attention not only to the structural dimensions, right, of things that people often experience on very individualized and in some ways isolated, in very isolated and isolating ways. but i think history also draws attention to the ethical dimension of what -- is happen right now. and, draws attention, you know, enables students to get away -- a way of understanding how, what is unfolding now, is, is really, what's the theme of this, conference. very big changes and very big questions about the relationship between capitalism and democracy. that has changed -- over time. and, that changes, really because of human agency. not because, not because of some -- some, you know inexorable forces. it happens because of choices, political choices that are made at any given moment. >> allison connor from the university of california. santa barbara. and jessica lepler from university of new hampshire.

thank you for joining us here on american history tv at the animal me annual meeting. really enjoyed talking to you both. thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> this week on the civil war -- harry jones, curator and assistant director at african-american civil war memorial and museum, talks about the contributions of african-american women during the war. this is 90 minutes. >> good evening. when our founding director, dr. frank smith jr. and secretary of state colin powell designated spirit of freedom, african-american civil war memorial in july of 1998 attention was brought to one of the best kept secrets in american history. attention was brought to -- to the 209,145 soldiers and

officers that were officially mustered into the bureau of the united states troops. attention was brought to how these soldiers were organized, how they fought, and what they accomplished in the civil war. attention was brought to an african descent community that fought to save the union and free themselves by enforcing the emancipation proclamation. attention was brought to -- to an organized community that planned for and executed that plan to end the tyranny of slavery and lead with the constitution and to gain the rights of citizens in league with the constitution, attention was brought to one of the best kept secrets in american history. now if the overt story of the soldiers and sailors, guides, scouts, spies, nurses, was -- was one of the best kept secrets in american history.

then the covert story is a secret within a secret. within the best kept secret. and when we talk about women in the civil war, african descent women in the civil war that is another layer of one of those best kept secrets in american history. one of those untold stories. tonight, i don't want to just talk about women, african descent women in the civil war as a list of personalities that were involved. but what i want to do is talk about how they contribute to this plan, to end the tyranny of slavery, and gain their rights as citizens. so how are they working to achieve this? what were their roles? how did they contribute in achieving this victory over slavery, preserving the union -- well, the paradigm, the model i use to examine african-american contributions in the civil war -- to include both overt and

covert activities, is the star fish, came up with a concept of the star fish as -- compared to the spider, but i will get right into my model. the pre-existing network, five legs, to the star fish. pre-existing network. circles, ideology, catalyst, and champions. the pre-existing network that i refer to, or the educated scholarly area africans that were brought here to north america. when it comes to the men who were educated in the tradition of timbucktu, the limit eed timbucktu, and the men who lived in georgetown for decades, or the colonel, an african prince

that spent 40 years in captivity. when it comes to the women, the african women that are part of this pre-existing network it gets a little more difficult to identify them. however, there is an african descent woman, or an african woman, woman born in africa, brought here in the early 1850s, or let us say, born in the early 150s, that would become the most prolific african writer, african descent writer in the united states, in the antebellum period. her name, phyllis wheatley. born around early 1850s, in, a region of africa that today we called senegal and gambia. when she was born, this region of africa was dominated by annetan et an ethnic group.

they had kingdoms in senegal, guinea, and in the timbuktu, they rule the king on the throne at timbuktu. the culture is a very interesting culture. at the time she was captured in the 1860s, the colonel was born. about the same time she is captured. she is about, some where between 7 and 10 years old when she is captured, early 1860s. the colonel was a graduate of a university at timbuktu. educated african. we know quite a bit about him and his culture. they were monotheist, believed that god created all that exists. they believe god was the master of man. that god had given man, free

will and man lived in god's providence. these were monotheist believers. they had a term in their language which means a true believer. a true believer could be a you, christian, or muslim. most of the culture was indeed muslims. but they associated themselves with true believers. in their language. it would mean master, captor. it would mean to the people, yes, evil captor. in the african knowledge circles, they would understand this language. these codes. and when we examine phyllis wheatley's work from the perspective of the african knowledge circles, she seems to be saying something very different than what most people think she was saying. 'twas mercy brought me from my

