The Gist of Freedom Preserving American History through Black Literature . . ‪.‬ The Gist of Freedom

The Life of Black Abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd by Scholar Irene Moore Davis!

A ceremony unveiling the statue of Mary Ann Shadd took place Thursday, May 12, 2022 at Windsor University in Canada. 

Shadd a black abolitionist was one of the first Black female newspaper publishers and female journalists in Canada. Shadd founded The Provincial Freeman in 1853. 

Shadd also helped her cousin, Osborne Perry pen the book “Sole Survivor, A Voice From Harper” an account of his extraordinary and courageous role in John Brown’s Harper’s Ferry Raid!

The event was live-streamed from Windsor University’s downtown campus for the greater community.

Sculpted by local artist Donna Mayne (BA 1982).

Watch it on the University’s YouTube channel.

Buffalo Massacre Dr. Manisha Sinha’s Monthly  Black History University Recap!

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In honor of one of the ten victims, Ms. Pearly Young we ask that you donate food to your local food bank. Mrs. Young ran a food pantry and every saturday, for 25 years she donated food.

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R.I.P #BuffaloSaints~ NY state abolished slavery in 1827, but Black people remained in danger of enslavement & kidnappings.

In 1835, to fight back, Black abolitionist David Ruggles helped to found the N.Y. Committee of Vigilance an hybrid of the Black Panther Party & The NAACP.

Black New Yorkers remained in danger of enslavement or re-enslavement through widespread kidnappings. Black sailors would go missing from ports. Children would disappear on their way home from school.

In 1835, to fight back against the onslaught of oppression, Black abolitionist and businessman David Ruggles helped to found the New York Committee of Vigilance (NYCV), a multi-racial organization a hybrid of the Black Panther Party and The NAACP, would defend Black New Yorkers from predatory whites.

 Jamila Brathwaite, authored “The Black Vigilance Movement in Nineteenth Century New York City,” writes, Ruggles fearlessly boarded ships in the New York harbor in search of Black captives or for signs of participants in the illegal slave trade. He published a list bounty hunters kidnappers and the free black traitors who aided them.

His work would not have been possible without the efforts of the Black community and leaders like William Wells Brown, a promenient Black Aboltitionist from Buffalo. Brown along with unnamed black people passed along intelligence, fed, clothed, and sheltered fugitives. They also noted suspicious activities and people.

Ruggles’ bookstore on Lespenard Street. It is the first known Black-owned bookstore in the United States.

 



 

Listen to Grady Lewis's in depth interview on the Gist of Freedom. Grady bought a drink for the mass shooter, in the Buffalo area shooting, one day before the allegedl gunman from Conklin, NY opened fire and live streamed the shooting of ten Black People at the supermarket in a predominantly black neighborhood.

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A Saint who cared for people in the community was one of the victims of the Buffalo mass shooting. Pearly Young, 77, ran a food pantry in the Central Park neighborhood for 25 years, feeding people every Saturday.

Young was killed Saturday while shopping for groceries.

She loved singing and dancing.

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New Zealand took 3 days to ban assault rifles after the mass shooting that inspired the Buffalo shooter.

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Lewis said he and the shooter discussed "theories" like Time Machines, Critical Race Theory (CRT) and  black holes just hours before the alleged shooter opened fire in the parking lot, which left 10 people dead and three wounded.

“I’m wondering, could I have talked to him and said, ‘Hey, we’re all one," Lewis told ABC News. He came back here to the same spot where I bought him something to drink and shot people that looked like me and would’ve shot me if I was standing near.”

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In 1835, to fight back against the onslaught of oppression, Black abolitionist and businessman David Ruggles helped to found the The New York Community of Vigilance (NYCV), a multi-racial organization that would defend Black New Yorkers from predatory whites. Jamila Shabazz Brathwaite authored “The Black Vigilance Movement in Nineteenth Century New York City,” 

Black History University Monthly Recap, April 2022  with Dr. Manisha Sinha!

Easter, Black Abolitionists, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

In a rare occurrence on Good Friday, April 14, 2022 Christianity, Islam and Judaism was observed: Good Friday,Ramadan, and Passover.

Passover, Easter, Ramadan 2022 fall simultaneously In a rare conjunction, three major holidays of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
How Survivors of Slavery escaped with the help of the people of faith.Slavery Survivors conversion Society propagation of the gospel.John Wesley MethodistGeorge FoxAME church Bishop Richard AllenLawsuit against the AMEs Hush HarborsWatch NightGeorge Leile founder of The African First Baptist 1773 
Politics

Corey Booker & Kentanji Brown 



 

Black History University Monthly Recap w/ Dr.Sinha! March 2022

Black Abolitionism During Queen Charlotte's Reign,  America's Last Queen Who is also of African Descent.

1. James Somerset (c. 1741 – after 1772) was an African man and the plaintiff in a pivotal court case that was widely reported as outlawing slavery in Britain

2.   Judge Mansfield raised his Black niece as his daughter, ruled against slavers in Somerset's Case, and Zong Case.

3. Famous Official paintings by abolitionist Allan Ramsay proudly features Queen Charlotte's African Features in her Coronation Portrait, he also painted a popular image of Judge Mansfield's black and white daughter playing together carefree.

4. Sojourner Truth sues and wins her son's freedom.

5. Bishop Richard Allen founder of Mutual Aid Society and African Methodist Episcopal Church 

6. Black Loyalist Harry Wahington successfully eludes capture from Geo. Washington leads a revolution in Africa after serving in the Revolutionary War.

7. Phyllis Wheatley pens a poem a tribute to Christopher Snieder, a child killed leading up to the Revolutionary War, although Crispus Attucks is credited for being the first martyr. 

8. Black Revolutionary Era Authors: Lucy Prince and Lemuel Hayes

Queen Charlotte, Queen City Charlotte N.C., 

Harriet Dred, wife Dred Scott

Sojourner  Truth Sued For her son's freedom

 

 

The Russian Invasion of Ukraine with history Professor Dr. Manisha Sinha! The Global display of support for Ukraine, prayers and protests.