Black Independence Day 2009

WHAT: Black Independence Day — "Enslaved Ancestors Yesterday: Employed Descendants Today!"

WHO: Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC)

WHY: ATAC is the organization that led the successful battle to force the federal government to commemorate the nine African descendants enslaved by President George Washington at America's first "White House," which was here in Philadelphia at the current site of the new Liberty Bell Center at Sixth and Market. Each year since 2002 at its July 3 "Black Independence Day" events, ATAC has held massive protests and other demonstrations in a battle to get a prominent and permanent commemorative project in honor of our heroic enslaved African ancestors. And ATAC won that historic battle! ATAC's next battle- which we are winning but have not yet won- is to make sure that today's free Black sons and daughters of yesterday's enslaved Black fathers and mothers are hired as construction workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, welders, painters, general laborers, etc. to build and maintain this culturally historic President's House/Slavery Commemoration project.

WHEN: Friday, July 3, 4:15 p.m.

WHERE: Sixth and Market.

MORE INFO: Refer to the attached flyer and/or log onto www.avengingtheancestors.com

CONTACT: 215/552-8751 and/or ATAC@avengingtheancestors.com

On July 3, immediately after ATAC's annual 4pm Black Independence Day demonstration at Sixth and Market, ATAC will attend the grand opening of the "Underground Railroad In Philadelphia" event at the Independence Visitors Center across the street at 5:30 p.m.

This event is being sponsored by the Independence National Historical Park staff, which has specifically invited ATAC as special guests. Although the admisssion is free for all ATAC members, you must RSVP no later than June 26 by e-mailing ATAC at ATAC@avengingtheancestors.com or by calling ATAC at 215-552-8751.

Thank you. And please spread the word.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you know, Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) is one of the organizations that led the successful battle to force the federal government to commemorate the nine African descendants enslaved by President George Washington at America's first "White House," which was here in Philadelphia at the current site of the new Liberty Bell Center at Sixth and Market. Each year since 2002 at its July 3 "Black Independence Day" events, ATAC has held massive protests and other demonstrations to demand a prominent commemoration project to honor our heroic enslaved African ancestors. And ATAC won that historic battle! ATAC's next battle- which we are winning but have not yet won- is to make sure that today's free Black sons and daughters of yesterday's enslaved Black fathers and mothers are hired as construction workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, welders, painters, general laborers, etc. to construct and maintain this culturally historic Slavery Commemoration/President's House project. ATAC invites you to attend its annual "Black Independence Day" event on Friday, July 3 at 4:15 p.m. at Sixth and Market. For more information, please refer to the attached flyer. Please spread the word, and please attend.

Sincerely, Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) 215/552-8751

AVENGING THE ANCESTORS COALITION (ATAC)

PRESENTS ITS ANNUAL BLACK INDEPENDENCE DAY FRI., JULY 3, 4:15 6TH & MARKET

THIS YEAR'S THEME: "ENSLAVED ANCESTORS YESTERDAY: EMPLOYED DESCENDANTS TODAY!"

PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON ENSLAVED 316 BLACK HUMAN BEINGS IN VIRGINIA. AND FROM 1790-1796, HE TRANSPORTED NINE OF THEM TO AMERICA'S FIRST "WHITE HOUSE" HERE IN PHILADELPHIA AT THE CURRENT SITE OF THE NEW LIBERTY BELL CENTER AT 6TH & MARKET.

IN 2010, CONSTRUCTION OF A HISTORIC SLAVERY COMMEMORATION/PRESIDENT'S HOUSE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED AT THAT SITE TO HONOR THOSE NINE AND ALL OTHER BLACK MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO WERE ENSLAVED.

THAT CONSTRUCTION- WHICH BEGAN IN 2007 AND WHICH WILL RESUME IN JULY 2009- MUST INCLUDE BLACK GENERAL CONTRACTORS, BLACK SUBCONTRACTORS, AND BLACK LABORERS BECAUSE JUSTICE DEMANDS THAT TODAY'S FREE BLACK SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF YESTERDAY'S ENSLAVED BLACK FATHERS AND MOTHERS PLAY A PROMINENT AND SUBSTANTIVE ROLE IN THE CREATION OF THIS CULTURALLY HISTORIC PROJECT.

