Historically Speaking

Published by The Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier , P.O. Box 63, Buffalo NY 14207

http://home.adelphia.net/~aanylh/

Sharon Holley and Madeline Scott, Editors

Volume 30    Number 2   October 2006  

 

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Felix L. Armfield, Ph. D.

          Well it is the end of another summer and the smell of fall is upon us.  The Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier (AAHANF) is beginning its next program year.  The board of directors and myself are busy behind the scene preparing for that next phase.  As your new President, it is with great expectations that I greet you the members and friends of the Association in this fall edition of the newsletter.  Following the presidency of my predecessor, Ms. Madeline Scott is going to be a challenge, to say the least.  I am confident that with all of your support I will manage to continue to help make (AAHANF) an organization that we all will be proud of.  Together we can ensure that the Association continues to be a major player as a historical organization in New York State and the nation.

          The past cycle of annual events completed by the Association have been both noteworthy and historic in scope.  The annual Carter G. Woodson Essay Contest, the Family History Dinner, the African American Ancestral Heritage Tours at Forest Lawn Cemetery, are all events that the community looks forward to.  Last fall (October, 2005) we began our program year by hosting the 90^th meeting of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).  Founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1915, ASALH has sponsored an annual meeting of historians and other educators.  Last fall’s meeting in Buffalo was the most successful in recent years with almost 1,000 persons registered for the conference meeting.  After the meeting, ASALH reported that it made a $57,000 profit from its Buffalo meeting.  It was reported that that amount was the most that the organization had ever realized from an annual conference.  Our Association raised $33,000 to help underwrite the conference and to fund special programs for local youth and educators.  Again, thanks to many of our members and friends who served as volunteers and willing workers during that annual meeting.

          I am expecting to move the AAHANF forward and break new ground as we prepare for this new century of ideas.  We are entertaining a couple of new programming proposals for the new year.  We hope to partnership in an intellectually stimulating Martin Luther King Day event and we are exploring the possibilities for assisting with the Harlem Book Fair of Buffalo for 2007.  I invite all of the membership to submit ideas for new activities.

          My first challenge as President to will be to work to expand our membership.  We all have to be responsible for the continued growth of our organization.  Every member should invite at least two other persons to join our effort to preserve and promote interest in the community history of Afro-Americans in New York State.  Talk about our work in your church or neighborhood and lets make 2006-2007 a growth year. I invite each of you to take ownership with me in the AAHANF and work to make the organization bigger and better.  I am honored to serve as your president.  Help me to spread the word about all the greater things that the Association does for the people of our great state and nation.

 

 The 30^th Annual Carter G. Woodson Essay Contest will take place in February 2007 with the theme: “An African American Uncrowned Queen in Western New York.”  The 30^th celebration will partner with the Uncrowned Queens Institute, co-founded by Barbara Nevergold, Ph.D., and Peggy Brooks-Bertram, Ph.D., to encourage youth to write about an African American Woman who has made a contribution in Western New York.  Biographies must be written about women who are not listed on the Uncrowned Queens website or in their publications.  Guidelines for the contest will be available in November.  The contest is open to all youth in grades 4 – 12. In addition to winning cash prizes and certificates from the Afro-American Historical Association, winners will have their essays published in the April 2007 Historically Speaking and may be eligible to have the biography published on the Uncrowned Queens website.

 

 

By

Melvin H. Watkins (Nephew)

          Robert Charles Watkins was a longtime resident of Corning, New York, and was employed by the Corning Glass Works for 43 years.  Robert joined the company in 1942 as a “lunch room helper,” and rose through the ranks before retiring in 1985 as a Developmental Machine Builder.  Watkins was widely known for his lifetime involvement with the national and local NAACP.  Throughout his life he was an advocate for social, political, and economic opportunity for all.

          Robert was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 6, 1927 to Harry and Mary Louise Watkins.  He had two older brothers, Edward and Harry.  Robert moved to Corning with his mother and two brothers when he was 2 years old.  As an adult, he often spoke about the conditions under which black people had to live in early 20^th century Corning.  As a child, he heard adults speak of black pioneers like William Warfield, Paul Roberson, and Marcus Garvey.  The Warfield family were former residents of Corning.  William Warfield’s father was a former Pastor of Corning’s Friendship Baptist Church.  The knowledge of, and influence of such prominent figures certainly impacted Robert’s lifelong commitment to the struggle for social justice and his work with the NAACP. 

          During his early twenties, Robert served in the U.S. Army.  After basic training in Texas, he was sent to Japan.  His entire enlistment was spent in Yokahama, Japan.  In later life, as a retiree, he would go back to Japan as part of the “Corning-Osuka” sister city committee.

