Slave reenacting?

[crabby]

Re: Slave reenacting?

I would say yes! If you look at just about any camp photographs the are men and women of color in the background. Camp cooks, laborers officer's (blue and gray) servants and the like. If you look at the pay allowances for officers there is an allowance for servants.

Crabby

PS. Dabney, it was nice to talk with you over the Thanksgiving weekend at City Point.

[va-yank]

Re: Slave reenacting?

I admire what you do, Emmanuel, the impression you present, and think I now have a better understanding as to why you have chosen this particular impression, rather than that of refugee.

Someone in our unit quite some time ago suggested that since each company was alloted two cooks in garrison, and from the muster roles we know that they were of always of African descent, that we somehow avail ourselves of people to do this impression in our camp/fort. Exactly how to approach this was never decided; Do you advertise, or recruit people of color, then present them with this option? That is in the main not how we treat people.

The role of cook, teamster, ditch digger or refugee at a battle reenactment to be in proper context belongs somewhere in the background of the military event. Who wants to STAY in the background? It would be possible to provide some sort of facility for this background to appear on the edge of a Federal camp, but I really haven't ever seen that, aside from local civilians impressions. And hence at McDowell there among the Southron civilians is Emmanuel.

I am sure there is someone out there who would be interested in trying any one of the other roles mentioned. But it really needs to be their idea and driven by their own inspiration, and they need to have some sort of a venue.

[KarinTimour]

Re: Slave reenacting?

Dear Fred:

I think you've put your finger on part of the problem -- how to recruit. And then there is the additional issue of how do you retain someone and support them in this impression. I've had quite a few conversations at Fort Delaware with Willis about this issue. Think about it folks -- his family is NOT thrilled that he's doing what he's doing. I know some of us have to work hard for a limited number of kitchen passes, but my sense is that you're not being told at home that your impression is letting your family down and that what you're trying to help people remember is better left unsaid. It's not that people want to totally forget this time period. Lots of people don't know about it at all. But for others, the wounds are just too raw, too recent to be able to reenact it.

I've been working on recruiting some of my African-American friends -- I take pictures of reenactments with me when I go for dinner and talk about reenacting and the types of scenarios that are possible. In my experience, people are more interested in talking about roles as freed people than they are talking about portraying slaves. I've also thought that you'd have a better chance if you were talking to people who are already interested in history, those who are working or volunteering at historic sites. And then as Fred points out, you'd need to have a fairly authentic event venue picked out where their impression could fit in.

You'd also probably need to assign someone to be pretty close and act as an interpreter/docent to talk to spectators and explain what was going on. There is a very good story in "Past Into Present" about the starting of the slave auctions at Williamsburg and the reaction of the local spectators to the very idea. Though the professional interpretive staff thought that they'd covered their bases ahead of time, there were still people who turned up and who were feeling very very upset about the scenario. It would be wise to plan ahead for something like that -- better to be prepared than to have something flare up and be caught flatfooted.

Even though we're not talking on this thread about slave auctions, the emotions for some people and in some parts of the country or locations that have had recent incidents may need additional work. Look at the description Joe gave above of the white woman with the black woman following holding her baby. You can feel the emotion coming off the page in just those few words. You'd have to be pretty centered in yourself as a reenactor and know what you were doing to be able to handle that. Many of us think of reenacting as fun, a relief. I'm not sure that it would be the same if someone were portraying a slave, whether they would experience reenacting as fun, at least the first few times they did it.

Karin Timour
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email; Ktimour@aol.com

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: Slave reenacting?

Karin,

There is wisdom in your words. The reaction of spectators and possibly media with an agenda that could put a bad spin on the whole affair would need to be considered. Perhaps a place to start would be an EBUFU with this as the scenerio. At one of our own events on private property, i.e. something like TAG where the event is controlled, we have a group of researched and polished historians like Emmanuel experience the FIRST DAY OF FREEDOM. In slavery at the start of the event and when the Federal army arrives, some of the soldiers explain to them that they are now free. I can't comprehend the elated joy of coming to grips with that kind of information. What would it be like to portray a man or woman of color on their very FIRST day of freedom? What would that first day be like? What would their thoughts be? What would they do that day? Give up the thought with mistrust? Immediately follow the Federal army? If I were in those shoes, once I'd come to grips that truly I was free, I'd cry with joy, I'd jump and shout, I'd praise the Lord, I'd sing and dance. There were hundreds of thousands of people that experienced that FIRST DAY. And maybe I'm wrong, but I think if my ancestors had been slaves, it would be an honor to portray my great-great whomever on his first day as a free man, first day as a free woman. And to do it at the type of event I describe, everyone would know it would unfold before understanding and appreciative eyes. It would take a group of dedicated historians like Emmanuel to pull it off, but if they ever do a scenerio like this, it would be an honor to be a witness.