pagan land. on her poem, being brought from america,ch a america, africa to america. it was mercy that brought her out of the heathen land. but phyllis wheatley studied latin. in latin, pagan, pagus would mean outside the city or countryside. mercy would mean twice paid. this becomes very important to the, members of the knowledge circle. price paid. the culture would see themselves as being sacrificed, sacrificing, walking as the messiah, christ, what does christ do? he pays the price. the price paid by phyllis wheatley brought her from her pagan land. to the people, pagan or outside the city, countryside would mean something different from heathen. there are two classifications in the culture, one are city, town, the other group are called,

herdsmen, country folk. so, she is from the country. that's what she said. and the region of west africa that she cam fre from, pagan me she was from the country, she is not city folk. she was from the country. so they brought her from the countryside. brought her from the countryside. not pagan. wheatley is part of the pre-existing network. born in the educated, civilized, west african region where timbuktu was a strong influence. she comes to north america. she is brought to north america, enslaved. suffering on the cross of america. price paid. and she would say, 'twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, taught my benighted soul to understand that there is a god, that there's a savior too.

once i redemption neither sought nor knew, some view or sable race with scornful eye, their color is a diabolic dye remember, christians, kn christ as cain, may be enjoined and join the angelic train. they would be those who can enjoin the angelic train. they had to go through a process. they had to work up to it. they had to pay the price. the perspective of these individuals in the knowledge circle was that they were given a gift from god called liberty. their freedom, endowed with inalienable rights. providence, circumstance, had caused them to be in bondage. so they believed they could

communicate with god. so when they parade to god they believed that god would hear them. as we, we see, clear example, or explanation of this -- in -- in ape s a sermon delivered january 1, 1808, in philadelphia, his scripture, exodus 3, 6 through 8. god had come down and witnessed affliction of his people and god would deliver them from the hand of theire -- e jimentti egyptians. so he is saying that, god is hearing our prayers as well. that, absalom jones would argue clear indicators that god had herd their prayers was in literally the, what i am going to call the creed of this country. so this theology that these africans possessed combined with

the american political ideology becomes the ideological gluf this organization, from their world view, they viewed the -- the constitution and the declaration of independence as divine instruments of goodness. we hold these truths to be self-evident. that all are created equal. that, they are endowed with the creator. certain unalienable rights. this is what they would believe in the first place they believe this in the first place. now it is-- the u.s. -- the new -- nation of the united states has literally iterated their belief in their creed. of course they can embrace it. in the constitution in the preamble to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity is a clear goal that is anti-slavery. and that if this is a chefd, thchefd, -- achieved, slavery is going to be abolished. they understand that these

negroes as dark as cain are refined and have enjoined the angelic train. they believe they are part of the people, regardless of what some one else might argue. they do not buy what i an going to refer to the racest argument they are not part of the people. they are indeed part of "we, the people." this ideology is often i refer to it as a theology, a liberation theology, so it is -- theology, ideology, all wrapped into one. one of the most fiery catalysts if you will in early american history is, in the 19th century was a woman by the name of isabella bomfrey also known as sojourner truth, born, enslaved in new york in 1797. she would spend the finishst 30 years of her life in captivity. when she is emancipated by

slavery, legally coming to an end in new york in 1827, she would eventually have a reluj s religious experience and say my name was isabella, but when i left the house of bondage. i left everything behind the i wasn't going to keep nothing of egypt on, and would mean nothing of massa on me, if we go back to the language. keep mothering of massa on me. keep nothing of egypt on me. she would say she appealed to god for a name. and he gave her the name, sojourner because she was to travel across the land. and then she apeld -- she appealed to god for a second name. everyone else has two names. she was given the name truth. her job as she traveled through the land was to share with them truth and reveal their sin. and when in 1854, at a woman's

convention, she declares, "ain't i a woman." this had more of commentary of direct commentary on the africans of american, than if you ask ain't i a man. if you ask ain't i man. you get other questions -- is he effeminate? it gets into another discussion. but when a woman says, i have borne 13 children and seen most all sold off to slavery and when i cried out with my mother's grief, none but jesus heard me. ain't i a woman? she is speaking to her humanity. she says 13 children, she is referring to her mother. who had 13 children. who were sold off. this mother's grief, crying, ain't i a woman. aren't we humans?