ATAC Phone: 215/552-8751 ATAC Website: www.avengingtheancestors.com

Next ATAC Meeting: Mon., 7/20, 7 pm, Zion Church, Broad & Venango

Read the biography of the first "White House's" enslaved nine:

Austin — Born between 1757-1759, he was approximately 32 when George Washington brought him to Philadelphia and about 15 years older than his half sister Oney Judge. Austin was married to Charlotte, an enslaved seamstress, with whom he had five children. He toiled as a waiter, carriage footman, and probably stable worker who likely lived in slave quarters with two other enslaved black laborers, namely Giles and Paris, and possibly another person. He died on December 20, 1794 at around 36 in Harford, Maryland after a fall from a horse while returning to Mt. Vernon, Virginia.

Christopher Sheels — Born circa 1774, he became Washington's "body servant" and was about 16 when brought to Philadelphia. He obviously was literate because, in or about September 1799 at Mount Vernon, a note written to him from an enslaved woman at another plantation was intercepted by Washington. It included an escape plan that later was foiled by Washington.

Giles — Born around 1758, he was approximately 32 and served as a carriage worker and driver when brought to Philadelphia, where he apparently was housed in slave quarters with Austin, Paris, and possibly another person. He was returned to Mt. Vernon in 1791 after being injured in an accident during Washington's tour of the southern states. Giles died prior to 1799.

Hercules — Born sometime around 1750, he was Washington's thoroughly impressive chief cook who was about 40 when he was brought to Philadelphia. He was married to Alice, an enslaved seamstress at Mount Vernon. Together, they had three children, including Richmond. After Alice died in 1787, Hercules alone raised those children and probably had a fourth child later. Despite his renowned culinary talents and his "prominent" status in the president's household, Hercules knew that he was nothing more than a thing, a "species of property" to Washington. That is exactly why, sometime in March 1797 in Philadelphia, he escaped and remained forever "free" at some unknown location until some unknown death date.

Joe (Richardson) — Also known as "Postilion Joe," he was born probably in 1769 and married a woman of his same age named Sall, a Mount Vernon enslaved seamstress. Together they had at least seven children. He was an approximately 26 year old presidential coach footman and stable worker when he was brought to Philadelphia on or about on October 20, 1796, which was five years after the other eight enslaved African descendants.

Moll — Born circa 1739, she worked as a nanny to Martha's two youngest grandchildren (as well as to Martha's children from her first marriage) and was about 51 when she was brought to Philadelphia. Moll was returned to Mount Vernon in 1797.

Oney (or Ona) Judge — Born around 1774, she was the younger half sister of Austin. She labored as a seamstress and Martha Washington's personal servant. Oney was approximately 16 when delivered to Philadelphia. After discovering that she was to be given as a wedding gift, meaning as a mere thing, by Martha to Martha's eldest granddaughter, Oney finally had enough and planned an escape with the assistance of Philadelphia's large relatively free black population. She executed the plan sometime between late May and June 1796, going from Pennsylvania, then apparently through New York, and ultimately settling in New Hampshire. Although Oney's escape was successful and permanent, it was not restful because Washington, as a result of Martha, was nearly unyielding in trying to track down and capture her. Despite Washington's and Martha's hounding, Oney, the married mother of three children, lived as an otherwise "free," albeit fugitive, woman until her death at about age 75 in Greenland, New Hampshire on February 25, 1848, nearly 50 years after Washington's 1799 and Martha's 1802 respective deaths.

Paris — Born sometime around 1774, he was a stable worker at the Mt. Vernon plantation and later, when brought to Philadelphia at about age 16, likely was housed in slave quarters along with Austin, Giles, and possibly another person. After being taken back to Mt. Vernon in June of 1791, he died there in late September or October, 1794.

Richmond — Born in 1776 or 1778, he was the son of Hercules and Alice. While in Philadelphia where he was brought at the approximate age of 13, he was a kitchen worker and chimney sweep. Four months before his father's successful Philadelphia escape in March 1797, Richmond apparently had an escape plan in Mt. Vernon that was uncovered and foiled.