WE THE FRIENDS OF THE FORKS OF THE ROADS SOCIETY INCORPORATED (FRS) AND ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY’S (ASU) ENGLISH 312 BRITISH LITERATURE SURVEY CLASS STUDENTS AND TEACHER WELCOMES YOU TO THE FORKS OF THE ROADS 1830’S ENSLAVEMENT MARKETS SITES

Our without walls theater is designed to simulate an early 19^th Century outdoors theater setting in the wilds of the old Southwest.

Likewise, Slavery Meets Freedom at the Forks of the Roads is a 1800s up to the Civil War story at Natchez and the Old Southwest.

Slavery Meets Freedom at the Forks of the Roads presents select, actual historical characters and events covering local slavery, long distance interstate enslavement trafficking, sexual predators, runaways and escapes to freedom from enslavement and finally self-emancipation during the Civil War.

These historical Natchez Forks of the Roads enslavement markets sites holds the stories of opposites by having facilitated both chattel slavery marketing bondage and enslaved persons’ Civil War self-emancipation actions.

From at least the early 1830s until the second year of the Civil War, the Forks contained the deep southwest’s 2^nd largest chattel, human investment markets. Traffickers and dealers from Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee in the main, operated these first Wall Street like human-stock markets.

In anticipation of gaining or increasing their economic well being and social status, enslavers, especially plantation owners in the Old Southwest as evidenced by the monuments to slavery still standing in our area now called Anti-bellum homes, came to these very Forks of the Roads time and time again to make cash or credit investments in African descendants humans.

It was in the freedom summer of 1863 when Freedom met Slavery at the Forks of the Roads. In the summer of 1863 runaway enslaved and non-enslaved persons of African decent deliberately self-emancipated by abandoning their places of enslavement and forced restraint, intentionally joined the United States Army in desperate but decisive fights for control of the Mississippi River in the Deep South.

These newly, self-emancipated, freedom fighting U. S. Civil War soldiers of African decent were the majority of those United States Army soldiers who decisively won the battles of Donaldsonville and Millikens Bend Louisiana in the campaign against Vicksburg for the control of the Mississippi River.

After one particular enslaved person showed United States Army General Grant where to cross over the Mississippi River from Louisiana to Mississippi at Bruinsburg, African decent freedom fighters took part in the Civil War fights from Port Gipson all the way through Raymond and Jackson to Vicksburg Fort Hill.

When Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, 1863 and five days later Port Hudson surrendered, enslaved people by the thousands in Louisiana and Mississippi deliberately runaway from their places of enslavement and got behind the United States Army’s lines to emancipation proclamation freedom.

Thousands of runaway self-emancipated, able bodied men of African decent voluntarily joined the United States Army and turned the Civil War into a war of freedom from slavery.

The 58^th Regiment Infantry of United States Colored Troops freedom fighters were stationed at these Forks of the Roads.

Adams County’s famous and internationally acclaimed author Richard Wright’s grandfather, Nathan Wright was one of the nearly 1800 Fifty-eight Regiment Infantry United States Army soldiers of African decent when Slavery met Freedom at these Forks of the Roads.

Our living history play Slavery Meets Freedom at the Forks of the Roads is an outgrowth of a discussion within the Friends of the Forks of the Roads Society Inc to develop a demonstration project of how Blacks can enter the tourism arena from an economic development standpoint. We want to create alternative tourism and hands on history experiences for tourists, visitors and local people in the Miss-Lou area who are looking for the other real humanity side of history.

Our focus was first on conducting tours in the Natchez area, but we did not have the necessary number of members to do so. Finally, we settle on a living history play about both slavery and freedom. The Forks of the Roads is the perfect complimentary site in contrast to the antebellum homes.

Perhaps our demonstration model will develop into a professional and touring economic development artistic project that will showcase local and national talent while telling the untold historical stories of slavery and freedom that happened in the Forks of the Roads enslavement markets regional sphere of influence.

Show’s program flow facilitators Dr. Phyllis Thompson and Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley

Song—offstage opening solo Soon a’ Will Be Done. Performed by ASU Student soloist Ashley Ellis----April 9^th.

On April 16^th, Amazing Grace performed by ASU Students Brandi Herrington, Karla Brown and Robyn Douglas.

