Full disclosure—I am very attractive to folks who are animus by nature.
Full disclosure—I am curious about folks who have a John Wayne kind of persona—one that is full of vim, vigor, grit, and rawness.
Full disclosure—I am drawn to defiant antagonists who champion a cause!
Years ago, had the pleasure to realize my dream of visiting Cincinnati, Ohio. It was during my study of black history when I learned that Cincinnati was once a bedrock and haven filled with “radical white folks” who were vocal abolitionists. Each fervently disavowed and worked tirelessly against the dastardly institution of slavery.
As a fellow rebel, vowed that I would one day visit Cincinnati to discover why.
As a fellow rebel, wanted to become acquainted with those “radical white folks” who valiantly challenged the “system” at all cost!
As a fellow rebel, was inquisitive as to why some “radical white folks” would, without a quiver, risk life, limbs, and liberty to mastermind ingenious ways to help rescue enslaved black folks when they obviously did not have a “quarter in that dollar!”
Toured the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center located in Cincinnati. This nationally renowned museum is a repository and treasure trove of black historical facts, information, and documentation. Like a salivating “kid in a candy store,” inhaled every syllable emanating from the docent’s lips. Watched intensively to each featured film. Read with interpenetration about each stature, picture, or artifact. Emptied the gift shop’s shelves of nearly every book and memento.
Ripley, Ohio (outside of Cincinnati) which was also known as a bastion of the anti-slavery movement was my next adventure. It was at this “sacred ground” that I paid homage to one of the most prolific abolitionist, the Rev. John Rankin. Rev. Rankin and his family while, unbeknownst to many, were considered “radical white folks” in their day and time!
Already read and was very familiar about the sacrifices of some other “radical white folks” such as Levi Coffin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Brown, William Lloyd Garrison, the Grimke sisters, and Susan B. Anthony and knew how they bravely challenged and denounced the vestiges of this evil system. Equally aware of their influential magnitude, as well as, how their contributions were critical, instrumental, and pivotal in eradicating slavery, too.
Yet, it was awe-inspiring to learn to what degree that Rev. Rankin castigated and riled against the bondages of slavery. Our curator gave countless examples citing how this unwavering “angel” used his home to secretly harbor enslaved blacks and then clandestinely ensured their emancipation. Additionally, he fearlessly wrote and published in his newspaper scathing articles about the horrors of slavery and attended Antislavery conventions where he was known to authoritatively agitate, fiercely lecture, and vociferously repudiated and renounced the brutality and cruelty of this “peculiar institution.” Chuckled over the fact that his sons were also the embodiment of their convictions by proudly and publicly marrying enslaved black women!
Boy, that’s really sticking it to the bigots!
Left Cincinnati and Ripley feeling overwhelmed and honored in learning how some “radical white folks,” regardless of their precarious predicaments or the hazardous repercussions, risked their privileged lifestyles, reputations, and livelihoods by clamorously fighting for the abolishment of an unjust system that sometimes still painfully stains the psyches of some black and white Americans today!
As Harriet Tubman so eloquently stated,” I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”
Despite the abolishment of slavery so many years ago, often feel that the residual effects still exist in some subtle form or fashion. Desirous in seeking the expertise and services from the descendants of Coffin, Rankin, Stowe, the Browns, Garrison, Grimke, and other “radical white folks” in helping me to expunge a potpourri of bondages that’s still corrupting our communities today!
Folks, we can remain indignant in our self-righteousness by reciting “chapter and verse” about the need for personal responsibility, accountability, and then extoll how we each “pulled ourselves up by our own bootstraps!” Meanwhile, there is a generation of young people who are psychologically, mentally, socially, economically, and physically “enslaved” without them realizing the depths, the genesis, and the consequences of their bondage!
Want a cure for what ails us? As exemplified by the abolitionists and some “radical white folks,” how about showing some benevolence to someone beyond your own race and ethnicity!
Years ago, reached across the “racial divide” and began mentoring a young lady (white) who was obviously headed in the wrong direction. She entered into my life with lots of prejudicial stereotypes, preconceived notions, lies, and baggage about black people. However, under my tutelage, this once “wayward” individual is now an aspiring attorney!
As mentioned earlier, as a fellow rebel, vowed that I would one day visit Cincinnati to discover why those “radical white folks” would take an interest in rescuing enslaved black folks.
It was because in spite of the obvious color differences, they knew that we were still members of a beloved community called “human family!”
