New Yorkers celebrated end of slavery on July 5th

While visiting in New York over the 4th of July weekend, I learned that many African Americans there were celebrating the 181th anniversary of the abolition of slavery on July 5th, the day after the American Independence from Great Britain. In fact, New York was 2nd in the country besides South Carolina for holding the largest number of slaves which played a role in the building of New York.

Slavery officially ended in the state of New York on July 4, 1827 which was about 35 years before President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment in 1865, abolishing slavery in the entire U.S.

On July 5, 1827, over 4,000 blacks in New York City marched along Broadway, preceded by an honor guard on horseback and a grand marshal carrying a drawn sword. The parade wound through the downtown streets to the African Zion Church, where the abolitionist leader William Hamilton declared, "This day we stand redeemed from a bitter thralldom."

African Americans in New York chose to celebrate the 5th of July versus the 4th of July for fear of violent threats from whites and because African americans were not actually freed in 1776.

While I was in New York this past weekend, The Lefferts Historic House, the former home to a family that owned 10 slaves was where one of the main events commemorating the freedom of countless slaves was held. The event attracted people of all background and featured music including the bang of drums and the rattle of gourds, and re-enactments.

Again, I learned something new this past weekend because while New Yorkers still celebrate Juneteenth like many other African Americans around the country in rememberance of Emanicipation from slavery, they also commemorate July 5th, since slavery came for New Yorkers on July 4, 1827.

Back from New York

I have just flown back from New York. It was a wonderful retreat. I plan to tell you all about my trip and the things I did and learned pertaining to Genealogy.

I have made many trips to New York and this by far was one of the best! So much to do and I just feel revived, relieved and inspired!

I plan to go back soon and indulge more in the history of New York residents and in genealogy possibly presenting some genealogy seminars since what I have found in talking to people is that a lot of New Yorkers do not know their family history or about the contributions of their own ancestors to their area and the country as a whole.

Anyway, I will tell you more later.

Sweet Honey in the Rock

Before I go to bed, I had to tell you about an acquaintance that I made today both at the productions of "Thurgood and Strange." It was 2 of the members of the Grammy Award-winning group, “Sweet Honey in the Rock. They are an African-American female a cappella ensemble that tours the country with gospel inspired music.

I met the group's co-founders, Carol Maillard, the lady in the top hat, kinte cloth neck wrap with boots and Bernice Johnson Reagon, the lady on the far right in the fuscia colored dress.

I had not had the pleasure of seeing them in concert yet but have heard astounding reviews of their performances and I promised the ladies that would see them as soon as they are in a city near me again.

They told me that they are in New York for 2 weeks rehearsing for a concert they are slated to do in December with the Alvin Ailey dancers. I might try to catch that.

Anyway, they were very nice and we seemed to be on the same schedule since I encountered them at both theatre performances. I took a picture with them but I will have to upload it when I get home.

If you get a chance to see them, please do so. Okay, for real, I'm off to bed now!

Passing Strange

Well, I just got out of the Tony Award winning musical, "Passing Strange" and while I would not give it the applause I gave "Thurgood," it was entertaining yet a little strange.

It featured an all african american group of actors that performed to the beat of rock and roll music played by a predominantly white band with the exception of the lead guitarist/singer/narrator.



The gist of the story was the maturing of a young african american male musician at the coming of age who rebelled against his mother, God and society to find himself. He ended up first in Amsterdam and then Berlin where he experienced drugs, free sex, freedom of expression and self acceptance.

Despite his mother's attempts to reunite him with his family and religion in the US, he never returned except for her funeral which had a profound effect on him.

Again, it was entertaining. The actors were very talented as reflected by each of their portrayals of diverse characters.

After the show, I indulged in some Sorbet from a French restaurant called "Un, Deux, Trois", translated it means, "one, two, three". After that I took a slow stroll back to my hotel.

The streets are littered with theatre goers all dressed up for their shows as well as other tourists headed for shopping, dining, comedy shows and more. There is no place like New York. It truly is the City that never sleeps! Except, for me because I am off to bed so farewell for now.

2 thumbs and a pinky finger up for Thurgood!-An excellent Broadway Play

I just witnessed one of the most powerful plays ever! The Broadway play that I am referring to is "Thurgood." It is a one-man play performed by the very talented Laurence Fishburne. It is playing at the Booth Theatre in New's York's Theatre District.

