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It’s Not Abe Lincoln’s 1862 Emancipation Proclamation — It’s Our 2010 Emancipation Proclamation!
by
Baba Bob Shipman | 07.04.2010
The local "Avenging the Ancestors Coalition" (ATAC) held a fourth of July ceremony, which included a crowd-pleasing dramatic public reading of the powerful 1852 speech by Frederick Douglass entitled "The Meaning Of The Fourth Of July For The Negro". This event was attended by elders to infants. The elders were ask permission to proceed after every speaker. Libation was given to respect the ancestors, give thanks, and ask for BLESSINGS for the event or those in attendance. And what a event it was, with the American Independence Hall as backdrop. The Hall is located in the 500 block of Chestnut Street, just a few feet from the Liberty Bell pavilion, and the very house that was used by Martha and George Washington. The irony is that this first president, who fought a 6 year war to become free from the British crown, held enslaved Africans in the very home he occupied. Furthermore, he had to defy a Pennsylvania state law to do so. The Emancipation Law of 1780 barred out-of-state slaveholders from bringing slaves into the state for more than six months' time, but Washington continued to rotate them between PA and Virginia and back again on a careful timeline in order to avoid the law's intent (Read More by Linn Washington). This and other events were highlighted in July 4th event.  Michael Coard Esq, founding member of ATAC  Brother giving Libation to begin the program, here he uses bottle of water  The crowd was peppered with people holding signs  Mumia supports were out in force  Tea Party event here a war veteran speaks You will find a photo where a young man in his twenties, administered Libation to the ancestors and elders in attendance at todays emancipation proclamation for the nine Africans that were not able to celebrate true freedom on the 4th of July as they and thousands more we still in servitude. Not far from the liberty bell and to the southwest of Independence hall (6th Walnut now called Washington square)is the old Congo square, where owners brought their human property to the square under watchful eyes of over see'ers. There is where individuals sang, chanted, pasted stories and ask questions about the where abouts of missing family members that were sold away from them. The Africans held spiritual ceremonies called libation. On the matter of what to offer the Ancestor or Deities, we have the choice of Water, Wine and "Hard" Liquor. The choice of liquid depends on the nature of the libation and prayer and what your aim is in invoking (awakening) the Ancestors. There is different forms of liquids used. As has been my own experience: This is an important matter as many of us do not realize that when you pour libation you are AWAKENING the Ancestors. The libation is only the 1st part of the process. After awakening the Ancestors, we have to actually DO something, DISCUSSS something or WORK a ritual. Libation is not complete without at bare minimum THANKING the Ancestors or REQUESTING something like support, stability, clarity, spiritual cleansing or protection etc. The sponsoring group is called ATAC (Avenging the Ancestors Coalition) a variety of groups working together for African American education about the generations that walked these very grounds and paved the way for us. Position Paper of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC)http://avengingtheancestors.com/info/index.htm Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) is a broad-based organization of African American historians, attorneys, elected officials, religious leaders, media personalities, community activists, and registered voters. ATAC was founded in 2002 to compel the National Park Service (NPS) and Independence National Historical Park (INHP) to finally agree to the creation of a prominent Slavery Memorial to conspicuously permeate the President’s House project. The purpose of this Slavery Memorial is to honor primarily the nine African descendants enslaved by President George Washington at the President’s House, which is also known as America’s first “White House” and which was located at the current site of the new Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia at Sixth and Market Streets. Those nine were among the 316 Black men, women, and children enslaved by Washington at his Mt. Vernon, Virginia plantation. Their handout read,"It's Our 2010 Emancipation Proclamation." About 350 gathered for the event, just as the Tea Party held a event across the street in the mall, not far from this event. Each group never mentioned the other, as the Nation Park Service rangers were present, U.S. Marshall's were seen patrolling both events. (a reprint from their website explains the gathering) It’s Not Abe Lincoln’s 1862 Emancipation Proclamation — It’s Our 2010 Emancipation Proclamation! Sunday, July 4, 2010, 2:15 PM, at 6th & Market in Philadelphia Brothers and Sisters, President George Washington enslaved 316 of our ancestors in Virginia and transported nine of them to Philadelphia at America's first "White House," which was at the site of the new Liberty Bell Center at Sixth and Market. Unfortunately, not one of those nine (or any of the others) was ever freed by President Washington during his lifetime. Therefore, Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) will hold a formal "Emancipation Proclamation 2010" ceremony on July 4th at 2:15 p.m. at Sixth and Market to free our enslaved ancestors. In addition, during that ceremony, ATAC will present a dramatic public reading of the powerful 1852 speech by Frederick Douglass entitled "The Meaning Of The Fourth Of July For The Negro." http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/more/douglass.htm There were presentations from Pam Africa shared updates about the course of jailed activist Mumia Abul Jamal. |
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Comments
Freedom is what we are pursuing
Submitted by Drew Brees jersey (not verified) on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 4:04amThey are still striving for their freedom now. I appreciate for their courage.
It has not been easy
Submitted by Baba Bob Shipman on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 3:52pmAs too many leaders and critics not as many volunteers as it warrents.
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