Unearthing Greene County, Georgia African American

Unearthing anything takes courage, commitment, tenacity, resiliency, and a whole lot of determination. We have access to more of our history than those who came before us. We may not know it all, however we know much more than we did many years ago. For this I am GRATEFUL. Former midwife in Greene County, Georgia smoking her pipe. Beautiful!

Again, thank everyone who actively engaged with us on Saturday, October 26, 2019, 10:00 am- 5:00pm. Many of you traveled in from other states, although you are apart of Greene County, Georgia. Thank you, Sanders Family and Friends. Thanks to my husband, John and our Family as well. Words of appreciation is not enough. There were some flyers passed out to some Churches in the community, announcing this Clean-Up. However, no one responded. We certainly boast in the Lord for all others who came out and helped us. For this we are GRATEFUL!

For this I am GRATEFUL! Thanks to my Family, our friend Macky Alston, his family, friends, Dr. Greg De Loach, Associate Dean, at Mc Afee Theology Center, Mercer University, Pepsico, Coca Cola, and Publix. All of which made this Cemetery Clean-up possible, and a success. "We have only just begun." We realize that continual engagement is necessary. For we know the SIGNIFICANCE of the history and acknowledgement of Greene County African Americans. The history of any community... is comprised of many colors, histories, experiences, and traditions. Much like a patch work quilt, lovingly stitched together. I am so very GRATEFUL for all who actively engaged with us on Saturday. Those of who honor, celebrate, and acknowledge the SIGNIFICANCE of all of us. So very greatful to "The Shed" in Athens, Georgia who provided the tools to use in the clean-up. Lord, I AM GREATFUL. See more

The time, energy, and passion gifted to anything beyond ourselves can be very stressful. October has been a very active and engaging month for us. With Dr. Calvin Melvin Baber Historical Home (GCAAM), and the unearthing of a very Historical African American Cemetery. It is similar to several others that I have seen recently. This is very sad, and it speaks volumes of the minds, hearts, responsibility, tribute, honor, celebration, and rememberances of us as human beings. Thro...ughout many years, it was inaccessible to family members who knew about it. These African American family members had visited and cared for this Cemetery prior to it becoming inaccessible to them. Throughout the years, the graves had become intertwined in the overgrown landscape. When I first visited this sacred historical place it was resonating for me. But also saddening, bringing tears to my eyes as well. I grieved for these individuals both named and unnamed. To me, it is one of the wealthiest places throughout Greene County, Georgia. For all the gifts, talents, and possibilities are entombed here. Being never honored or celebrated for their God declared SIGNIFICANCE. Their lives were filled with work from sun up to sun down. These individuals were never presented honor, respect, or even an opportunity to pursue their God given gifts and abilities. From the inscription on some of their head stones, many died very young. The terrain of this historical unearthing is challenging, but so very SIGNIFICANT. Therefore, a Cemetery Clean-up was scheduled. For this I am GRATEFUL! See more

The late Henrietta Lacks was a beautiful phenomenal woman. Who had a family that loved her. There was a recent post on Facebook regarding her story. The book written by Rebecca Skloot is a good read about her and what she experienced.

Today, as each day is a good day. Whether actively engaged with the phenomenal iniative of the restoration of Dr. Calvin Melvin Baber Historical Home, or hanging around our home. My mind is stayed on a birth. A birth of an idea that was planted in my heart, spirit, and mind twenty-four years ago. To repurpose a historical edifice, that will honor and celebrate those who never knew their significance. Only working from sun up till sun down. No peace, no justice, or relevancy was presented to them. Neither in life, death, American History, or local history. Even today, many of you have no idea what the struggles and strains of our Ancestors were. Many of you never think about it. Thoughts are the essence of everything. Just look around your surroundings; everything that you see was once a thought in someone's mind.

For some months I have been experiencing more visions, dreams, and remberances. This morning was one of these awakening experiences. I was home alone, crying out to God, and thanking Him for my journey in this place. When I begin actively engaged in the restoration of Dr. Calvin Melvin Baber and repurposing this structure as an African American Museum; I had no idea of the sacrifices that would experience. The rejection, loneliness, criticism, and mental-physical fatigue. Tr...ue leadership and commitment is not for the faint of . For this, I am GRATEFUL. For I am stronger, wiser, and birthing something greater than myself. I am greatful for my family, their love and support. When you have prayed, and actively engaged in the work to birth a vision, when it is almost ready to come forth. We know that God is faithful and He is the full authority. Thanks to family, and friends. You are the BEST! For this, I am GRATEFUL! See more