Audience attention is called to enslaved men and women picking cotton in the cotton field overseer standing by.

Narrative: General Andrew Jackson, a Negro Trader (1811) performed by Natchez Resident Michael Haslip.

Narrative: Austin Woolfork, early enslavement dealer in Natchez from Maryland performed by Historian, expert Forks of the Road researcher and Natchez resident Thom Rosenblum.

Narrative: Runaway Lavina Bell performed by ASU Students Kaseika Watson with Ashley Ellis on April 9^th.

Narrative: April 9^th, ASU Student Rakavious Claiborne portrays enslaved person Charles Green.

On April 16^th ASU Student and football star Jonathan Paul Lowe portrays his actual enslaved grandfather Charles Green as learned from his family history.

Act II: Slavery. Some Runaway Enslaved Persons as advertised for in nineteenth-century newspapers

Song April 9th: Wade in the Water led by ASU student Tiffani Braxton and FRS Chorus Ralph Jennings, Marie Jenkins, Arella Bacon

Narrative: Runaway Negro Advertisement 1 by ASU Student Michael Strawberry.

Narrative: Runaway Negro Advertisement 2 by ASU Student Brandy Herrington.

Song April 16th: Wade in the Water led by ASU student Michael Strawberry and FRS Chorus Ralph Jennings, Marie Jenkins, Arella Bacon

Narrative: Runaway Negro Advertisement 1 by ASU Student Diane Jones.

Narrative: Runaway Negro Advertisement 2 by ASU Student Kaiseika Watson.

Narrative: Runaway Negro Advertisement 3 by ASU Student Brandy Herrington.

Act III: Slavery. Existence of the Forks of the Road Enslavement Selling Market, 1830s to 1860s Civil War

Song April 9^th and 16th: Lift Every Voice and Sing led by ASU students and FRS Chorus Ralph Jennings, Marie Jenkins, Arella Bacon

Narrative: Isaac Franklin, Kingpin Enslavement Dealing Firm, Franklin and Armfield from Alexandria, Virginia performed by FRS member David Dreyer.

Narrative: Charlotte a “Fancy Woman of Color” runs away from sexual predators “slave masters” and dealers who objectify her skin color and body form performed by Guest Actress, Renee Shakespeare of Jackson, Mississippi and The Drinking Gourd Underground Railroad Radio Show on WMPR 90.1 F. M. on Thursdays at 6:30 P. M. Visit her website @ RShakespeare@thedrinkinggourd.net

Narrative: William Anderson, Escapee on the Underground Railroad performed by ASU Student Michael Strawberry.

Narrative: Special Providence, A defiant enslaved woman goes through hell escaping to freedom over land performed by ASU Student Shantel Rayford April 9^th and Vemekia Williams April 16^th.

Narrative: Henry Watson, an enslaved person who came through Natchez by ASU Student Avery Johnson.

Song April 9^th and 16th: Steal Away to Jesus led by ASU students and FRS Chorus Ralph Jennings, Marie Jenkins, Arella Bacon

Narrative: Brothers John D. James and Thomas James, enslavement dealers from Richmond, Virginia, establishers of the first selling market located within the tri-angular piece of property where play is performed at the Forks of the Roads from the 1830s until the Civil War. Performed by Guest Actors, ASU Instructor and Adams County Board of Supervisors’ President, Darryl V. Grennell and Layne Taylor.

Act IV: Freedom meets Slavery in the immediate Mississippi-Louisiana area when the United States Army occupied Natchez in the Freedom Summer of 1863 (majority of troops were area’s self-emancipated runaway enslaved persons)

Scene: Thousands of self-emancipated runaway women, children, elderly men and disabled young men are housed in Natchez/Vidalia “Contraband Camps” in the Freedom Summer of 1863

Song April 9^th and 16th: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot led by ASU students and FRS Chorus Ralph Jennings, Marie Jenkins, Arella Bacon

Narrative: Laura Haviland A white female abolitionist visited Natchez in 1863 and provided aid and relief to self-emancipated and other runaway enslaved persons housed in the “Contraband Camps” at Natchez Under the Hill and the Ralston Plantation in Vidalia performed by ASU Professor Dr. Phyllis Thompson April 9^th and Natchez businesswoman Kathryn Killelea April 16^th.

