along with them to events and protests related to that cause.

She attended a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) (Howard University) at the time when Washington DC was known as “Chocolate City” because it was primarily populated by people of color. She pledged the oldest black sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha) AKA and later joined the Congressional Black Caucus, when she became a member of the United States Senate.

Thus, Kamala Harris is more African “blacker” than many or most African-Americans genetically, environmentally, and through her lived experiences. As America becomes more multicultural, studies on the African Diaspora need to also become a part of the conversation.

01/25/2020

The responsibility for restoring and preserving the history of our ancestors rest upon our shoulders... for they are no longer here... What will you do?

01/22/2020

The responsibility for restoring and preserving the history of our ancestors rests upon our shoulders... for they are no longer here... What will you do?

03/03/2017

Week 15 Exhibit- The 13th Amendment and Slavery in Arkansas: (Another Arkansas First)

In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution "abolished" slavery throughout the United States and all its jurisdictions: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

A year later, in 1866, Congress passed a statute to the Amendment that made anyone in violation of enslavement be punished $5,000 and five years in prison.

Throughout the history of this significant amendment (from Reconstruction through Jim Crow) there were thousands of lynching, burnings, killings, and acts of re-enslavement of "blacks" throughout this country, yet, not one person was convicted and punished for violating the 13th Amendment. That was until 1936 (seventy years later) in the State of Arkansas.

Here's the story:
Paul D. Peacher, referred to as "Planter Peacher" and "De Law" (by local "blacks") was a cotton planter, former deputy sheriff and city Marshall of Earle, Arkansas (Crittenden County). Because a shortage of cotton pickers was affecting his business, Paul D. Peacher decided to take matters in his own hands. To address shortages in the labor force, Peacher acquired workers for his plantation by illegally arresting "blacks" and charging them with vagrancy. He would then take them before the mayor who would find them guilty and sentence them to 30 days of labor on Peacher's property. They were prevented from escaping by armed guards (excerpts Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture). According to Peacher, "I arrested those Negroes because they were loafing around town... They were loafers and a honky-tonk bunch." While in jail awaiting "trial" they were not provided food and were told to "sharpen their teeth and gnaw those bars" if they requested any (Time Magazine).

Peacher's actions equated to another form of slavery, peonage, which was outlawed in 1867 to help enforce the 13th Amendment.

Slavery v. Peonage
Peonage, also called debt slavery or debt servitude, is a system where an employer compels a worker to pay off a debt with work. Legally, peonage was outlawed by Congress in 1867. However, after Reconstruction, many Southern black men were swept into peonage though different methods, and the system was not completely eradicated until the 1940s." (excerpt from: "Slavery by Another Name" PBS.org).

Word of this "enslavement" reached a group referred to as the Southern Tenant Farmers Union who sent a representative to investigate.

Subsequently, according to Time Magazine, 1936, "the government charged that "De Law" as deputy sheriff, falsely arrested eight Crittenden County "blackamoors" for vagrancy, railroaded them through a Justice of the Peace Court, and forced them to clear timber off his plantation... The Negroes were enslaved, it was charged, because Peacher was short of labor due to a strike of cotton choppers in the vicinity."

*Note: the term the used in the government's case for the arrested "blacks" was "blackamoors." More on this reference to "blackamoors" in a later Freedmen Institute's exhibit.

The case was heard by Federal Judge John E. Martineau (former Arkansas Governor) and a jury that consisted of twelve whites. According to the article, during trial, Planter Peacher (De Law) sat sneeringly confident that the jury of twelve whites would acquit him. He was heard saying of the judge, "he don't scare me none. That jury will turn me loose."

To the surprise of everyone in the courtroom, the jury returned with a guilty verdict; however, they recommended that Peacher receive no time in prison. Judge Martineau, however, sentenced Planter Peacher (De Law) to two years of prison and a $3,500 fine. Planter Peacher, the State of Arkansas, and the nation were stunned. This 1936 case represented the first time since the 13th Amendment "abolishing" slavery was invoked, that anyone was convicted of slavery.

As part of this week's Freedmen Institute's collection, is the original December 7, 1936 Time Magazine and article entitled, "Slavery in Arkansas" and photos associated with the story, as well as video depicting how the court systems continued slavery well after the "Emancipation Proclamation" and the 13th Amendment.

Video link: "Slavery by Another Name"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5s8ccKepCms

02/22/2017

Malcolm X
On this day, February 21, 1965 the nation mourned the assassination of Malcolm X, "Our Shining Black Prince" as he was referred to by actor and activist, Ossie Davis. Though Malcolm X left this earth at the very young age of 39, in his short lifetime he made a tremendous impact in the struggle for the rights and freedoms of people in this country and throughout the world.