Some wonderful friends, my husband and I found a powerful, resonating, thought provoking and an answer to my prayer today. All throughout my adult life, I have reflected upon the lives of those who has come before me. For we had no idea where any of Greene County former slaves final resting place were throughout Greene County, Georgia. I often thought that many of their human remains were throughout the land area, and fields in this place. We do know that the norm during sla...very was that their burial would not be in the same cemetery that whites were buried in. Today, confirmed and certainly spoke volumes of the hearts, minds, and thoughts of those who during that time throughout Greene County, Georgia actively engaged in. Today, my heart was pricked, and I was troubled regarding what I witnessed today. Human beings, who all throughout their lives, worked from sun up till sundown for others during the inhumane and horrific era of slavery and there after. Not being acknowledged, honored, celebrated, or thought of as a significant part of a community or even a church. The churches that they attended with the permission of their slave owners, sitting in the balconies or rear pews of that church. That is the truth of these, our beloved Ancestors. Very few of these graves had a head stone, only a stone designating where their final remains were buried. "We are precious links in a chain from the past, the present and the future." See more

The word unearthing is an action word. It is powerful, always active and engaging. It is never idle, it always yield results. My remembrances of growing up in White Plains, Greene County was filled with family, church, the neighborhood, segregated schools, and some of the best teachers that any child could be blessed to have. For this, I am eternally GRATEFUL! During those time there was no library cards, visits to the library, visits to the courthouse to do genealogy, nor r...esearch the local newspaper archives, or other opportunities to learn about Greene County's African American historical narrative. However, the desire to know what role your race actively engaged in regarding History in this place. As a child, this was my quest. There was always an intuitive acknowledgement within me, that told me that there were more. At that point, I was all in. To define where or what this was I knew that I had to study, research, and document this significant historical narrative. It interest me, I am committed to do what I can to pay tribute to those who are apart of this historical narrative, those who knew no honor or celebration in life, nor death. They are the "entitled ones." Staying the Course! See more

I often think of the goodness of God, our Creator. The one who sustains each of us. For this I am GREATFUL. I am so very GREATFUL for each and every individual who has spoken, written, dropped in, and actively engaged in contributing to this phenomenal initiative in the Railroad Community of Greensboro, Georgia. Whether you volunteered, spoke words of encouragement, or made a financial contribution. For this, we are GRATEFUL! Our active and engaging friends from other state...s who continue to honor and celebrate our work. Greatful for our Zoom Weekly Meetings. Greatful to one of my friends who gifted me this beautiful depiction of Henry Ossawa Tanner artwork, "The Banjo Lesson." I took it to my framer, had a new molding installed. It is a beautiful artwork on canvas. For numerous years, I have been collecting items regarding African American History to be utilized by the GCAAM. For this I am GRATEFUL. "The prize is not given to the swift, nor to the strong. But the one who endureth until the end." For this I am GRATEFUL! See more

Unearthing African American History.

Many of you remember looking at "In the Heat of the Night." Do you remember what the African American neighborhood was referred to ? It was referred to as the "bottoms." All throughout our history, our neighborhoods were referred to as negative places. Like the hood, ghetto, or other names as well. Monday evening, I went before the Greensboro City Council to discuss the dilapidated houses, absent owners, and what this gives birth to within our neighborhoods. Tammy Nesbitt ...and her daughter presented a phenomenal illustration, photographs included of the challenges that the neighborhood of Railroad faces daily. This included complaints of litter, debris imbedded in the landscape on some streets, dilapidated houses, rodents, overgrown lawns, insects, buglaries, and many of which can set up an environment for dis-ease and illness. For too often, our neighborhoods become a haven for dilapidated houses, once the former homeowners transitions. Sadly, this becomes the norm for too many of us. Not representing the best of ourselves, nor honoring or celebrating those who has gifted and bequeathed to many of you so very much more of themselves; including heirs to their property. I am so glad that I honor and celebrate my Rememberances. For this, I am GRATEFUL! See more

After our busy, and fruitful blessed weekend. Last night, I was checking my messages, and texts and was so humbled by all the comments made by so many of those volunteers who actively engaged with us in the Cemetery Clean-Up. Many coming from Atlanta, Georgia, Monroe, Georgia, and out of state. We certainly appreciate your love, honor, support and tribute to our work. To celebrate the significance of our past, to learn from it, and actively engage in birthing change to make our community better, as well as each of us.