aren't you enslaving human beings? so it's in many ways a moral persuasive argument than ain't i a man? she was one of the catalysts. but in the 1830s, a woman emerges as one of what i would argue, the most important leaders in and catalysts in the african-american community especially when it comes to organizing and really putting together this this plan to end the tyranny of slavery. her name is mariah stewart. born in connecticut in 1803 mariah stewart would move to boston and become a school teacher. maria stewart, speaking to a group of men in the early 1830s, would say -- but where is the man that has distinguished himself in the modern days of acting holy in the defense of african rights and liberty? there was one -- although he

sleeps. his memory lives. she is referring to david walker, in fact, stewart is a protege of david walker. she would repeat david walker in her own eloquent way. david walker would publish an appeal to colored citizens of the world, especially to those in the united states in 1829, that would be an inssomething t shook up the south. he writes his apell to colored citizens of the world i want to point out after he escorted the prince, colonel abraham, prince abraham, emancipated, pardoned for his liberty by president john quincy adams in 1828. he made a northern speaking tour. his escort, david walker. after walker escorts the prince, he writes his appeal to colored citizens of the world and his

language. god is the sole proprietor and master of the whole human race. god is my master. he would say in his appeal -- that we are the property of the holy ghost, that literally no man can own you. he would say the god of the ethiopians has been pleased to hear our moans and consequence of our oppression. got has heard their cries. and he would go on to argue thamethat god has not only heard our cries. i want to point out, the big house, great house, if the big house if they don't set the captives free. he argued that they were going to, god was going to bring them to bring sword against sword. to be split among them. bring sword against sword. and princes shall come out of egypt, ethiopia, shall soon stretch forth her hands unto god. the forecast is that there is going to be a civil war. and that princes will come out

of captivity. ethiopia, redemption of the race would occur. that's his argument. maria stewart makes her argument. she says i believe the oppression of the injured, injured africa has come up before the majesty of heaven. and when our cries have reached the ears of the most high, it will be a tremen dw tremendous e people of this land for strong is the hand of the lord al mighty. maria stewart would also be an organizer. now a catalyst also helps create circles -- as an organizer, know tips the name. i want. this is -- this is september 1831. i want you to notice the name. african-american. if any body gets in the discussion, that african-american, or afric american is new out of the 20th century. they need to go and read old literature. this organization, the

afric-american female intelligence soap sigh tee. established in september of 1831 they had the goal of the diffusion of knowledge. suppression of vice and virtues that would render us happy and useful to society. i want to point out that it is actually a set of virtues that way of life. it is a set of virtues that will render you happy and useful to society. they are literally repeating in the english language. this organization again, afric-american female intelligence society -- created september 1831. for the purpose of diffusing knowledge. and elevating the community. maria stewart would tell the women of the organization -- woman, oh, woman, woman. upon you i call. for upon your exertions are most

entirely depends whether the rising generation shall be anything more than we have been, oh, woman, woman, your example is powerful, your influence great. it extends over your husband and your children and through the circle of your acquaintance. she is calling on the will tine prepare the generation that wit strike a blow for liberty. she is calling on them to prepare them. and explaining to them how important their role. literally saying that you are the most important component. and she would also repeat david walker's argument this is our land that. the we are not leaving here. when american colonialization society would talk about leaving. she would say they would drive us to a strange land. they are no friends of mine. she is saying. she goes on to say, before i go,

the bayonet shall pierce through me. i am not going anywhere. her stand is for african rights and liberties. calling all of us to stand on. in the circles she is creating as a catalyst. we know what their on joke tiff is. not to leave the united states. it is -- african rights and liberty. notice the term, african rights and liberty. well, maria stewart did support the resolutions that came out of and roles that came out of the first negro convention held in philadelphia in september 1830. the convention led by richard allen, others like james fordham in attendance, pennington in attendance. and their goal, their objective for the organized during the convention, an organization that, the american society of free persons of color for improving their condition in the

