Independence Day march kicks off national campaign to honor black patriots, p. 16
Dublin Core
Title
Independence Day march kicks off national campaign to honor black patriots, p. 16
Description
"Several groups supporting the construction of a memorial to honor black patriots who fought in the American Revolution will march to the proposed site in Constitutional Gardens today. Independence Day.
This event is but another step in the battle to honor the 5,000 blacks who fought for this country’s freedom in the Revolutionary War more than 200 years ago. And just several months ago, Maurie Barboza, president of the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation (BRWPF), an organization dedicated to honoring those black revolutionary war patriots, appealed for the legislation to construct the memorial.
The walk is to demonstrate support for the site and to help rally local and national interest in the project, said Maurice Barboza, a research lobbyist with the American Bar Assoc., who suggested the resolution to establish the memorial, introduced in the House in February.
Some of the groups and individuals that will march along with BRWPF will be the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vietnam Veterans of America, Prince Hall Masons, City Council Chairman David A. Clarke and Lena S. Ferguson, the black woman who stirred controversy last year over her fight to gain entry into DAR.
The legislation authorizing the site of the memorial was introduced in the House earlier this year by Reps. Nancy L. Johnson (R-Conn.), Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), along with 110 co-sponsors.
The proposed site got a boost last week, when the Commision on Fine Arts endorsed the proposed site in the Constitutional Gardens, said Barboza. The site is midway between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, “which will give it a high profile.” he added.
Carrying small American flags, the participants will march down 18th Street, across Constitution Avenue to the Signers Memorial where they will pause for a moment of silence and remembrance. The procession will continue on the sidewalk around the lake in the direction of the Washington Monument and then toward the Lincoln Memorial. When they arrive at the proposed sight, will plant their flags into the ground.
The idea to establish the memorial grew out of the controversy over Barboza’s aunt Lena Santos Ferguson, when she waged her campaign last year to gain membership in the local chapter of DAR.
Because of the amount of public interest surrounding her successful endeavor, Barboza decided to transform that interest into an effort to honor those blacks who served in the Revolutionary War, he said.
“It became quite clear… that few people recognized that blacks had served in the American Revolution.” he said.
It began two years ago, when Barboza, who had an interest in history and his multiracial background traced his genealogy back to three of his ancestors who fought in the American Revolution. All of them were white, he said. “I felt it was important for people to know they can trace back to whites or blacks” he said.
Barboza then joined the Sons of the American Revolution, becoming one of the few blacks out of the 25,000 members. Like the DAR, membership into the SAR also requires that one document their decendancy [sic] from a Revolutionary War patriot.
“After I did it, I felt it would be used in a positive way,” said Barboza. His aunt Ferguson, based on his genelogical [sic] research, fought for and won entry into DAR. Barboza went on to suggest to Rep. Johnson, tl sponsor the bill to grant permission for construction of the memorial.
Meanwhile, City Council Chairman Clarke launched a local campaign last month to support construction of the $2.5 million memorial. The local effort is part of a national campaign to be launched on Independence Day. The memorial is to be constructed entirely with private funds.
It is important blacks recognize over 12 generations of heritage, which they have built in America, says Barboza. “As a people we go through life like on a subway without any handholds. As a result we fall because we don’t have anything to hold on to. Like people with no roots.” he said.
“We have the obligation to tell the country about our history and tell them it’s their history too.”"
This event is but another step in the battle to honor the 5,000 blacks who fought for this country’s freedom in the Revolutionary War more than 200 years ago. And just several months ago, Maurie Barboza, president of the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation (BRWPF), an organization dedicated to honoring those black revolutionary war patriots, appealed for the legislation to construct the memorial.
The walk is to demonstrate support for the site and to help rally local and national interest in the project, said Maurice Barboza, a research lobbyist with the American Bar Assoc., who suggested the resolution to establish the memorial, introduced in the House in February.
Some of the groups and individuals that will march along with BRWPF will be the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vietnam Veterans of America, Prince Hall Masons, City Council Chairman David A. Clarke and Lena S. Ferguson, the black woman who stirred controversy last year over her fight to gain entry into DAR.
The legislation authorizing the site of the memorial was introduced in the House earlier this year by Reps. Nancy L. Johnson (R-Conn.), Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), along with 110 co-sponsors.
The proposed site got a boost last week, when the Commision on Fine Arts endorsed the proposed site in the Constitutional Gardens, said Barboza. The site is midway between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, “which will give it a high profile.” he added.
Carrying small American flags, the participants will march down 18th Street, across Constitution Avenue to the Signers Memorial where they will pause for a moment of silence and remembrance. The procession will continue on the sidewalk around the lake in the direction of the Washington Monument and then toward the Lincoln Memorial. When they arrive at the proposed sight, will plant their flags into the ground.
The idea to establish the memorial grew out of the controversy over Barboza’s aunt Lena Santos Ferguson, when she waged her campaign last year to gain membership in the local chapter of DAR.
Because of the amount of public interest surrounding her successful endeavor, Barboza decided to transform that interest into an effort to honor those blacks who served in the Revolutionary War, he said.
“It became quite clear… that few people recognized that blacks had served in the American Revolution.” he said.
It began two years ago, when Barboza, who had an interest in history and his multiracial background traced his genealogy back to three of his ancestors who fought in the American Revolution. All of them were white, he said. “I felt it was important for people to know they can trace back to whites or blacks” he said.
Barboza then joined the Sons of the American Revolution, becoming one of the few blacks out of the 25,000 members. Like the DAR, membership into the SAR also requires that one document their decendancy [sic] from a Revolutionary War patriot.
“After I did it, I felt it would be used in a positive way,” said Barboza. His aunt Ferguson, based on his genelogical [sic] research, fought for and won entry into DAR. Barboza went on to suggest to Rep. Johnson, tl sponsor the bill to grant permission for construction of the memorial.
Meanwhile, City Council Chairman Clarke launched a local campaign last month to support construction of the $2.5 million memorial. The local effort is part of a national campaign to be launched on Independence Day. The memorial is to be constructed entirely with private funds.
It is important blacks recognize over 12 generations of heritage, which they have built in America, says Barboza. “As a people we go through life like on a subway without any handholds. As a result we fall because we don’t have anything to hold on to. Like people with no roots.” he said.
“We have the obligation to tell the country about our history and tell them it’s their history too.”"
Creator
Randolph Payton
Publisher
Baltimore Afro-American
Date
1985-7-13
Collection
Citation
Randolph Payton, “Independence Day march kicks off national campaign to honor black patriots, p. 16,” African American Fourth of July, accessed May 4, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/135.