Narrative: J.T. Tims (1863) ASU Student Mareese Rose portrays an enslaved runaway father and his family who run away from the plantation of their enslaver near Fayette, Mississippi and became a Union Army Freedom Fighter of African descent. His wife became a cook for the Union Army.

Narrative: Nathan Wright performed by his great grandson and FRS member Charles Wright. Nathan was a member of the 58^th U. S. Colored Infantry stationed at the Forks of the Roads and Grandfather of the prolific and world famous author, Richard Wright.

Act V: Freedom’s Troops defeats Slavery’s Troops in the Battle of Vidalia, Louisiana, February 7, 1864

Scene: United States Army’s Fort McPherson located atop of the Mississippi River Bluff on the north end of Natchez and extending to its eastern boundary line

Fort McPherson is summoned to send soldiers to the aid of Colonel Farrar’s post in Vidalia Louisiana, which is about to be attacked by 1200 to 1500 Confederates Rebels.

Led by Lieutenant Colonel H. A. McCaleb, The Second Mississippi Artillery African Decent leaves Fort McPherson and heads down to the river landing on the double quick.

They load into a waiting boat at Natchez Under the Hill landing and head across the Mississippi River to Vidalia.

Upon landing in Vidalia The Second Mississippi Artillery consisting of roughly 300 soldiers of African Decent line up their cannons and weapons at the approaching Confederates rebels

With one well aimed volley fired into the onrushing Confederate Rebels enemy, followed by shooting at will on the part of the Second Mississippi Artillery, the Rebels broke and ran in a desperate retreat, leaving their dead and wounded behind.

Having decisively defeated a much superior number of Rebels, the 300 or so Second Mississippi Artillery soldiers of African decent returned across the river to Natchez and Fort McPherson.

Ending Song April 9^th and 16th: Battle Hymn of the Republic performed by FRS Chorus Ralph Jennings, Marie Jenkins, Arella Bacon, The Women’s Relief Corps members of the Civil War’s Freedom Fighters of African decent support organization, ASU students and the audience.

To be Continued

The United States Army Soldiers of African decent were portrayed by FRS members Willie Drew, Ralph Jennings, Charles Wright, Curtis Ross, Andrew Robinson and son Tony Robinson and Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley and ASU Students Mareese Rose, Avery Johnson, Michael Strawberry, Rakavious Claiborne, led by special guest actor, Don Vesterse, Technical Director, Natchez Little Theater as Lieutenant Colonel H. A. McCaleb.

Cotton field enslaved persons portrayed by FRS members Sarah Dave, Josephine Webster, Arella Bacon, Evelyn Dreyer, Carolyn Smith, Marie Jenkins and ASU students named in the various roles and characters above and special guest Layne Taylor, Executive Director Natchez Little Theater as the overseer.

“Contraband Camp runaways portrayed by ASU Students, Students of Mrs. Josephine Webster’s After School Tutorial Program Vidalia Louisiana, Youth of Mrs. Arella Bacon’s Ruitain Club of Adams County, FRS members Sarah Dave, Josephine Webster, Arella Bacon, Clarence Randall Jr., Evelyn Dreyer, Carolyn Smith, Marie Jenkins and associates.

Original Production Outline By The Students in Professor Phyllis Thompson English 312: British Literature Survey Alcorn State University Scribe: Tiffany Colenberg

Produced by FRS Coordinator Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley, Alcorn State University’s Professor Dr. Phyllis Thompson and FRS member and ASU English 312 students.

Characters and events adapted from research of Students in English 312 and Ser Seshs Ab Heter-CM Boxley’s Friends of the Forks of the Roads Society Inc’s Proving the Mississippi River a Major Underground Railroad Uhuru (Freedom) Route From Memphis to the Gulf of Mexico Research Project.

Performance Dates: April 9, 2005, April 16, 2005 3:00 P. M. at the Forks of the Roads at the juncture of St. Catherine Street and Liberty Road Natchez Mississippi.

Fireworks donated by Donald Car Corral Highway 84 between Vidalia and Ferriday Louisiana

Personal costumes and make ups by the various persons portraying various characters and roles

For their cooperation, Special thanks to Mayor West, City of Natchez and police department.

In memoriam to: Friends of the Forks of the Roads Society Inc Member Mrs. Jessie Herbert