greetings everyone thank you so much for coming I am feeling so much better about
coming I am feeling so much better about
coming I am feeling so much better about 2060 following Pedro and our mod my
2060 following Pedro and our mod my
2060 following Pedro and our mod my millennial status is well in short I’d
millennial status is well in short I’d
millennial status is well in short I’d like to greet all of you and thank you
like to greet all of you and thank you
like to greet all of you and thank you for being here today my family friends
for being here today my family friends
for being here today my family friends fellow talk presenters what a wonderful
fellow talk presenters what a wonderful
fellow talk presenters what a wonderful day to be here in the here and in the
day to be here in the here and in the
day to be here in the here and in the now we are graced and blessed by small
now we are graced and blessed by small
now we are graced and blessed by small blessings and very tender mercies my
blessings and very tender mercies my
blessings and very tender mercies my story starts simply enough I was born I
was I was born on April 10th 1954 at
was I was born on April 10th 1954 at 12:45 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon in
12:45 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon in
12:45 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon in New Orleans Louisiana very famous City
New Orleans Louisiana very famous City
New Orleans Louisiana very famous City if any of you don’t know where this
if any of you don’t know where this
if any of you don’t know where this place is see me in the breakout session
place is see me in the breakout session
place is see me in the breakout session I’ll tell you all about it
I’ll tell you all about it
I’ll tell you all about it you’re warmly welcomed and invited in
you’re warmly welcomed and invited in
you’re warmly welcomed and invited in the West African tradition of naming
the West African tradition of naming
the West African tradition of naming children on the day and the week that
children on the day and the week that
children on the day and the week that they were born and the order of their
they were born and the order of their
they were born and the order of their birth I’m called Mele Amma how I came to
birth I’m called Mele Amma how I came to
birth I’m called Mele Amma how I came to have this name as a different story for
have this name as a different story for
have this name as a different story for another day but please feel free to call
another day but please feel free to call
another day but please feel free to call me Mele um firstborn daughter on
me Mele um firstborn daughter on
me Mele um firstborn daughter on Saturday suits me well
Saturday suits me well
Saturday suits me well um a few weeks after I was born May 1954
um a few weeks after I was born May 1954
um a few weeks after I was born May 1954 the US Supreme Court handed down a
the US Supreme Court handed down a
the US Supreme Court handed down a decision that would come to be known as
decision that would come to be known as
decision that would come to be known as the Brown versus Board of Education
the Brown versus Board of Education
the Brown versus Board of Education decision this decision by the Supreme
decision this decision by the Supreme
decision this decision by the Supreme Court effectively struck down all of the
Court effectively struck down all of the
Court effectively struck down all of the Jim Crow laws and bad legislation and
Jim Crow laws and bad legislation and
Jim Crow laws and bad legislation and laws of the person of the Plessy versus
laws of the person of the Plessy versus
laws of the person of the Plessy versus Ferguson decision of 1896 which ushered
Ferguson decision of 1896 which ushered
Ferguson decision of 1896 which ushered in many many years of terrorism murder
in many many years of terrorism murder
in many many years of terrorism murder and disenfranchisement in the name and
and disenfranchisement in the name and
and disenfranchisement in the name and guise of self-proclaimed white supremacy
guise of self-proclaimed white supremacy
guise of self-proclaimed white supremacy it was a very very difficult time I
forgot everything I’m not gonna lie I
forgot everything I’m not gonna lie I did so I’m gonna take my glasses off so
my mother was holding me in her arms
my mother was holding me in her arms when she heard of this decision and she
when she heard of this decision and she
when she heard of this decision and she held me a newly minted mom held her
held me a newly minted mom held her
held me a newly minted mom held her newborn baby me very close because she
newborn baby me very close because she
newborn baby me very close because she knew in that moment that my worldview
knew in that moment that my worldview
knew in that moment that my worldview would be so much different from hers my
would be so much different from hers my
would be so much different from hers my mother said a prayer for me and all the
mother said a prayer for me and all the
mother said a prayer for me and all the babies like me things would be different
today I am a rising first-year student
today I am a rising first-year student at Georgetown University
at Georgetown University
at Georgetown University I joined familial traditions of many
I joined familial traditions of many
I joined familial traditions of many people all over the world who send their
people all over the world who send their