Lawrence did an excellent job of portraying the late former Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. So good, that at times you forgot it was Fishburne instead of Marshall.

The play chronicles that late Marshall's rise from poverty in Baltimore to his prestigous legal achievements. It starts out talking about Marshall's genealogy. In particular, the origin of his name which he inherited from his great-great grandfather "Thorny Good" who was a slave brought over from Africa to the South but was freed before slavery ended at which time he relocated to Baltimore. Thurgood was himself originally named Thoroughgood but later shortened it.

The play also explains the influence on his life by his father and his decision to become a lawyer as well as his early brushes with racism. Fishburne recounts in the first person how Marshall worked as a waiter, pullman and later decided to go to law school.




The highlight of the play is when Marshall as a then lawyer prepares for, argues and await the decision of the famed Brown vs. Board of Education in which the Supreme Court did overturn the previous, "Law of the Land," "Plessy vs. Board of Education" which allowed for "separate but equal" policies for whites and minorities in the US in terms of education. The Supreme Court ruled in 1954, that the law was unconstitutional and allowed for integration in America.

Of course, this changed the lives of many African Americans including my mother, Lottie Green Burney who was a victim of the previous law. She recounted recently how growing up in the South, the colored schools in terms of school structures, books, supplies, lack of heating and transportation were far inferior to the white schools. In fact, she recalled that she never remembered having new books, pencils, or even chalk. She says that they always got the marked up books, broken pencils and chalks that the white school children had used years before.

Anyway, Fishburne should win an award for his amazing portral of Thurgood Marshall. The play reminds the audience of what an impact this great God-sent had on the lives of African Americans and other minorities in this county. I know the late Marshall is pleased with Fishburne's portrayal of him.

So, if you get a chance, I strongly recommend that you see it. Okay, I got to go now, I'm headed off to another play this evening, a musical called, "Passing Strange." I will let you know how it goes!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Happy 4th of July!!! A day late but the sentiments remain the same. This year I am celebrating the 4th with a "Big Bang" live from New York City! Yesterday, I went to the famed Coney Island where they held an Annual Hot Dog eating contest. The winner, Joey Chestnut (ironically, the same surname affialiated with one of my ancestral lines) ate an amazing 64 hotdogs beating out the reigning champion in a first-ever tie-breaking round.! I did not eat quite so many but after sampling the also famed Nathan's "Dogs," I can identify with the contestants a little better.

The best part of my Coney Island experience was the beach area. I sat there for hours taking in the view of the waves, passing ships, the sea of umbrellas and people frolicking on the beach and in the water. The weather was perfect. I could have layed there for the week sipping on lemonade and the occasional Italian Ice.

I did not get on any rides this time but did stop and watch other people who did. Unfornately, that part of my day had to end so it was time to board the subway and head towards Battery Park near the Statute of Liberty to watch the annual Macy's Fireworks show.

It was spectacular and I had birds-eye view having arrived there early. This was one of the best fireworks show that I had ever witnessed! It featured a wide-range of pyro-technics that exploded into amazing fountains, UFO'S, happy faces and more. It was the perfect ending to an amazing day.

Then it was back off to Times Square to the hotel where I am staying.

Anyway, its Saturday and I'm off to explore the City today. Farewell for now.

Magnifying the Text on your Computer Screen

Like a lot of my fellow Genealogists and other readers, as my years increase, my eyesight decreases. This is a realization that I am relunctantly admitting to. However, it has become more painfully apparent. I can no longer view the now seemingly tiny little print on certain sites and even in my blogs, I may proofread them several times and still overlook errors because of my declining vision but to the reader not aware of that, the reason for my errors may not be apparent.


You're probably thinking, time for glasses! And, you would be right but there is another alternative that I would like to share with you as a quick fix alternative.


If you hold down the "control key" and the " +" symbol located on the far right of your keyboard by the number pad simultaneously, you can magnify the text on your screen to make it more readable. Conversely, if you simultaneously hold down the
"control key" and the " -"symbol, you can decrease the size of the text.


Just a little tool I thought I would share with fellow genealogy buffs gracefully becoming visually impaired!