Next Week - Women Are Poetry In Motion -- Every Day in Every Way Hosted by Esther Productions Inc and Led by Ms. Joy Jones
Feb 27, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
online event
Register for Women Are Poetry In Motion -- Every Day in Every Way at
www.estherproductionsinc.com/events-1/women-are-poetry-in-motion-every-day-in-every-way
This 60-minute writing workshop is designed for adult women to learn more about poetry writing techniques but also to become more intimate with their own personal stories and history. Led by award-winning author and performance artist Joy Jones, participants will also come to understand and appreciate the power of poetry to heal, inspire and provide an opportunity for celebration of self, family and community.
“Joy Jones is a trainer, performance poet, playwright and author of several books including Private Lessons: A Book of Meditations for Teachers; Tambourine Moon, which was selected as one of the best books for children by the black caucus of the ALA and featured on the Bernie Mac Show; and Fearless Public Speaking. She has won awards for her writing from the D. C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities, and the Colonial Players Promising Playwrights Competition, plus awards from both the D. C. Department of Recreation & Parks and the D. C. Commission on National & Community Service for outstanding community service.
Joy Jones’ provocative op-ed on marriage trends for The Washington Post, “Marriage is for White People”, went viral. She is the director of the arts organization, The Spoken Word, and the founder of the Double Dutch team, DC Retro Jumpers, which has led exhibitions and classes throughout metropolitan Washington and abroad. Joy often leads workshops on creative writing, communications and black history.”
Esther Productions, Inc. is a Washington, DC-based national nonprofit organization. Founded in 2004, it is dedicated to inspiring and empowering girls and women. It is supported through generous contributions from Kerry S. Pearson LLC, Emmanuel Bailey, Veterans Services Corp, Pepco, an Exelon Corporation, Fort Myer Construction Corporation Charitable Foundation and Esther’s Friends. - estherproductionsinc.com
Special Thanks: Afrika Abney, Arts and Marketing Consultant
Please feel free to share the below information with your network. Thanks for your interest and time in advance. Have a safe day.
1st USCT (American Civil War) with Anthropologist Johnny Coleman, observing U.N.’s International Day Of Remembering Enslavement & Emancipation, at Camp Barker Contraband Camp, at intersections of Vermont Ave NW & R St NW and S ST NW & 13 ST NW, Washington, DC.
August 23rd is the U.N.’s International Day for Remembering Enslavement and Emancipation Movements...
They Freed Themselves!!!
Featuring CPL Marquett Milton,
The Soldier of U Street aka L.I.O.N.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1730564063831728/?ref=share
Back when America was “Great,” during a time of enslavement, slave catching, lynching, political exclusion, unfair sharecropping practices, segregation and other forms of racial & class oppression.... Between 1861- 1866, there were over 209,145 people that helped make up nearly 170 regiments of an element of US armed forces called, the Bureau of the United States Colored Troops (or USCT):
*6 Cavalry Regiments
*13 Heavy Artillery Regiments
*10 Light Artillery Regiments
* 137 Infantry Regiments
* American Civil War regiments sizes ranged from 300 to 1000 men in each unit.
* There were some unaccounted / unattached units, such as engineer detachments, some small Black & culturally diverse militias, etc.
* Individual sailors that made up 25% of US Navy
They were 10% of US Army and 25% of the US Navy during the American Civil War & Reconstruction Era. Through fighting first for their self interest of emancipation, equality, education, equity, enfranchisement/suffrage, safety and self rule of their own communities, they also ended up turning tide of war in favor of the unionists, in most fatigued hour. They also changed narrative to be about actual freedom instead of money, power, influence, territory and inconveniences. They were the symbols of true freedom, just like all colored US servicemen between 1775 to 1863, because through their own involvement and own efforts, they freed themselves! (They did not just wait on support from President Lincoln, they took self-initiative to play a part in their own story and make change in their lives).
Over 7,122 commissioned officers led the enlisted body of the USCT, a body which was nearly 200,000 people of color, mostly of African Descent; but, it also included, but not limited to, anyone of color, ranging from Latino-Americans/Hispanics to Native-American to South Asians and Pacific Islanders, anyone dark skinned. Many of which were Afro-mixed people. Several were devout Christians (especially Methodists & Baptists), but it also included Muslims and Jews, a very diverse crowd of different ethnicities and religions. Most commissioned officers were White-Americans; however, about 125 commissioned officers were of African Descent.
Not all colored participants served within the Bureau. Some regional, state, county, and municipal units were independent from the Bureau, and there were also several people of African descent and other people of color that joined as individuals, in what we have perceived for the longest as “all-white units.” Numbers range from an additional couple hundred to couple thousand people serving as individuals, in and or attached to white units. Also outside of the bureau, all federal or union soldiers were supported by several thousands of “Contrabands,” whom were typically self-emancipated/ “runaways” and federally acquired slaves (or seized illegal-property or contraband of mainly confederate sympathizers & but union sympathizing slaveowners as well), that followed all federal or union troops, as refugees civilian-laborers, commonly functioning as scouts, logisticians, cooks & cleaners, skilled craftsmen, transporters and civil engineers during war.
Through the participation of colored people, they not only helped save union from itself and outside influences like the United Kingdom (whom was sending weapons and supplies to the Confederacy), but they also earned the reward of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendment, which not only provided freedoms to all USCT soldiers and their families, but also extended to all people of the United States, not just to African Americans:
13th amendment: Abolishment of Legal Slavery, with exception to Incarceration. (Legal slavery still exists inside jail and prisons system, especially for profit institutions).
14th Amendment: Establishment of Rules, Rights & Privileges of Citizenship and Equal Protection Under Law. (Inspired and gave foundation to Civil Rights Laws of 1950s through today).
15th Amendment: Universal Male Suffrage. (Which inspired 19th Amendment later giving rights to women to vote).
The involvement of the USCT also open doors to African Americans, and other people of color, to full time federal and state government and military roles, such as congressional roles, senatorial roles, governorships, governmental & military contractors, and the regular and reserve status military (Example: The Buffalo Soldiers 1866-1952, the US Army Regulars of the 9th & 10th US Cavalry Regiments and the 38th, 39th, 40th & 41st US Colored Infantry Regiments, which later became 24th & 25th Infantry Regiments). I will also mention that many USCT veterans enlisted and commissioned into the Buffalo Soldier units; and, for those that discharged from service, many became community leaders and civil rights activists, fighting to maintain and build upon positive legacy of the American Civil War and Reconstruction Eras.
Women played a role in support of USCT units. They were mostly in a sort of skilled laborers, medical and logistical roles . However some served as spies, scouts, recruiters and some even snuck into the ranks of soldiers, dressed as men. Examples include: Harriet Tubman, Maria Lewis, Mary Shadd Cary, Susie King Taylor, Mary Bowser, Cathay Williams, others. Women were part of the backbone of the USCT and overall US armed forces during American Civil War.
These are my some of my favorite heroes and heroines to study at the African American Civil War Museum. One of the best museums in town. Come see us and let’s talk about it. You won’t regret it. (And, yes Black Lives Do Matter).
Note: We are recruiting men and women, young and old, Black, White, others to tell the stories of the USCT and all other Black militaria history.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1730564063831728/?ref=share