people all over the world who send their eligible children to be educated at
eligible children to be educated at
eligible children to be educated at universities colleges and institutions
universities colleges and institutions
universities colleges and institutions from which they themselves matriculated
from which they themselves matriculated
from which they themselves matriculated and upon completion of their education
and upon completion of their education
and upon completion of their education pledge their finances their physical
pledge their finances their physical
pledge their finances their physical support their moral support and their
support their moral support and their
support their moral support and their dedication to these universities
dedication to these universities
dedication to these universities oftentimes through many many generations
oftentimes through many many generations
oftentimes through many many generations I went to to legacy schools and went
I went to to legacy schools and went
I went to to legacy schools and went through legacy schools in New Orleans
through legacy schools in New Orleans
through legacy schools in New Orleans Louisiana my great-grand aunt was the
Louisiana my great-grand aunt was the
Louisiana my great-grand aunt was the principal of McDonough number six which
principal of McDonough number six which
principal of McDonough number six which was the school I attended in elementary
was the school I attended in elementary
was the school I attended in elementary school so this is me at the convocation
school so this is me at the convocation
school so this is me at the convocation a few weeks ago two months ago when I
a few weeks ago two months ago when I
a few weeks ago two months ago when I first arrived here and I was very very
first arrived here and I was very very
first arrived here and I was very very honored to be asked by the university to
honored to be asked by the university to
honored to be asked by the university to accept the College banner at this year’s
accept the College banner at this year’s
accept the College banner at this year’s convocation it was an honor
convocation it was an honor
convocation it was an honor it remains an honor it’s very important
it remains an honor it’s very important
it remains an honor it’s very important to me and very important to all of us
to me and very important to all of us
to me and very important to all of us and to the extended Georgetown
and to the extended Georgetown
and to the extended Georgetown descendants Association so getting back
descendants Association so getting back
descendants Association so getting back to my legacy schools my aunt my great
to my legacy schools my aunt my great
to my legacy schools my aunt my great aunt was the principal at McDonough
aunt was the principal at McDonough
aunt was the principal at McDonough number six which was the elementary
number six which was the elementary
number six which was the elementary school that I attended I was fortunate
school that I attended I was fortunate
school that I attended I was fortunate enough to be able to go to a
enough to be able to go to a
enough to be able to go to a neighborhood school three blocks from
neighborhood school three blocks from
neighborhood school three blocks from home I walked to school my mom my
home I walked to school my mom my
home I walked to school my mom my parents we walked it was very safe
parents we walked it was very safe
parents we walked it was very safe it was very secure I thrived and did
it was very secure I thrived and did
it was very secure I thrived and did really well
really well
really well in my little school clothes in my
in my little school clothes in my
in my little school clothes in my neighborhood we were very very busy
neighborhood we were very very busy
neighborhood we were very very busy learning to read to write being
learning to read to write being
learning to read to write being creatively stimulated and we have recess
creatively stimulated and we have recess
creatively stimulated and we have recess was very important going out to the
was very important going out to the
was very important going out to the playground teacher ringing the bell
playground teacher ringing the bell
playground teacher ringing the bell we were also children who grew up with
we were also children who grew up with
we were also children who grew up with President Kennedy’s physical fitness
President Kennedy’s physical fitness
President Kennedy’s physical fitness program it was the Cold War everybody
program it was the Cold War everybody
program it was the Cold War everybody maybe was going to go to the Olympics
maybe was going to go to the Olympics
maybe was going to go to the Olympics one day and beat the Russians while we
one day and beat the Russians while we
one day and beat the Russians while we were in school we also had civil defense
were in school we also had civil defense
were in school we also had civil defense drills which sort of went along with
drills which sort of went along with
drills which sort of went along with your physical education because the
your physical education because the
your physical education because the civil defense drill strategy that was
civil defense drill strategy that was
civil defense drill strategy that was you as quickly as you can you go under
you as quickly as you can you go under
you as quickly as you can you go under your desk now I have to say that I was
your desk now I have to say that I was