[KLCoombs]

Re: Slave reenacting?

Three cheers for Emmanuel for a (typically) thought-provoking post. Anita - hope you chime in here too.

In AGSAS, we're lucky to have Emmanuel and Anita as members and this year are launching an outreach effort to broaden the civilian hobby -- actively recruiting more African Americans & also men of all races into the hobby and hopefully our unit.

For info, go to this link and scroll to bottom of page:

http://www.agsas.org/about/membership.shtml

We have about 5-6 African Americans who have expressed interest in joining our unit -- some of whom have become interested in reenacting through doing paid acting work in historic films for the National Park Service and then getting "bitten by the bug". Others are independent reenactors bored with the mainstream, and others still are USCT military reenactors interested in developing a civilian impression.

For many African Americans, the decision to take the plunge into CW reenacting is an emotionally tough one. Anita and Emmanuel are exceptionally brave to tackle these issues head-on. But I'm convinced, from recent experiences that there are a great many others who would be willing to give it a try.

This became really apparently to me when PBS sent me down to Natchez, MS to work on their "Remembering Slavery" TV series airing later this year. As well as wardrobe and props, I was an overall period skills / material culture consultant. I can tell you it was MORE than surreal having to teach a group of 16 black "yuppie" types (college students, accountants, lawyers, teachers, business owners, etc) how to pick cotton!

However, far from being offended, the African Americans working as extras really found the whole experience quite emotionally moving, as they said it gave them a hands-on appreciation of the hardships experienced by their ancestors in a way that just reading a history book can't do.

One of the extras was a young girl of 16, who is a top-quality youth choir that goes on tour around America and Europe. She kept enough of the cotton she had picked with her own hands to stuff a small pillow to take with her on airplane flights, so (in her own words) she can be reminded of "my ancestors, how far we've come as a people, and as a memento of 'my weekend in the 19th century."

We white reenactors quite understandably often feel VERY peculiar in situations where we have to confront these issues. The living history at my house that Emmanuel described was very instructive for the white participants too. While we all managed to stay in character externally, most of us kept having thoughts about how unfair it was for Emmanuel to have to eat in another room, and wait on us all the time. We found ourselves wanting to pour the tea to give poor Em a break, but he of course, flawlessly in character, insisted that on doing it for us.

As wonderful and instructive as this one-day mini-event was, we were all VERY glad to get back into the 21st century and be able to hang out and chit-chat with Em in a modern context because we all MISSED him so much.

To encourage more African Americans potentially interested in reenacting, we need to organize more events with a strong black history angle.

AGSAS is involved in a number of projects / planned events of potential interest to black civilian renactors, all of which are in the development stage.

1. Development of a contrabands-focused living history at City Point

2. Through a combination of living history and film work for a historic site, re-creating the digging of the defensive trenches around Lynchburg. (A Mostly African Americans but men, women and children of all races were involved to some extent)

3. Continuing to support Montogomery County, MD's living history program at Oakley Cabin and their "Emancipation Day" event

4. Supporting Tony Cohen's "plantation immersion" project for the Menare Foundation. (Tony is AMAZING. He retraced the whole Underground RR route from Alabama to Canada, including re-creating "Box" Brown's rail journey to Philadelphia in a crate.

5. Getting involved in a TV documentary on the 1st US Colored Troops

Looking out for other good ideas! Advice / brainstorming earnestly solicited!

As dates & details for the above events become available, they'll be posted here.

--Kathryn Coombs
President, Atlantic Guard Soldiers Aid Society

https://www.AGSAS.org

[vote4jakub]

Re: Slave reenacting?

I hate to bring up somewhat of a touchy subject, but I'm really interested in how it is treated in the authentic-side of the hobby (or if it is done at all). I would think that slavery, being the issue of paramount historical importance that it is, would be reenacted on at least some level by African American individuals interested in preserving their history.

