African American History Tours for Kids in Their Hometown

Tour of Peter Hammond Cemetery
Unknown Slave Boy Grave

There is a part of history that African American people must face and that is the history of slavery. My ancestors on both sides of my family were slaves in the Florida Parishes. While teaching my grandkids about their family, history we had to discuss slavery. They raised many questions about slavery, especially for children their ages. Of course! They can relate to kids because they are kids. They wanted to know what did they eat? Did the kids go to school? Did they have toys? Were they made to work?

They have been touring lots museums and saw many artifacts of that time and period. While visiting the cotton fields in the Mississippi Delta my granddaughter asked, "Did little girls have to pick cotton too?" The look on her face expressed many thoughts that were going on in her little mind. There's one person old enough to remember the cotton fields: her great-grandmother.

Recently I took them to the grave site of a grave marked (Unknown Slave Boy) in the cemetery of Peter Hammond.  Hammond, Louisiana founded circa 1819 by Peter Hammond. As they read the historical marker in the cemetery and learned that the little boy didn't have a name. "They wanted to know why?" Why he didn't have a name? Who were his parents? Where was he from? How old was he?

We will continue to visit museums and libraries this summer. Our schedule is planned for summer 2017. After each lesson and tour, I give them a pop quiz to see what they learned and open the floor for discussions and critical thinking. It's a great way to make history come alive for your child.

Historical Rosenwald School in Fluker, Louisiana

Fluker School
 Fluker, Louisiana

Fluker, Louisiana is were my paternal side of the family lived. Fluker is a small unincorporated town.

My father shared with me how life was for African American people who lived in Fluker, Louisiana.

Fluker, Louisiana was founded by Richard Amacker Kent and named for his father, a Confederated named James Fluker Kent. Fluker was the maiden names of Fluker Kent's mother, was was the daughter of Colonel Robert Fluker, a veteran of New Orleans.

Historic Name Fluker School Current Name Building Plan One-teacher type Building Type School Budget Year 1925-26 Current Address Land (Acreage) 2.00 County Tangipahoa Parish State Louisiana Application # 3-E Total Cost $1800.00 Notes Additional Comments Funding Sources       » Negroes $300.00       » Whites $1,000.00       » Public $100.00       » Rosenwald $400.00
Source: Fisk University Rosenwald Fund Card File Database

Trade of Slave Jeremiah in St. Helena Parish by Jane Holiday

St. Helena Parish, Conveyance Records:  Reddy to Fletcher
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Jane Holiday, Sep 2007


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St. Helena Parish
Conveyance Records
Book F Page 69 & 70

The State of Louisiana Parish of St. Helena}  Be it remembered that on this 
the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty eight.  Before me Samuel Leonard Parish Judge and Ex officio notary 
public in and for the Parish and State of aforesaid personally appeared 
William Fletcher of said Parish who produced the following instruments of 
writing requesting the same to be admitted of record in the words and figures 
following to wit- State of Louisiana Parish of St. Helena} Know all men by 
these presents that I Anny Reddy of the State and Parish aforesaid do hereby 
bargain, sell and deliver and by these presents have bargained sold and 
delivered unto William Fletcher of said state and Parish all my right title 
interests and claim to a negro boy named Jeremiah for and in consideration of 
the sum of five hundred dollars to me in hand paid.  And by these presents do 
warrant and defend the same against all persons whomsoever unto the said 
William Fletcher his heirs executors and assigns.  To have and to hold in ?an 
unto his heirs administrators and assigns forever August the 8th 1833.  Anny 
her x mark Roddy attest Goodeman Davis, L. B. Draughon- The State of 
Louisiana Parish of St. Helena personally affirmed L. B. Draughon of said 
Parish who after having been sworn according to law defends and says that he 
was an attesting witness to the foregoing instrument of writing that he was 
present and saw Goodemann Davis sign and another witnesses and was likewise 
present and saw Amy Roddy make ordinary mark as principle, L. B. Draughon.  
Sworn & Subscribed to before me this to before me this 8th June A.D. 1838. 
Samuel Leonard P.J.

Be it remembered that having carefully compared the foregoing instruments of 
writing with the ? ? I find it to agree in all respects and declare the same 
duly recorded the day and date first above written. Samuel Leonard P.J.

The Legacy of Farming with Ernest Frazier of Amite, Louisiana.

“He was born to be a farmer. It was something that he was good at, something he knew well. He was a giver of life, an alchemist that worked in dirt, seed, and manure.” ― Tracy Winegar, Good Ground

Ernest Fazier

Like his father who was passionate about tilling the soil and making things grow.  Ernest Frazier is just like his father Mr. Willie Charles Frazier known to everyone in the Amite community as Mr. W.C. Just like his father, Ernest spend a great deal of time working and tilling the soil. What I have learned about men and women who are like Ernest and his father, they have a natural connection to the soil! It is in their blood and they look forward to planting  crops every year. They are masters of agriculture, some people went to school to get a degree to study agriculture. For Ernest and his father it came natural and was passed down from generations. Black farmers in America dreamed of owning their own land. They worked hard to make that dream come true.  Many black farmers in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes wanted to operated independently from the white farmers or land owners. I heard many say that they wouldn't get the same price for their produce as white men and women in the community or markets.

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

The Census of Agriculture is now conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture every 5 years. The Federal agricultural schedules were taken beginning in 1840. The schedules provide information like the owner's name, acres improved and unimproved, value of the farm, farming machinery, crop and livestock production, and "home manufactures." 

Black farmers in America faced discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture loans for decades. Women both black and white faced a discrimination as well. It is good to see men like Ernest carry the family tradition of farming on today. My maternal grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr., and his mother Emma Mead Harrell were farmers.  Jasper's brother Palmer Harrell also farmed, I hold fond memories of farming with my great uncle Palmer. For the newly freed slaves, owning your own land meant freedom and a ticket to becoming independent and self-sufficient. One thing is for sure a farmer will never go hungry and they know what they are eating. Ernest enjoy watching the vegetable grow and certainly enjoy the fresh taste of squash, cucumbers, corn, beans, tomatoes, strawberries and sweet potatoes. He is the kind of man that shares with his neighbors just like his father did. After all the planting and picking, his wife Jo-Ann, cans the vegetables and make some of the best tasting homemade jams you want to taste.

She learned how to can from the women who came before her. I was very happy to hear that she held on to the tradition. It isn't that many women who are still canning. When I was little girl, I remember my mother and grandmother canning. Although I have never canned any fresh fruits or vegetables. I am willing to learn because there is nothing to compare to the taste. 

Thank to both Ernest and his wife Jo-Ann for holding on to those value lessons of farming and canning. It would be good to see them both co-author a book on farming and canning and how the tradition was passed on to them by their ancestors.