your desk now I have to say that I was never quite comfortable with the under
never quite comfortable with the under
never quite comfortable with the under table strategy of avoiding nuclear
table strategy of avoiding nuclear
table strategy of avoiding nuclear annihilation how is how okay so that
annihilation how is how okay so that
annihilation how is how okay so that wasn’t so good for me but I managed we
wasn’t so good for me but I managed we
wasn’t so good for me but I managed we made it through across town for me
made it through across town for me
made it through across town for me however there was a little girl in New
however there was a little girl in New
however there was a little girl in New Orleans who lived a very very different
Orleans who lived a very very different
Orleans who lived a very very different first grade year than mine her name was
first grade year than mine her name was
first grade year than mine her name was Ruby Bridges and she was escorted every
Ruby Bridges and she was escorted every
Ruby Bridges and she was escorted every day into school Ruby was the score
day into school Ruby was the score
day into school Ruby was the score escorted every day into school by United
escorted every day into school by United
escorted every day into school by United States federal marshals because she was
States federal marshals because she was
States federal marshals because she was the first little girl to integrate a
the first little girl to integrate a
the first little girl to integrate a white
white
white school I went to a segregated black
school I went to a segregated black
school I went to a segregated black school a Negro school Ruby walked the
school a Negro school Ruby walked the
school a Negro school Ruby walked the gauntlet every day going to class past
gauntlet every day going to class past
gauntlet every day going to class past angry white women who hurled epithets
angry white women who hurled epithets
angry white women who hurled epithets daily at a small brown girl while they
daily at a small brown girl while they
daily at a small brown girl while they kept their children their precious
kept their children their precious
kept their children their precious progeny close to their sides out of
progeny close to their sides out of
progeny close to their sides out of school and they planned the next boat
school and they planned the next boat
school and they planned the next boat plane car ride out of the city if they
plane car ride out of the city if they
plane car ride out of the city if they were going to be forced to have their
were going to be forced to have their
were going to be forced to have their precious children go to school with me
precious children go to school with me
precious children go to school with me us going to school and learning together
what kind of people do that hurl
what kind of people do that hurl epithets at a small girl because she’s
epithets at a small girl because she’s
epithets at a small girl because she’s going to school with your child
six years later I think I got to go back
six years later I think I got to go back six years later after having this
six years later after having this
six years later after having this wonderful bucolic school year six years
wonderful bucolic school year six years
wonderful bucolic school year six years of school for myself members of my class
of school for myself members of my class
of school for myself members of my class through the laws that were coming into
through the laws that were coming into
through the laws that were coming into being at the time I had to go to
being at the time I had to go to
being at the time I had to go to integrate a school in my neighborhood it
integrate a school in my neighborhood it
integrate a school in my neighborhood it had always been a white school and we
had always been a white school and we
had always been a white school and we had always gone to McDonough number six
had always gone to McDonough number six
had always gone to McDonough number six which was a black school and I did not
which was a black school and I did not
which was a black school and I did not want to go to that school that summer
want to go to that school that summer
want to go to that school that summer was an intense summer of indoctrination
was an intense summer of indoctrination
was an intense summer of indoctrination education more strenuous discipline by
education more strenuous discipline by
education more strenuous discipline by my by my parents as they taught me and
my by my parents as they taught me and
my by my parents as they taught me and made sure that I became aware of
made sure that I became aware of
made sure that I became aware of negative words and ugly slurs and
negative words and ugly slurs and
negative words and ugly slurs and horrible things that people will say to
horrible things that people will say to
horrible things that people will say to one another
one another
one another I didn’t understand it at the time it
I didn’t understand it at the time it
I didn’t understand it at the time it was difficult it was hard I wanted to go
was difficult it was hard I wanted to go
was difficult it was hard I wanted to go outside and play with my friends and go
outside and play with my friends and go
outside and play with my friends and go on vacation like we always did and have
on vacation like we always did and have
on vacation like we always did and have this wonderful summer and the fall go to
this wonderful summer and the fall go to