          Robert often recalled that he first joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at age eleven.  At age twenty-seven he was appointed as a representative of the Western New York Region of the NAACP.  He held that position until 1991, when he resigned “so that a younger person could get involved.”  He traveled throughout the country citing the philosophy of the organization and urging others to join.  In 1963 he helped to arrange busses to transport people from Corning, Elmira, and Ithaca to the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.  He was a life member of the NAACP and was the recipient of the 1981 Service Award from the Elmira Prison Branch, and the 1992 Outstanding Service Award from the Elmira-Corning Branch.  Robert was also a member of numerous other service and community organizations.

          On Oct. 1, 1956 he was admitted into the Corning Glass Work’s (CGW) apprentice training program.  This marked his movement from unskilled worker to the skilled journeyman’s level.  This journeyman’s position would open doors for him.  The new technology that was being developed at the pilot plants where he worked was just beginning to have the bugs worked out of it.  Bob, and fellow journeyman, Harley Reynolds, submitted an idea to CGW that would save a considerable amount of money.  This idea made the production levels go up so much that it was used for over a decade.  The resulting award (cash award) would make things a little easier for the Watkins family.  Later in 1984, the Governor of New York State, Mario M. Cuomo, would honor Bob and the other Black tradesmen via an exhibit featuring  his picture.  The exhibit was displayed in the “World Trade Center “ and  the “Harlem State Office Building”.  The American Flint Glass Workers Union agreed with this idea and joined in with a proclamation citing Bob for his work.

          While on a visit to Washington, D.C. in 1953, Robert met a girl, a resident of Elmira, New York, who would eventually become his wife.  He married the former Cleo Briley on April 10, 1954, at Corning’s Friendship Baptist Church.  His older brother Harry served as his best man.  From that union two sons were born, Robert II, and Gregory.  Robert and Cleo were married for 52 years.

          Throughout his life, family was always important to him, and his home was always open to friends and family, and even to strangers.  Whenever he met someone there was always a smile, a friendly greeting, and an outstretched hand.  He had a way of making perfect strangers feel that they were important to him.  The “Watkins Family Pig Roast” was an annual event that Robert sponsored each year to bring friends and family together to socialize.  The farm that he had purchased for his family was the site of the famous “Watkins Family Pig Roast”.  The annual meal and celebration was always coordinated by Bob’s hard working wife.  Family and friends would bring dishes of every variety, and a specialist was brought in to roast a pig or two.  There were also turkeys roasted in special ovens.  A large crowd of friends and family was always present.  People even came from other states to participate.  Bob always made an effort to greet each person in attendance.  The “pig roast” was always a popular event that all of Bob’s friends and relatives looked forward to.

          Robert Watkins died on August 25, 2006, at the age of 79.  Interment was in the family plot in Hope Cemetery, Corning, New York.

 

COMMUNITY HISTORY MAKERS

 We invite others to submit biographical or autobiographical sketches (similar to the one above) of family members or other people in the community whose lives have helped to make our community better.  These are the history makers of our community.  If there is a demand, we will feature one or more biographical or autobiographical sketches in each issue of the newsletter.  Write about yourself, members of your family, or community and get their story published.  Do it for a future issue of the newsletter.  If you need help in preparing your narrative, contact us at the address on our masthead.

 

 Mrs. Georgia Burnette, a retired Buffalo nurse and current freelance writer, has a longtime involvement in family history.  She and husband, Luther were instrumental in the formation of the Burnett(e) Family Association, and were coordinators of their 1997 and 1999 reunions.  They are considered the Burnett(e) Family Ambassadors, in that they continue to search for living descendants of the six family lines.  Moreover, they continue to document new found family in the ever expanding “Burnett(e) Family Directories,” which they initiated. 

Mrs. Burnette is a frequent contributor to Reunions Magazine, and was a columnist for Pathfinders Travel Magazine for 2003.  For ten years she has written the family newsletter, The Burnett(e) Bugle.

In an effort to promote local interest in family history, Mrs. Burnette recently donated a five year subscription to Reunions Magazine to the Merriweather Branch Library.

 

Written by Julius Lester

Illustrated by Tom Feelings

Reviewed by Carol J. Mitchell

This book was the winner of the Newberry Honor Award and was published in 1968.  It is a narrative of experiences related by slaves and their descendants.

They describe being captured in tribal warfare in Africa and then traded to slavers in return for tobacco, guns, liquor, ammunition and other goods.

The journey across to ocean was depicted as “lying side by side, barely able to turn over, wedged in together so closely that some died of suffocation, and had to be thrown overboard.” Only the strongest survived.  Many jumped overboard or starved themselves, rather than to live lives as slaves.  In some cases, the slave galley was so crowded, that they could only sit.  There was no room to lay down and the room was not high enough to stand up.  They ate nothing but yams, which were tossed to them.  By the time the ship landed, many were unable to stand.  It often took a week or more to be able to straighten their limbs.  About 1/3rd died during the journey. About 50,000,000 were taken from Africa during the years of the slave trade.  “They were the youngest, the strongest, those most capable of bringing great profit first to the slave traders and later to the slave owner.”