Obviously portraying an enslaved person wouldn't be the funnest impression ever, but I feel that slaves played such a huge part in the war, it would be a total shame if none of our African American brothers decided to form such a group (if one doesn't already exist) in the Civilian-oriented area of the hobby.

Does anyone know of such an organization?

I don't know if this is relevent but there is a professional group out of Williamsburg that travels to events to portray slaves,freedmen,soldiers of the RevWar period. I saw them years ago at the Burning of Kingston (NY) reenactment weekend. From what I could gather they were a paid part of the program(as Opposed to we reenactor-types) but they did at least 2 "shows" a day and had a varied program. Maybe a group like this could be invited to a planned event to act as a "draw" and an example to the history-minded Black comunity... just a thought; all my documentation is in storage so I can't tract down the name of the Troupe but they were affiliated with Williamsbrg,not just from the neighborhood. scott/jakub

[Radical Unionist]

Re: Slave reenacting?

I saw my first Black reenactors at 125 of Gettysburg as a youngster. There were about 6 of them, and all anybody talked about was how there weren't any black troops at G-Burg.(I don't recall if thats even true, much less care). I'd say the black folks that did reenact back in the 80's had alot of sand.

Now when I was a little older, I figured times had changed, 1993 it was I think. My better half and I had just met not long before and I introduced her to the hobby, being I figured this was true love. Now she is lighter skinned, but couldn't really "pass", so we took her as contraband and figured she could cook for our capt'n. 1st problem, the capt'n wasn't comfortable, so he would cook his own food and have her serve it and then appologize for asking her to serve it. This was probably the first time most folks had seen a women with a campaign mess, much less a black woman, and some of the mainstream ladies felt sorry for her, so while we were off drilling the ladies went and got her out of our camp and fed her for the next hour. Thats the end of the good. A federal soldier told her at one point that there weren't any black people involved in the CW.(not sure if he was just crazy, or stupid). People were afraid to interact with her to the point where some would just snubb her (and not as a part of first person). The glaring was what started to really get to me. Some people were angry, you could tell. Now my better half had a pretty good time, and didn't really notice all the bad stuff, but that was also the last time she came to an event. She didn't like pretending to be in the 1860's as a black person, much less as a woman.

Any body remember the Slave auction protest at Williamsburg, people don't deal well with history when its more than olde timey whoey. Historic Sites all over the country have problems with black and american indian history. It can be hard for black and american indian site workers, but it is a job with the potential of educating the public, seems like alot to ask from a hobby though.

Jeff Boorom

[Yulie]

Re: Slave reenacting?

I saw my first Black reenactors at 125 of Gettysburg as a youngster. There were about 6 of them, and all anybody talked about was how there weren't any black troops at G-Burg.(I don't recall if that’s even true, much less care

Jeff,

There were actually seven black folks at 125 GB. Six soldiers and I made up the seventh as a civilian. I was a member of the Mudsills then -- their only black member. So, yes black folks doing CW in the 1980s had "a lot of sand" (using that phrase makes you an obvious a fellow-Midwesterner -- ??). You have touched on several things that motivate me to finally express myself on a topic that I have heard numerous times over numerous years among numerous people in numerous venues.

You are correct in stating that CW is very segregated -- both race and gender. I say this as I am about to leave today with 10 black people to participate in an event in Florida. Our ten will join 15 other black people from our state USCT affiliations making it an approximately 25 black people who will join another unknown number of other black people from across the country to participate in a Civil War event. This will happen several times during 2004 -- has happened in the past and will continue to happen until the segregated walls are torn down. With the USCTs and at USV events that includes USCTs you will find the portrayal of enslaved, emancipated and free black people. The history dictates this interpretation. In fact, several men in uniform with the USCTs portray emancipated enslaved people -- among them are direct descendants of USCTs.

The joint cooperation between the USVs and USCTs (which is where the portrayal of enslaved and emancipated people is essential and IS interpreted) is a hit-and-miss situation. Also, "radical" enlightened thinkers who are able to grasp the social, political and military/civilian mixtures of the era are few and far between. We still live in an environment were several folks still see black people in the nineteenth century as just slaves instead of a) human beings subjected to a peculiar American institution that held them in bondage for centuries, b) individuals with some of the same goals and aspirations as white people during that time -- life, freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- and c) contributors to development of American society. The stereotypical image of the "faithful slave," "tragic mulatto" and "hand-ringing grinning slacker" are still imprinted on the mind-set of today's society -- both in the white community AND black community. It is a foreseen expectation that this attitude melts over into the living history community. Sad...