this wonderful summer and the fall go to school with my friends instead I
school with my friends instead I
school with my friends instead I realized now all of these years later
realized now all of these years later
realized now all of these years later that my parents were preparing me to be
that my parents were preparing me to be
that my parents were preparing me to be a young soldier and very hostile
a young soldier and very hostile
a young soldier and very hostile territory and hostile territory it was
territory and hostile territory it was
territory and hostile territory it was teachers classmates neighbors on the
teachers classmates neighbors on the
teachers classmates neighbors on the walk home from school the walk to school
walk home from school the walk to school
walk home from school the walk to school even the neighbor’s dogs there
even the neighbor’s dogs there
even the neighbor’s dogs there like us dog person it wasn’t easy but we
like us dog person it wasn’t easy but we
like us dog person it wasn’t easy but we survived we made it
survived we made it
survived we made it hostile difficult unsure we made it
hostile difficult unsure we made it
hostile difficult unsure we made it through
it’s very important there was no valid
it’s very important there was no valid reason that I could see or that I could
reason that I could see or that I could
reason that I could see or that I could hear that these families and these
hear that these families and these
hear that these families and these children and these mothers didn’t want
children and these mothers didn’t want
children and these mothers didn’t want to go to school with me
to go to school with me
to go to school with me my mother’s child simply because they
my mother’s child simply because they
my mother’s child simply because they were white and I was not
were white and I was not
were white and I was not I’m never gonna be white and that’s okay
what kind of people do that everybody I
what kind of people do that everybody I knew and everybody that I wanted to know
knew and everybody that I wanted to know
knew and everybody that I wanted to know loved me both of my parents were the
loved me both of my parents were the
loved me both of my parents were the respective babies in their families now
respective babies in their families now
respective babies in their families now when you are born and you are the baby’s
when you are born and you are the baby’s
when you are born and you are the baby’s baby you got a sweet deal there was not
baby you got a sweet deal there was not
baby you got a sweet deal there was not a home or a table or a family member or
a home or a table or a family member or
a home or a table or a family member or door that I was not welcomed into and my
door that I was not welcomed into and my
door that I was not welcomed into and my family would send me out from New
family would send me out from New
family would send me out from New Orleans to the north to the east to the
Orleans to the north to the east to the
Orleans to the north to the east to the west there were relatives all over
west there were relatives all over
west there were relatives all over America and they all wanted me it was a
America and they all wanted me it was a
America and they all wanted me it was a good deal and I thrived and I grew and I
good deal and I thrived and I grew and I
good deal and I thrived and I grew and I was always going somewhere but the most
was always going somewhere but the most
was always going somewhere but the most important person in my life was my
important person in my life was my
important person in my life was my grandmother
grandmother
grandmother Geneva Ruby Taylor lawless Smith
Big Momma big grandma mother my heart I
Big Momma big grandma mother my heart I spent much time with her and most of it
spent much time with her and most of it
spent much time with her and most of it was in the best friend pocket of our
was in the best friend pocket of our
was in the best friend pocket of our relationship she told me tales of and
relationship she told me tales of and
relationship she told me tales of and stories of my family my great
stories of my family my great
stories of my family my great grandparents my greater grandparents my
grandparents my greater grandparents my
grandparents my greater grandparents my greatest grandparents all the way back
greatest grandparents all the way back
greatest grandparents all the way back to Maryland to this place
to Maryland to this place
to Maryland to this place Mary Ellen Queen and Abraham Mahoney
Mary Ellen Queen and Abraham Mahoney
Mary Ellen Queen and Abraham Mahoney born here in Washington DC isn’t that
born here in Washington DC isn’t that
born here in Washington DC isn’t that amazing
amazing
amazing so today telling a story telling this
so today telling a story telling this
so today telling a story telling this story this is not my story this is her
story this is not my story this is her
story this is not my story this is her story and if there were any one thing
story and if there were any one thing
story and if there were any one thing that I could do today it would be to
that I could do today it would be to
that I could do today it would be to change places with my grandmother so
change places with my grandmother so
change places with my grandmother so that she could be here and she could see
that she could be here and she could see
that she could be here and she could see all of you but that’s not the case so I
all of you but that’s not the case so I