Narratives gathered from the Library of Congress tell of the brutal beatings, meager diet, torn and ragged clothing and the deplorable living conditions these human beings endured.  They also illustrate the psychological slavery, not knowing your name or your age; having your family sold away in order to supplement income for the master.  “They whipped my father “cause he cried when he looked at the body of a slave they had killed.”

Many slaveholders used the bible to justify slavery, just as in modern day, it is used to justify mistreatment of other minorities.

There is a long narration by Thomas Jefferson, analyzing enslavement, by describing the superiority of one with white skin and inferiority of one with black skin.  He goes on to compare the two, calculating that the Negro was incapable of reason and comprehension and inferior to whites in the endowment of both mind and body.  This from the author of The Declaration of Independence and our nation’s third President.

The story of Josiah Henson is told.  He is the model for Uncle Tom in the Harriet Beecher Stowe novel.  He was born a slave and grew up believing that while slavery was wrong; as a slave he had a responsibility to do his best work.  He was so industrious and responsible, that he became the Superintendent of the plantation, sparing the master the expense of hiring a white overseer.  He obeyed the orders of his master to the letter, even transporting the other slaves up the Ohio River to Kentucky and handing them over to the owner’s brother. He did not take this opportunity when he had a chance to gain his and the other slaves freedom in Ohio.  He felt that would be stealing.  He later saved enough money to buy his freedom.  The master accepted the money and made plans to sell him to another plantation. Josiah fled to Canada.  He returned many times to lead 118 slaves to freedom in Canada.

After the Emancipation Proclamation, many freed slaves were no better off than they were before.  They had no skills, no education, no property, no way of earning a living.  Many African Americans are still living in psychological slavery, not completing high school, not being sexually responsible and not becoming technological literate.  They do little to improve their situation.

This book was written for older teens, but would be of interest to anyone wishing to learn more about slavery and its affects.  It sheds light on many of the issues and attitudes that plague our race to this day.

 

(From the Directory for the City of Buffalo, 1832)

This information was provided to Historically Speaking co-editor Madeline Scott by Pat Kavanagh, Historian for Forest lawn Cemetery.

HEADS OF FAMILIES

 

  “From Umoja to Imani: Celebrating 40 Years of Cultural Awakening” is the theme for the Buffalo Kwanzaa Committee as it prepares to celebrate the 40^th year of Kwanzaa.  Kwanzaa is an African American Holiday that is observed from December 26 – January 1.  The holiday was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 and is now celebrated and observed in the United States and in other countries throughout the world.  The Buffalo Kwanzaa Committee is planning seven days of community programs highlighted by Dr. Maulana Karenga who will speak in Buffalo on Wednesday, December 27.  The Buffalo Kwanzaa Committee meets at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library on Saturdays from 12 noon to 2 p.m.  Makeda Holley is the Chairperson.

 

PAUL ROBERSON THEATER

 The Paul Robeson Theater at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Avenue announces its 2006-2007 theater season:  “Soul Sounds” by Reginald Kelly and Kenneth Johnson – September 29 – October 22;  “Mule Bone” by Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes – February 2 – 25; “Amen Sister” by Roger Parris – May 4 – 27.  For more information and ticket prices call 884-2013.

 

             Since it’s opening in April 2005, the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr, Branch Library at 1324 Jefferson Avenue, has been adding more resources for African American research.  The Schomburg Clipping File is a microfiche collection containing more than 9,000 records that preserve and document the black experience worldwide.  Essentially a periodical and newspaper clipping file, this unique collection also includes typescripts, broadsides, pamphlets, programs, book reviews, menus and various other short publications dealing with black history and culture.  The collection is international in scope including countries in Africa and others not normally associated with black culture such as Italy, Russia and Japan. 

          In addition to the Schomburg Clipping File, there are two databases that are only found at the Merriweather Library.  The Black Studies Center combines three resources for research and teaching in Black Studies: (1) the Schomburg Studies on the Black Experience, (2) the International Index to Black Periodicals, and (3) the Chicago Defender.  This fully cross-searchable gateway to Black Studies includes scholarly essays, recent periodicals, historical newspaper articles and more.

          African American Newspapers: 19^th Century contains information about the cultural life and history during the 1800s, and includes first-hand reports of the major events and issues of the day, including the Mexican War, Presidential and Congressional addresses, Congressional abstracts, business and commodity markets, the humanities, world travel and religion.  Also included are large numbers of early biographies, vital statistics, essays and editorials, poetry and prose, and advertisements of which embody the African American experience. 

          In addition to the new collections, there is the huge collection of books and periodicals on people of African descent which has always been a mainstay of the old North Jefferson Branch Library Collection.  In addition, there is the “Buffalo Afro-American Microfilmed Collection,” a collection developed by the Afro-American Historical Association and Buffalo State College.  The Merriweather Branch Library is a community treasure USE IT!!

          For library hours, visit www.buffalolib.org or call 716-883-4418.  Mrs. Sandra Bush is the Branch Manager.