Born Malcolm Little, in Omaha, Nebraska (1925) to parents who were followers of the teachings of Marcus Garvey's self-preservation and back to Africa movement. His father, Reverend Earl Little was a fearless Baptist minister from Reynolds, Georgia and his mother Louise Little was from Grenada, British West Indies.

At the age of six, Malcolm's father was killed by the Klu Klux Klan who wanted to silence his preaching of self-determination. His skull was crushed and his body was laid across the train tracks to be run over, severing his body nearly in half. Prior to his father's death, the family was constantly harassed, windows broken out, and home set on fire "while firemen and police watched" the home burn to the ground.

After Malcolm X's father was killed and his mother's health began to deteriorate, he was placed in a detention home outside of Lansing, Michigan. At the age of 15, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts to live with an older half-sister, Ella. Later, in 1943 he moved to Harlem, NY. It was in New York where Malcolm was drawn into the street life of crime, drugs, and hustling. In 1945, Malcolm moved back to Boston where he continued a life of crime until he was arrested.

In 1946, at the age of 20, Malcolm was sent to prison for breaking and entering and grand larceny. It was during his 10 year prison sentence that Malcolm became exposed to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. After his parole in 1952, he was released to the custody of his oldest brother, Wilfred, in Detroit, Michigan. Later that year, Malcolm personally met Elijah Muhammad in Chicago. After that meeting, Malcolm quickly rose to power within the Nation of Islam. He tripled their membership and in 1953 he was named assistant minister of Detroit's Mosque No. 1. In 1954 he moved to Philadelphia to establish Philadelphia Mosque No. 12 and later that year, he was named minister of New York Mosque No. 7. In 1958, Malcolm X married Betty X (Shabazz) and from the period of 1958-1965 they had six daughters.

As Malcolm began to rise in prominence, he caught the attention of the FBI, which began to do surveillance on him. He went on to establish temples in Springfield, Massachusetts, Atlanta, Georgia, and Hartford, Connecticut. His powerful oratory skills drew huge crowds wherever he spoke. Soon, the New York police department sent undercover officers to infiltrate the Nation of Islam and the FBI, believing he was getting too powerful, sent a memo to "Stop Malcolm."

In March 1964, Malcolm X separated from the Nation of Islam and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was during this pilgrimage, that Malcolm began to change his beliefs. When asked what impressed him the most, he stated "The brotherhood... The people of all races, colors (from blue-eyed blondes to black skinned Africans) from all over the world coming together as one... It has proven to me the power of the one God."

Malcolm, upon his return to the United States established the Organization of Afro-American Unity and was highly sought after for speaking engagements throughout the country. He became acutely aware that someone was out to kill him and spoke openly of those beliefs. On February 21, 1965, as he was standing at the podium to address the crowd (Organization of Afro-American Unity) at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, NY, a disturbance occurred. Within seconds, Malcolm was shot with a sawed-off shotgun, followed by several rounds of automatic weapons. He was pronounced dead at 3:30 pm.

While there are many who would say that Malcolm X lived a life of hate and violence; what isn't stated is that of seven of his father's siblings, ALL but one were either shot or hanged at the hands of racial violence. Through all of his experiences, Malcolm ultimately found peace, equality, and a belief that there was good in people of all "races" nationalities, and religions. Thus, to know Malcolm, one would have to know Malcolm. Renowned actor Ossie Davis stated it best in the eulogy he gave at Malcolm X's funeral and depicted in the movie "Malcolm X"

Ossie Davis Eulogy of Malcolm X (Movie Malcolm X)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p_TXg15sq1s

Rare Ossie Davis Original Taped Eulogy of Malcolm X
https://ia800300.us.archive.org/24/items/dn2005-0207_vid/dn2005-0207_512kb.mp4?start=1800&end=2151

As part of this week's Freedmen Institute's collection is an original 1964 press photo of Malcolm X speaking to crowd in Harlem, NY; 1964 Saturday Evening Post magazine where Malcolm X gave his life story (in his own words); original press photo showing the investigative scene of Malcom X's assassination; album recording of Malcolm X's famous speech, "Ballots or Bullets"; link to Ossie Davis's eulogy at Malcolm's funeral.