all of you but that’s not the case so I proudly stand here today in front of all
proudly stand here today in front of all
proudly stand here today in front of all of you telling our American story which
of you telling our American story which
of you telling our American story which has its roots and its foundation here in
has its roots and its foundation here in
has its roots and its foundation here in Maryland in 1715 my ancestor of record
Maryland in 1715 my ancestor of record
Maryland in 1715 my ancestor of record arrived here in Maryland as a free woman
arrived here in Maryland as a free woman
arrived here in Maryland as a free woman in the company of Thomas Larkin who’s
in the company of Thomas Larkin who’s
in the company of Thomas Larkin who’s then indentured her into servitude Queen
then indentured her into servitude Queen
then indentured her into servitude Queen Mary served out the terms of her service
Mary served out the terms of her service
Mary served out the terms of her service servitude and when that was over she was
servitude and when that was over she was
servitude and when that was over she was then enslaved by the Jesuits of
then enslaved by the Jesuits of
then enslaved by the Jesuits of garland or their agents working on their
garland or their agents working on their
garland or their agents working on their behalf that meant for Queen Mary and for
behalf that meant for Queen Mary and for
behalf that meant for Queen Mary and for her family that all of her generations
her family that all of her generations
her family that all of her generations would be kept enslaved her grandchildren
would be kept enslaved her grandchildren
would be kept enslaved her grandchildren her children her great-grandchildren
what kind of people craft laws in the
what kind of people craft laws in the 17th century of a colony that forever
17th century of a colony that forever
17th century of a colony that forever consigned the children born from the
consigned the children born from the
consigned the children born from the bodies of African women to be slaves in
bodies of African women to be slaves in
bodies of African women to be slaves in perpetuity for all of their lives
perpetuity for all of their lives
perpetuity for all of their lives because that was the law and so my
because that was the law and so my
because that was the law and so my grandmother’s children were all kept
grandmother’s children were all kept
grandmother’s children were all kept enslaved until 1794 when her
enslaved until 1794 when her
enslaved until 1794 when her grandchildren and some of her
grandchildren and some of her
grandchildren and some of her great-grandchildren use the courts and
great-grandchildren use the courts and
great-grandchildren use the courts and sued the Jesuits or their agents in the
sued the Jesuits or their agents in the
sued the Jesuits or their agents in the court of Maryland for their freedom
court of Maryland for their freedom
court of Maryland for their freedom there are many notable names that are
there are many notable names that are
there are many notable names that are associated with these suits
associated with these suits
associated with these suits Edward queen won his freedom and 1794
Edward queen won his freedom and 1794
Edward queen won his freedom and 1794 very successfully and today there are
very successfully and today there are
very successfully and today there are free Queens all over the world in 1810
free Queens all over the world in 1810
free Queens all over the world in 1810 Priscilla Queen and her baby sued in the
Priscilla Queen and her baby sued in the
Priscilla Queen and her baby sued in the courts and their case was denied there
courts and their case was denied there
courts and their case was denied there are no records a Priscilla Queen from
are no records a Priscilla Queen from
are no records a Priscilla Queen from this 1810 case except for her attorney
this 1810 case except for her attorney
this 1810 case except for her attorney of record
of record
of record who later wrote a poem that we used
who later wrote a poem that we used
who later wrote a poem that we used today very prominently because you see
today very prominently because you see
today very prominently because you see my family was here in the light of the
my family was here in the light of the
my family was here in the light of the Rockets red glare and perhaps one day
Rockets red glare and perhaps one day
Rockets red glare and perhaps one day Priscilla and baby walked off with the
Priscilla and baby walked off with the
Priscilla and baby walked off with the British
Francis Scott Key the attorney of record
Francis Scott Key the attorney of record for Priscilla Queen and her child we
for Priscilla Queen and her child we
for Priscilla Queen and her child we know nothing of Priscilla and what
know nothing of Priscilla and what
know nothing of Priscilla and what happened to her but we do have records
happened to her but we do have records
happened to her but we do have records of her kids and her kin her good friends
of her kids and her kin her good friends
of her kids and her kin her good friends her family are named in a bill of sale
brokered in 1834 by the jesuits of
brokered in 1834 by the jesuits of Maryland and Henry Johnson and dr. Jesse
Maryland and Henry Johnson and dr. Jesse
Maryland and Henry Johnson and dr. Jesse Beatty in Louisiana this bill of sale
Beatty in Louisiana this bill of sale
Beatty in Louisiana this bill of sale comprises a listing of the largest
