Episode 25 Mary Grayson's Story
The Freedmen Files
In the 1930s Mary Grayson, a Creek Freedwoman, was interviewed as part of the WPA Slave Narratives project. Her narrative is important because it provides a glimpse into the life of an enslaved family and how they fared life on the brink of freedom. Her story also provides an insight into how those who were left behind fared when some were able to get to escape, and the aftermath that followed.
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Episode 24 My Letter to the Chief
The Freedmen Files
Two weeks ago a major ruling came from the Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Creek Freedmen descendants, declaring that they are Creek citizens. This has energized many in the community of Choctaw Nation descendants, and many have responded by writing letters to Chief Batton, and asking him about the open letter that he wrote several years ago, stating that he was willing to explore the possibility of Choctaw Freedmen citizenship. I also penned a letter to Chief Batton and am sharing here with you on this podcast.
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Episode 23 The Story of Rebecca Williams
The Freedmen Files
This is the story of Rebecca Williams from South McAlester in the Choctaw Nation. Her background was of Chickasaw history, culture and life, and her mother was a native woman from the Territory. Her story is significant because she chose to sepak to her truth, especially when she realized that something was being taken away from her. Hers is a story to tell and a story to be remembered.
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episode 22 Looking for a Slave Named Jake
The Freedmen Files
Jake was enslaved on a plantation in Skullyville in the Choctaw Nation. He was said to have been on the estate of Joseph Hall. In the early days of the Civil War, a slave uprising was said to have occurred, but Jake was the man who was able to bring the violence to an end, saving the life of one of the Hall family members. Nothing more was ever said about Jake, the enslaved man except that he died during the war. Could more be learned about him? This is a story of my journey to see what I could learn about him.
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Episode 21 The Remarkable James Coody Johnson
The Freedmen Files
James Coody John was a remarkable man who emerged as a leader in both Creek and Seminole communities. His was fluent in both Muscogee language as well as English, went on to obtain an education in the east returning to Oklahoma where he would be a man in demand by many who needed his legal skills as much as his language skills. He was active politically working for tribal Freedmen as well as blacks who emigrated to Oklahoma from other states. In addition, he emerged as a leader as a Grand Master in the community of Masons in Oklahoma. A building erected by Johnson still stands in Wewoka...
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Episode 20 Moses Whitemire, Cherokee Freedmen Trustee
The Freedmen Files
This podcast focuses on Moses Whitmire who was elected as a Trustee for Cherokee Freedmen in response to an act from the tribal council in 1883 that planned to exclude the Freedmen from the Nation in sharing in a percapita payment that was being allocated to the Cherokee Nation. Moses Whitmire was elected by the Freedmen to be their trustee and to travel to Washington to negotiage on their behalf. In an effort to secure an attorney he signed an agreement with two attorneys from St. Louis Missouri, and this led to a larger issues where he had unknowingly signed an agreement...
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Episode 19 Annie Keel, Remarkable Church Woman
The Freedmen Files
This episode describes the work of Annie Keel a Chickasaw Freedwoman who lived in the Choctaw Nation. After slavery ended she was interested in the establishment of a church in her community, and in particular that of the AME Church. She did not have contacts herself, but took the initiative to contact the Chief of the Choctaw Nation for assistance. Her boldness and her tenacity paid off and the AME Church was established in the Choctaw Nation and she and her husband Billy hosted the first AME Church conference in the Territory. Hers is a remarkable story of vision, action and determination.
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Episode 18: The Sango Legacy
The Freedmen Files
This episode explores the remarkable legacy of the Sango family from the Muscogee Creek Nation. From the days before the removal of Creek Indians from Georgia and Alabama, to Indian Territory in the west, the Sangos have left their mark on the soil of Oklahoma. Beginning with Scipio Sango to his son Alexander known better as A.G.W. Sango, this is a story of a strong father and son, who left their mark on Oklahoma. Theirs are names that should never be forgotten.
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Episode 17, Zach Foreman, Leader and Man of Wealth from the Cherokee Nation
The Freedmen Files
This episode focuses on the story of Zach Foreman, a Cherokee Freedman who managed to create a small town named after himself. From humble beginnings as a slave, to become a wealthy cattleman, and town leader, his story is one to remember. He became a man of prominence and fortune, though today he is largely forgotten and seldom mentioned among Freedmen leaders from Indian Territory.
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Episode 16 Celebrating Freedom as it Came to Indian Territory
The Freedmen Files
There are many stories of freedom and how it came to enslaved people. Those of us who have ties to Indian Territory also have stories of freedom. Some seized their own freedom, and some were told of their freedom. Regardless, though slavery was not abolished till 1866 when the treaties were signed, descendants of Oklahoma Freedmen also join the symbolic commemoration of the end of a 400 year saga of slavery. Therefore we lift our voices and sing, with the harmony of liberty! This episode is in honor of the Freedmen of Indian Territory and their freedom from bondage in the Cherokee, Choctaw,...
info_outlineThis episode illustrates the saga of a man from the Cherokee Nation, who struggled for years to find freedom and who struggled to claim his identity, rights, and, as a Cherokee citizen, and to share the outcome of his and his family’s struggle.