Thanks Snowbird and BFD these are really good sites you'll be surpised at some of the stuff that has been left out in the history books in pertiang to slavery/civil rights.
Yes, ma'am. In Wilcox County Alabama, a steamer, The Orline St. John, caught fire and sank in the Alabama River on March 4, 1850.
A slave named Abram from the Gee's Bend plantation swam out into the river and saved many a passenger from certain death. This is right across the river from where I grew up.
Since a Mark Pettway had bought the plantation from the Gees in 1845-46, the slave's last name was perhaps Pettway. Were we told about that in our little two-room school? Of course not!
Mr. William James Edwards walked!!! from Tuskegee Institute in 1893 to found the Snow Hill Institute in order to educate the many Black children of Wilcox County who were not able to attend school because of not having the money for tuition at the only school for Blacks in the county.
My mother and father only reached the 3rd and 5th grade respectively because their families couldn't afford the tuition. Were we told about Mr. Edwards and his accomplishments in our little two-room school? You got it.
So, yes, there are many untold stories and many unsung heroes. I'm on a quest to find those ones.
Peace to you.
Sylvia