02/12/2017

Carter G. Woodson (Founder, Black History Month)

Historically speaking, the second week of February marks the official beginning of the celebration of Black History. Carter G. Woodson, known as the "Founder of Black History" established this week to closely coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). The establishment of the entire month of February began nationally in 1976 and has continued since. Therefore, this past week's exhibit will feature the life of Carter G. Woodson, widely known as the "Father and Founder of Black History."

Carter G. Woodson was born December 19, 1875 to former slaves. He received academic degrees in 1903 from Berea College, Kentucky and from the University of Chicago in 1908. In 1912 he became the second African-American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University, the first being W. E. B. Dubois.

Carter G. Woodson joined the faculty at Howard University in 1919 where he also served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Woodson later became Academic Dean at West Virginia Collegiate Institute (West Virginia State University). Realizing that scholarly research on the role, achievements, and contributions of African-Americans was lacking or misrepresented, Woodson sought to address these deficiencies and inaccuracies. In 1915, Carter G. Woodson published his first book "The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861." That same year, he became one of the founders of "The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History" which later became "The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History." The primary focus of this organization was to address the deficiencies of black history taught in the classrooms and the contributions African-Americans made to American culture. A year later (1916) Woodson published the "The Journal of Negro History."

Carter G. Woodson dedicated his entire adult life to the study and promotion of African-American people. In February, 1926, he developed and promoted "Negro History Week." In 1937, Woodson published the "Negro History Bulletin" to specifically promote the theme of the annual observance. To help books about "blacks" get published, in 1920 Woodson founded the "Associated Publishers" the oldest African-American publishing company in the United States. Though Woodson began early on to lobby institutions, churches, leaders, and government officials for an entire month of observance, it wasn't until much later (President Ford, 1976) that "Black History Month" became officially observed, nationally.

Carter G. Woodson died April 3, 1950. In his lifetime, he published over 20 books, notably, The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861 (1915), Century of Negro Migration (1918), The History of the Negro Church (1921), The Negro in Our History (1922), and Mis-Education of the Negro (1933). Throughout the country, numerous schools, organizations, and book clubs are named after him. In 1984, the United States Postal Service issued a 20 cent stamp in his honor.

In "The Mis-Education of the Negro“ Woodson famously stated:
"If you can control a man’s thinking, you don’t have to worry about his actions. If you can determine what a man thinks you do not have to worry about what he will do. If you can make a man believe that he is inferior, you don’t have to compel him to seek an inferior status, he will do so without being told and if you can make a man believe that he is justly an outcast, you don’t have to order him to the back door, he will go to the back door on his own and if there is no back door, the very nature of the man will demand that you build one.”

As part of the Freedmen Institute's collection is an original signed copy of Carter G. Woodson's first book "The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861" published in 1915. Noteworthy, is that it's well known that Carter G. Woodson very rarely autographed his books himself. They were usually signed by his secretary. This particular copy was personally signed by Carter G. Woodson for Lawrence J. W. Hayes, Howard University, dated June 16, 1938. Additionally, a copy of Carter G. Woodson's Mis-Education of the Negro and a copy of one of the early posters promoting the celebration of "Negro History Week" are included.

01/17/2017

Week 12 Exhibit- Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's holiday, the Freedmen Institute presents a sample of the hundreds of original press photos in its collection. The selected photos reveal some of the actual struggles faced by Dr. King during the Civil Rights Movement. Many of the photos in the collection have the actual press room markings showing their actual preparation to publication. Included are photos from a recent visit to Selma, Alabama where Dr. King marched and Memphis, Tennessee where he was assassinated.

*It should be noted that the Associated Press, United Press International, and other news press agencies own the original copyright to these photos; however, these photos were purchased from these agencies and thus "watermarked" to the Freedmen Institute.

01/12/2017

Week 11 Exhibit- Underground Railroad (Mission Institute)

Mission Institute: Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was a vast network of secret routes, homes, hiding spots, and individuals (including former slaves, freedmen, and abolitionists) that played a key role in helping slaves escape to freedom.

While some locations and individuals that assisted along the Underground Railroad are widely known (Harriet Tubman, William and Frances Seward, William Still, William Lloyd Garrison, Thomas Garrett, Henry Box Brown, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth and others) a great majority remain unknown. This was largely because of the need to keep the individual's identities, hiding locations and safe homes secretive.

Very few known sites of the Underground Railroad remain to date. Many of the tunnels and hiding places have either caved in or have been demolished by new development. Additionally, written records and other documentation were either not kept or have been destroyed making it extremely difficult for historians and researchers to piece together this important part of American history.

