Spent a while working on a story about the history of Allensworth and Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park...
Here's a lil 🧵 on the background + images that didn't make it into the final story.
It started with listening to California's #reparations task force #CRTF🛤️
Here's a lil 🧵 on the background + images that didn't make it into the final story.
It started with listening to California's #reparations task force #CRTF🛤️
Last October @terrancedean provided expert testimony to the task force. He talked about Allensworth.
"In essence, it was a shining example of Black self-sufficiency and prosperity," he said.
Full testimony here:
"In essence, it was a shining example of Black self-sufficiency and prosperity," he said.
Full testimony here:
Then I kept hearing state Sen. @SteveBradford mention Allensworth. And I was wondering... what is the deal?
I dug into some history.
I dug into some history.
Luckily, @TheAAMLO exists and I was able to dive into some of their files and recordings. (We 💕 archives, thank you archivists!)
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Advisory Committee Audio Recordings
oaklandlibrary.org/archival_post/…
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Advisory Committee Audio Recordings
oaklandlibrary.org/archival_post/…
Alice C. Royal talks about #Allensworth in the archives. She grew up in Alameda and Allensworth.
"When you stop to think about what the pioneers did... in a highly segregated society + survived — that is the essence of community."
archive.org/details/caolaa…
"When you stop to think about what the pioneers did... in a highly segregated society + survived — that is the essence of community."
archive.org/details/caolaa…
But I had to see for myself, what is this place and what's it all about?
In June I took the special #juneteenth Amtrak train. On the train I met Maxine Butler. A true gem.
kqed.org/news/11925020/…
In June I took the special #juneteenth Amtrak train. On the train I met Maxine Butler. A true gem.
kqed.org/news/11925020/…
“I can only imagine the atmosphere at that time,” she said, referring to Allensworth’s beginnings. “Escaping the lynchings. Escaping the aftereffects of slavery. And they probably heard about this — this Jerusalem, this promised land called Allensworth.”
The state park has many different buildings, including a library and a church. Everything is meant to look like it would have looked in 1908.
Col. Allensworth had secured more than 9,000 acres “of the richest land in central California,” he wrote to Booker T. Washington.
Colonel Allensworth's home is decorated like it might have looked at that time.
Colonel Allensworth's home is decorated like it might have looked at that time.
Maxine told me her sister-in-law’s family lived in Allensworth in the late 1930's.
Her sister-in-law’s mother, Gloria Harris had carved her name into a desk in the school building.
Her sister-in-law’s mother, Gloria Harris had carved her name into a desk in the school building.
The first teacher was William Payne. He met Col. Allen Allensworth in California after being denied a teaching license.
At the festival in June I met Otis and Rhonda Williams who had been reading the June report from the reparations task force on the train.
You too can read it! (500 pages, make sure your Wifi is solid)
oag.ca.gov/ab3121/reports
You too can read it! (500 pages, make sure your Wifi is solid)
oag.ca.gov/ab3121/reports
Apple podcast link: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-h…
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