comprises a listing of the largest
comprises a listing of the largest recorded human trafficking incident in
recorded human trafficking incident in
recorded human trafficking incident in the United States of America people
the United States of America people
the United States of America people often say well they’re slaves today and
often say well they’re slaves today and
often say well they’re slaves today and they are there are that doesn’t say much
they are there are that doesn’t say much
they are there are that doesn’t say much about the people who were enslaved but
about the people who were enslaved but
about the people who were enslaved but it says a lot about the people who ends
it says a lot about the people who ends
it says a lot about the people who ends leave I don’t think we’ve learned as
leave I don’t think we’ve learned as
leave I don’t think we’ve learned as much as we should in 200 years
today these documents as I said comprise
today these documents as I said comprise the largest single list of people sold
the largest single list of people sold
the largest single list of people sold by an institution in America I’m sure
by an institution in America I’m sure
by an institution in America I’m sure they’re more and we are certainly very
they’re more and we are certainly very
they’re more and we are certainly very happy that Georgetown has bought this to
happy that Georgetown has bought this to
happy that Georgetown has bought this to the forefront the sale ensured that I am
the forefront the sale ensured that I am
the forefront the sale ensured that I am here today as a legacy student I’ve been
here today as a legacy student I’ve been
here today as a legacy student I’ve been asked over the course of the past couple
asked over the course of the past couple
asked over the course of the past couple of months how is it that I at the very
of months how is it that I at the very
of months how is it that I at the very very tender age of 63
remember 2016 is looking better 2060 is
remember 2016 is looking better 2060 is looking so much better how I at the
looking so much better how I at the
looking so much better how I at the tender age of 63 came to be a student
tender age of 63 came to be a student
tender age of 63 came to be a student here at Georgetown University my answer
here at Georgetown University my answer
here at Georgetown University my answer is always the same a hundred eighty
is always the same a hundred eighty
is always the same a hundred eighty years ago
years ago
years ago the Jesuits sold my family they did and
the Jesuits sold my family they did and
the Jesuits sold my family they did and they also sold many other families
they also sold many other families
they also sold many other families family groups but that sale was for the
family groups but that sale was for the
family groups but that sale was for the greater good because today we have this
greater good because today we have this
greater good because today we have this venerable institution that we call
venerable institution that we call
venerable institution that we call Georgetown University Georgetown has
Georgetown University Georgetown has
Georgetown University Georgetown has produced many many individuals
produced many many individuals
produced many many individuals presidents pawns and policy makers we
presidents pawns and policy makers we
presidents pawns and policy makers we could have a Bill Clinton and we can
could have a Bill Clinton and we can
could have a Bill Clinton and we can have a Steve banner this is an esteemed
have a Steve banner this is an esteemed
have a Steve banner this is an esteemed institution
the united states has benefited greatly
the united states has benefited greatly from the sale of these 272 people and
from the sale of these 272 people and
from the sale of these 272 people and what was private history at this
what was private history at this
what was private history at this university has moved into public
university has moved into public
university has moved into public American history it belongs to all of us
American history it belongs to all of us
American history it belongs to all of us now and there’s no walking away from it
now and there’s no walking away from it
now and there’s no walking away from it we have to have difficult conversations
we have to have difficult conversations
we have to have difficult conversations about how the great institutions of
about how the great institutions of
about how the great institutions of America came to be the sale of 272
America came to be the sale of 272
America came to be the sale of 272 people who were my family were the
people who were my family were the
people who were my family were the foundational funds used to secure the
wealth and education the educational
wealth and education the educational wealth of this university and of course
wealth of this university and of course
wealth of this university and of course all of this was done for the greater
all of this was done for the greater
all of this was done for the greater good it just wasn’t there greater good
good it just wasn’t there greater good
good it just wasn’t there greater good there greater good would come later in
there greater good would come later in
there greater good would come later in the bosom of Jesus and with me standing
the bosom of Jesus and with me standing
the bosom of Jesus and with me standing here talking to you today
”
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