An Irony of Slavery

Most Americans think slavery was very oppressive but there are a number of freedmen especially in NC who show another side to the institution.

John Carruthers Stanly is a true anomaly as he started life as a slave, earned his freedom and became the largest slave owner in the nation in 1824. He owned over 163 slaves to work his three plantations and his barber shop which was the source of his original wealth. He had bought his wife Kitty and first three children out of slavery.

In some ways he is an embarrassment to both races, white and black, because he overcame his position as a slave and became wealthy. He embarrassed the whites as he became wealthier than they were and an embarrassment to the African- Americans because he proved one can rise above slavery and have success.

Nat Turner

Before Nat Turner's rebellion, North Carolina was quite lenient with slaves. Then Virginia and South Carolina officials really complained and slaves appeared to be more inclines to want their freedom as opposed to more dependency in the past.
Answers.com says, "Nat Turner was a black preacher who led an 1831 uprising in Southampton County, Virginia in which at least 55 whites were killed by a group of about 50 slaves. Turner was a deeply religious man who claimed to have visions and directives from God. On the night of 21 August 1831 he led four other slaves (Henry, Hark, Nelson and Sam) on a murderous spree near the town of Jerusalem, killing men, women and children in their beds. By the next day his mob had grown to at least 40 or 50, but the local militia confronted and captured most of them. Turner escaped, but was eventually captured in October and tried. He was hanged and skinned 11 November 1831. Before he was executed, he described his actions to Thomas R. Gray, and 'The Confessions of Nat Turner' was later widely published in newspapers. Turner's failed rebellion led to hundreds of blacks being murdered by white vigilante mobs, and spurred a new set of strict codes that limited the activities of slaves."

Charles Chesnutt

From Dr. Kelley Griffith of Greensboro, NC: "Many works of fiction are by African Americans. One of them, Charles Chesnutt's The Marrow of Tradition, is about the race "riot" of 1898 or so. Do you know this work? Although it's a work of fiction, the events really took place. Chesnutt does an excellent job of representing the various groups of people, black and white, involved. I wouldn't claim that this is a great novel, like Moby Dick, but it's engaging and thoughtful. The conflict marked the beginning of heavy-handed Jim Crow in N.C. A place worth visiting--far from you but fairly close to me--is the Booker T. Washington National Monument. It's a small national park in a beautiful rural setting in southern Virginia (near Smith Mountain Lake, on the way to Roanoke), a working farm where Washington lived until he was 6. He writes about it in Up from Slavery."

Slaves Helped

Two men of history began vital, history-making ministries from their position as slaves; Joseph and Squanto. The connection made by Governor William Bradford and Squanto is truly miraculous. How many Americans today would expect to meet an English speaking native on our shores in the 1600’s?

Slavery is a blemish on society today, but it was a big help in building our nation. Most of the grand homes in Wilmington and New Bern, NC were built by slaves. In Wilmington a former slave's son is still helping restore the Bellamy Mansion with the skill he learned decades ago. At ninety some years old the craftsman is building the decor for the mansion and it is enjoyed by many visitors right in the center of the town.

Doing research about J. C. Stanly I found the documents showing his liberation from slavery by Lydia and Alexander Stewart. Then found Alexander Stewart was very concerned about the spiritual well-being of the slaves. He wrote in 1719 about leading four to Anglicanism and requested their being baptized. Alexander Stewart is the name of the captain of the slave ship on which J. C.'s mother was brought to America from Afica.
In 1719 Stewart was designated as "Mr." but by 1761 he was Rev. In 1761 he was requesting a school for "Negroe" children. Alexander Stewart is a very interesting man. So is John Carruthers Stanly who went from slave to slave owner.

Most Americans have heard about slavery and the cruel slave masters. However, some slave owners were not only kind but helpful to their slaves. Frederick Douglass was taught to read by his master's wife.

In North Carolina, we have a number of freedmen who learned valuable skills while they were slaves. One freedman was the wealthiest man in Craven County, North Carolina, in 1824 and owned more slaves than anyone in the nation at the same time. He started by buying his own family and freeing them and then helped others and also used other slaves. There are mixed opinions about him in town, but his former owner is viewed very favorably with a memorial in a local church to her. His children were respected as he was by most of the community. Like Douglass, Barack Obama, and Tiger Woods, he was a mulatto.

The freedmen were in all social classes but one family due to its wealth is better documented than others. The freedmen and slaves in NC are responsible for most of the building and other work.

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., are displayed two words: Laus Deo.
No one can see these words. These words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation.
What do those two words, in Latin, possibly mean? They say, "Praise be to God!"
It was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public.
Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message.
On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6.

Washington 's prayer for America was: "Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."