CIVIL WAR ARTICLES 3

Black soldier contributions Black Civil War Museum

Valencia, Mohammed . Afro - American Red Star ; Washington, D.C. [Washington, D.C]03 June 2006: A.1.

ProQuest document link

ABSTRACT (ABSTRACT)

It was almost 10 years ago when former D.C. Councilman Frank Smith, a longtime civil rights activist and historian, started his quest to dedicate a memorial museum and monument in the nation's capital for the preservation of the involvement of enslaved people in the Civil War. "Many people thought that we did nothing but just sit around while White people on both sides fought each other about whether or not we should be free or remain in slavery. We gave much to the struggle of our freedom and we want it properly noted in history and taught to all children," said Frank Smith the museum's founder.

Every year. It is a simple wreath, but it gets placed every year at the foot of the African American Civil War Memorial statue. On May 23, over 300 people participated in the ceremonial services in front of the edifice honoring the creation of the Bureau of United States Colored Troops which honors more than 240,000 soldiers and sailors who fought and died to abolish slavery.

This year, the African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation and Museum included an intensive accredited two-day workshop for teachers at Howard University to help them educate students about a part of history almost forgotten. At the celebration students from Harriet Tubman Elementary School, Garnet Patterson Middle School and Cardozo Senior High School in the District listened with enthusiasm to the stories about how an enslaved people fought to free themselves from bondage.

"This African American Civil War Memorial stands here and relates to us many stories, many rich stories that can not be forgotten. Stories that teach us about ourselves and perhaps, most importantly, what we must do to educate our children," said Robert Karotko, chief of the division of visitor services, U.S. Park Service.

"We know from the 240,000 troops who fought, 160,000 came home and had children. So far, we have heard from 5,000 of these descendants families. We want to preserve our written and oral history," said Smith.

According to Smith, along with the names of African Americans who fought in the war, the museum houses the names of 2,500 Hispanics and 7,800 European Americans who fought also. "One little known fact is the Afro-Latino participation in our struggle for liberation. We want to provide as much information as we possibly can from our continuous research," said Smith.

Hari Jones, assistant director, recited his original poem about the valiant efforts of a humble and courageous drummer boy during the Civil War. "Oh thank you God. The Corps de Afrique has come," he said gleefully. The crowd cheered in remembrance of the struggle of the Black soldiers during that time.

Several descendants of Civil War veterans were dressed in the attire of the ancestors to highlight the celebration.

PDF GENERATED BY PROQUEST.COM Page 1 of 3

Marie Davenport, a descendant, spoke of how the occasion reinforced her struggle to ensure African Americans have not only a museum on the National Mall but one befitting of the presence of Africans in the Civil War. "When I come here, I feel somehow that I have found a part of my identity. Through the gallant efforts of this museum, we are able to revive history. My great grandfather Tom Scott's name is imprinted there forever in history. It is something that I will never, ever forget," said Davenport.
Sidebar

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) relates the struggle for freedom from slavery during the Civil War and the civil rights struggles of the '60s to the triumph to gain recognition of our Black history on the National Mall and the African American Civil War Memorial.
AuthorAffiliation
By Valencia Mohammed
AFRO Staff Writer

HISTORY PAGE