|
People of African heritage in the
United States have not gotten a fair shake out of history.
While as a group and as individuals they have made
countless contributions to our American story, they have
rarely had those contributions widely recognized. It would
seem natural then that an organization like Breed’s Hill
Institute, which is dedicated to remembering, would
celebrate Black History Month. We don’t. Why? We
believe these stories are too precious and too important
to be segregated. As soon as people label something as
Black history or White history, it stops being American
History. People and events get pigeonholed, and suddenly
belong to one group and not the other. This division
prevents us from finding heroes among those who may not
have the same skin color or ancestry that we have. The
whole notion of a separate history only serves to separate
those who celebrate it.
Part of the mission of BHI is to
rejoice in our common American story; we want everyone to
share in the great accomplishments of patriots of all
colors. As people who value the close study of history, we
look with sorrow on the terrible injustices that have been
done to members of many races. We also look with joy at
the long, victorious march we have made towards an
equality that exceeds even that which the Founders could
dream of. We look with hope towards the time when all
American History is celebrated equally.
Without black patriots, the War of
Independence would not have been won. By the end of the
Revolution, nearly 1 in 10 soldiers were Americans of
African descent fighting in an integrated army. Patriots
of color fought in every major battle and served in our
first American Navy. We need to celebrate all of those
amazing people, from so many diverse backgrounds, who
helped to establish this nation and who have enriched our
culture, our science, our history, and our lives. In 1782,
the great seal of the United States first appeared, its
eagle tightly clutching a scroll that reads “E Pluribus
Unum.” The phrase is translated, “from
many parts, one.” I’m sad when I think that there are
those who wish the motto to change to “from one, many.”
|
One of my personal heroes is a man
named Lemuel Haynes. At 22, he answered the call to defend
his country. When word of the battle of Lexington reached
his Connecticut militia
unit, the men marched to Roxbury Massachusetts and
participated in the siege of Boston. Haynes served in the
military for the remainder of the war (7 years), including
the battle of Ticonderoga. In 1776, inspired by the
Declaration of Independence, he wrote an essay called
“Liberty Further Extended,” about the need to extend
freedom to all people of African heritage.
After the war, Lemuel Haynes returned
home to Connecticut and became a teacher. Not satisfied,
Haynes studied theology and became a pastor, preaching for
the next 50 years. Incidentally, the first church he
pastored was almost exclusively white. Many of his
sermons were published, and he often made a point of
preaching on George Washington’s birthday. He was known to
be a confidant and counselor to
the presidents of both Yale and Harvard Universities.
In 1833, 80 years old and nearing
death, his passion for his country was not diminished.
Read his words:
“And should
an attack be made on this sacred ark [the United Sates],
these poor remains of life would be devoted to its
defense.”
Lemuel
Haynes poured 58 years into his country as a soldier, a
teacher, and a pastor. He was also black. I’m hoping you
will remember him in April, when Black History Month is
long over. On the 19th of that month is the 232nd
anniversary of the battle of Lexington, when at age 22
Haynes began his march to
fight for the idea of liberty. I think people like Lemuel
Haynes are too big and too important to be defined by race
or restricted to a month. How about you?
Breeds Hill Institute 2007
Author: D.H.T. Shippey
Editor: Michael Burns
|