Keep in mind that USCT Civil War history is civilian AND military involving men and women and children portraying all aspects of the 1858-1867 era -- including enslavement. Therefore, the USCTs are selective (and I have always been selective) in choosing events because of the attitudes and environment I mentioned above. There are certain variables factored into the selection process that are not typical with the USVs or Confederate groups. This often involves determining the goals and objective of the historical event and its sponsors and other participants, and that all people involved see themselves as historians who have researched the social, political and military aspects of the event. This was one of the determining factors used for deciding civilian participation at Olustee/Ocean Pond.

Please note that I posted a thread about Body Bags vs. Blankets on the civilian forum. I described the scenario involving four women and two children being impressed in the Confederate Army after being contract workers with the Union Army. Based on my past experience (and I've been doing CW for 22 years) had I said "Hi, I am black woman and will be portraying a slave with three other black women and two black children on burial detail" I would not have received the feedback regarding the basic inquiry regarding using blankets or body bags. I believe that it would have switched into "why don't more black people...?" and "where are the slaves?" – Again, based on my past experience when making research inquiries. -- So ironically while this discussion was going on regarding "slave reenacting," discussion regarding that exact implementation was taking place on the Civilian forum.

Life is funny... At least I think so....

Peace and Joy,
Yulie

[agintomboy]

Re: Slave reenacting?

I hate to bring up somewhat of a touchy subject, but I'm really interested in how it is treated in the authentic-side of the hobby (or if it is done at all). I would think that slavery, being the issue of paramount historical importance that it is, would be reenacted on at least some level by African American individuals interested in preserving their history.

Obviously portraying an enslaved person wouldn't be the funnest impression ever, but I feel that slaves played such a huge part in the war, it would be a total shame if none of our African American brothers decided to form such a group (if one doesn't already exist) in the Civilian-oriented area of the hobby.

Does anyone know of such an organization?

Dear Eric:

Sorry for the delay in responding as I have been attending a medical conference. I have two impressions; one civilian, one military. I along with Emmanuel Dabney make up the black membership of AGSAS-Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society and as Em usually portrays a enslaved house servant, I usually portray a free black cook (though not always) as I feel this group gets overlooked in most CW discussions/events/books, etc. Especially since 20 and 50% of the black population of VA and MD respectively were free. They existed in a gray zone legal limbo situation between slavery and true freedom. I have also portrayed slaves and contraband slaves at various living histories/reeenactments. I also do an interpretation of a mounted cavalry bugler (I am a functional bugler and know all the cav calls). This is based on my research of Maria Lewis a black woman who rode in disguise for 18 months with the 8th NY Cavalry. Right now I am focusing on my civilian impression as I feel my military one needs some work. I feel it is so important to interpret this period of our history as to ignore it, is to not learn from previous historical mistakes. Not everyone can portray a slave especially if they are not secure in their own 21st century person. I feel like I am honoring my ancestors who were slaves (and escaped) in VA and MS. Most black people who see are our interpretation are extremely proud and pleased to see us at events as we attempt to put a 3 dimensional face on those nameless people who had no voice. I uniformly have had nothing but positive feedback from both blacks and whites who see my impression at various events. I can't tell you how many white reenactors both confederate and union come up and thank me for my interpretation and express the sentiment that there ought to be more black participation in the hobby. I think it is happening slowly as younger black folks have less psychic baggage about the period than my parents generation who experienced Jim Crow. I like interacting with the public at living histories and sharing my knowledge of the mid 19th century black life.
I am currently working with Tony Cohen's Menare Foundation who is setting up an UGRR immersion experience at an abandoned plantation in MD. Tony helped train Oprah for her role in Beloved and that small immersion experience had an incredible positive life change effect on her. The experience caused her to change the whole focus of her tv program into helping people and away from sensationalism. Tony wants to offer the same experience to the public so they have a better understanding of the period. Through our president Kathryn Coombs' efforts we are in the process of gaining more black members of our group which is exciting. It is a definite step in the right direction of increasing black CW living historians.