This week's exhibit will focus on one of the few remaining documented locations that played a significant role in the Underground Railroad: the "Mission Institute" and the home of Dr. Richard Eels (Eells) Quincy, Illinois.

The Mission Institute, located in Quincy, Illinois, was known historically as the first Northern stop for runaway slaves seeking freedom from the slaveholding state of Missouri to Canada, as part of the Underground Railroad. Founded in 1836 by David Nelson, an agent of the American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS), it was established to train evangelical missionaries and abolitionist to confront slavery.

The documented story begins on August 24, 1842 when a water soaked slave named "Charley" appeared at the back door of Dr. Richard Eels (Eells). Dr. Eels, a respected physician, was a member of the abolitionist and Anti-Slavery movement in Quincy, Illinois and his home was known to the “Underground” as a safe place for fugitive slaves seeking freedom in the north.

Dr. Eels is documented to have told Charley to hide in the carriage house while he fetch him some dry clothes to take him to the Mission Institute, the first station along the “Underground” route. As Dr. Eels' horse drawn carriage headed out, they were soon spotted by a group of slave catchers. In an attempt to escape, Charley jumped out of the carriage and ran into a nearby cemetery where he was later captured and returned to his "owner" in the slave state, Missouri.

The following day, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Dr. Eels for harboring and assisting in the runaway slave's escape. Dr. Eels was released on bail and before his trial he escaped to Chicago. In January 1843 an order was issued by the Governor of Illinois to extradite Dr. Eels to the slave state, Missouri, for trial. The case was appealed to the Illinois State Supreme Court and later, after Dr. Eels' death (October 4, 1846) a group of abolitionist appealed his case to the United States Supreme Court which upheld the Illinois State and lower court rulings.

As part of this week's Freedmen Institute's collection is an original letter, discussing this event, dated January 4, 1843. The letter is handwritten in ink by J.W. Hancock from the "Mission Institute" to Miss Brownson at the Winnebago School in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. Postal cancellation of the letter out of Quincy, Illinois is January 10, 1843.

Significant about this letter is that it is dated days following the Governor of Illinois extradition order for Dr. Eels to return to Missouri to stand trial as well as communications a representative of the Mission Institute had with Dr. Eels regarding the charges and the case.

The Richard Eells' house is listed on National Registry of Historical Places for its role in the Underground Railroad. The "Freedmen Institute" is honored to have original documents of this important piece of American History in its collection.

Video Link to Story:
http://www.illinoisadventuretv.org/index.asp?page=st&site=1218

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About the Director and Founder: Eric James Toran, M.S., PhD has a 20 year history of teaching, research, service, leadership, and a proven record of program growth and development. Over the years, he has served in a number of administrative capacities, including both Assistant Dean and Associate Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences at Florida A&M University and Program Director of the Division of Physical Therapy and Health Sciences. Dr. Toran obtained his B.S. degree from Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida; M.S. and Ph.D. from Howard University, Washington, DC and Postdoctoral at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. He interned at Walter Reed Army Hospital and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC. He was frequently referred to as “the Walking Library” by his former mentor and Dean at Howard University because of his vast depth and breadth of knowledge and has been highly sought after for teaching responsibilities across numerous scientific and healthcare programs. In January 2002, he was given the “Key to the City” Fort Smith, Arkansas and a Declaration of “Dr. Eric J. Toran Day” by former Mayor, Ray Baker. Additionally, former Attorney General and State Senator, Mark Pryor, awarded him as Honorary Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arkansas. He has given numerous presentations across the country and has authored and co-authored a number of scientific journal articles. After years of pursuing his hobby of collecting documents, books, and artifacts of historical significance, Dr. Toran decided in 2015 to walk away from the classroom and develop his own academic institute. The Freedmen Institute is the beginning of this initiative. In 2015, he acquired the Tillman Shaw House, Fort Smith, Arkansas which is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places and began to restore it as the temporary business office for the Freedmen Institute until a suitable permanent location could be found. The home’s previous owners used it as a hotel bed and breakfast under the name The McCartney House. In 2019, Dr. Toran decided upon the former Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas as the permanent location for the Institute. He established the “Freedmen Institute Museum Project” dedicated to restoring and converting the over 100 year old Quinn Chapel AME Church into a museum and learning center to house this collection of historical artifacts and documents of local, state, and national interest. Dr. Toran envisions that the Freedmen Institute will one day serve as a walk-through museum and exhibition. The online edition of the Freedmen Institute will periodically feature listings of one or more of the books, documents, articles, or artifacts from the collection to gain interest in the Institute’s collection. These items will be from local, state, and national perspectives.