united states for purchasing land and for the establishment of a settlement in upper canada. but they're not leaving the land, right? in 1830, you have african-americans establish a settlement in upper canada. they're going to establish a -- settlements in canada. between 1830 and 1850, there are -- not only settlements, but there are safe havens for those who escape along the underground railroad after the fugitive slave act. the fugitive slave act in september of 1850 made it a federal crime for anyone to give assistance to a runaway and in fact not to turn in a runaway, a fuj tich. so c -- fugitive. so canada became a destination. not just northern states. if you were going north you needed to go all the way to canada now. and because this organization had set up these settlements, they were already, ready to receive folk. you already had schools.

you had clinics. you had housing put in place to accept people coming in. and men and women become conductors on this underground railroad. men and women become a part of -- the organization in canada with one of the most influential women by the end of the 1850s in canada, being a young woman born in wilmington, delaware. mary ann shadd cary. again born in wilmington, delaware. she was the daughter of abraham shadd. and the entire family was really involved with the underground railroad. his home in wilmington. his home in chester, pennsylvania. in the chester county pennsylvania. were all places that, of refuge for those running, escaping

their captivity. well, mary ann, early on, showed a lot of promise. and in the north star, in january of 1849, martin delany would write about mary ann. and he would say. one of the up-and-coming stars he was saying. he said she has choice character. shadd is the work now in press on the elevation of our people. at 25 years old she wrote a pamphlet called the "hints to colored people of the north." in this pamphlet she tells them that they should reject material things. they should create rather than buy. i want to pound oint out this i5 yerd. they should manage their money, responsibly. be independent, and be confident. now mary ann shadd cary its a champion within the organization. she does lead by example.

age the fugitive slave act of 1850, abraham shadd and his family move to canada. mary ann moves to canada as well. in canada, shadd becomes the first african elect owed official in canada. mary ann would establish an integrated school. she would write for a local paper, news papter run by african-american men. they would censor her work. she was a woman. chauvinism. she got fed up with it. so being independent and confident like she was she established her own newspaper. her own journal. the provincial friedman. the motto of the provincial freedman is self reliance is the true road to independence. mary ann shadd-cary was part of

a community there in canada that was clearly a military outpost. and though many will refer to those going there in the 1850s as immigrationists trying to leave the united states, i would ask them to follow them in the 1860s during the civil war and find out where their feet are. i can track what somebody wants to do by what they're doing. but williams still in his book, on the underground railroad, gives us a good example what is going on. it is almost in code though. he says of abraham galloway from north carolina. he writes of galloway. he allowed himself faithfully until uncle sam became involved with the rebels. who is john bull? that's the british military. he add aligned himself fatefully with british military. with john bull. what's going on here in canada? you have a military outpost.

training. the commander of this outpost, or president as delany would describe it. william howard day. 1851 graduate up oberlin with a masters in theology. originally from new york. was editor of the news paper in the 1850s, the alien american out of cleveland. delany was a surgeon from, from -- from pittsburgh, pennsylvania. he was self-described, foreign secretary of this organization. organization needs a foreign secretary. and he was an operations officer. mary ann shadd-cary, she functioned very much like an adjective. she functioned very much like an adjunct. delany would write, in, in 1859, this would actually appear in a serial, in the magazine out of new york. edited by robert hamilton. today you can find this in a book "blake or america."

it is a code book. want to understand how did all the cells, and how to work with the various cells throughout the, throughout this country, throughout the south. you should read this book. but delany, protagonist, henry blake, leading a national insur respection, tells one of his followers, all you have to do is to find one good man or woman, i don't care which. so they can prove to be the right person. so, you don't care if it is a woman or a man. you want to make sure it is the right person. and when some one like harriett tubman, born on the eastern shore, in the early 1820s. she was the right person. she becomes a champion that leads by exam pull that is functionally like a captain. commands her own patrol