Anita L. Henderson
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society-Mrs. Abby Fairfax, cook
4th US Cavalry-bugler

[Lancer525]

Re: Slave reenacting?

I have recently accepted a position at an Historic site that deals with the period immediately before the war, and I had a group of African Americans come through for a tour. I expected them to be upset over some of the talk, for there are portions where the slave-holdings of the owner of the home are mentioned. Boy, was I embarrassed when most of the visitors asked me where were their people represented? My predecessors in the position had done little to nothing to describe the total reliance on labor, which was the backbone of the economy of the South, and even though the original Seven Sisters would have comprised the fourth wealthiest nation in the world in 1860, they did so on the backs of their laborers. I was ashamed to tell my visitors that their concern was a massive oversight on the part of my predecessors, and that it was in fact, in the works, to have a more detailed set of exhibits emplaced in the near future.

This is a magnificent thread. I am pleased to have read it. It makes things easier for me to create and place the proper exhibits. Thank you all.

[nick19thind]

Re: Slave reenacting?

Slave reenacting would be inappropriate and offensive.
Comparable to WW2 reenactors pretending to be holocaust victims, or 19th century reenactors in blackface doing a minstrel show.
All that would happen is you'll upset the black community and some busybody like (modern political content removed by moderatorwould try to take you to court. Which would be very bad for the reputation of the hobby.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Slave reenacting?

Mr. Buczak, perhaps you should go back and read from the beginning of the thread.

Chattel slavery is part of our nation's history. The stories of enslaved people are no less worthy of being accurately and respectfully interpreted than any others. As the experience of Mr. Morrison and many, many other people (of all skin shades) on this thread show, accurately portraying a variety of enslaved black Americans in historic settings is valuable, and can be successfully done, and has been being done for years and years.

And--there are highly accurate 19th century reenactors who DO a blackface minstrel show. I hear it's very, very good.

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Slave reenacting?

It is extraordinarily good. Further, I've seen some exceptional slave/servant impressions out there as well. If all of history, the good stuff and the bad, does'nt suit you then why are you hear?

[boreguard]

Re: Slave reenacting?

I've enjoyed this thread greatly, being very interested in slavery as one aspect of my study of the period before and during the war. Larry Moreton an old Celburne's man and a neighbor of mine here in Brookhaven, Mississippi turned me on to a FANTASTIC book entitled "Holt Collier"- His Life, His Roosevelt Hunts, and the Orgin of the Teddy Bear This account of a slave, Confederate Soldier, Guide, and fascinating man will give one a very unique glimpse into "other" jobs, duties, and roles of a slave.

In short, I just wanted to reccomend the book.

Keep it up Emmanuel, I appreciate your efforts.

[LindaTrent]

Re: Slave reenacting?

Slave reenacting would be inappropriate and offensive.

So what is your suggestion if an African American wants to portray his/her heritage, do they not have that right? Or must they only portray free blacks, even in an area where historically there were none? What else is considered offensive? And who decides what is offensive?

It is my opinion, and others on the board have agreed with me, that not only the lucky people who have been born to goodly parents should be portrayed, but also those who weren't so lucky. At McDowell Davis Run a few years back we even had a gentleman portray the village "idiot," (documented on the census). He put a year's worth of research into that portrayal and he pulled it off in a very realistic and respectful manner, though a few thought that it was offensive for him to portray that character.

If we're going to portray the past accurately then we have to accept the good, the bad and the ugly. The good being the fortunate few who were the prim and proper, the bad being the convicts and the like, and the ugly being the institution of slavery, prejudice and discrimination against all minorities including the "weaker sex," and everything in between.

A lot of these portrayals would not be appropriate for the average mainstream reenactment, but more history heavy events where the goal is to try to create a cross section of a community one or two of the above may be included. If our goal is to teach history then we need to teach history, not some revisionist's view of how the past should have been.

The key is that we need to remember that this is all a means of honoring the real people of the 19th century, and not just those lucky enough to be born into the "ideal" families. Unusual portrayals all need to be thoroughly researched, and done with respect. Any portrayal that is done with respect pays homage to those who've gone before and the trials and tribulations that they passed through in order for us to enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy today.

Just my two cents worth. :sarcastic

Linda.