Breena Clarke's Blog: A Few Whiles - Posts Tagged "breena-clarke"
ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE
This is the history of the origin of the people of Russell's Knob as recounted for several generations by the descendents of the founders of the settlement. The earliest written accounts of the history of Russell's Knob are found in the bibles, journals, diaries, business records and wills of the Smoot, Wilhelm, Beaulieu and Van Waganen families as archived by Sarah Jane Smoot.
Four sisters, four young girls - were part of the good-will gesture of a minor head man of the Lenape in the area above the Falls. He gave his daughters to British soldiers who wanted women and hadn’t thought to bring any along — as if they hadn’t meant to stay. The girls were treated like wives, settled near each other and were pleased with their father’s arrangements. Each had children, each had a clever brother, and when the war between patriots and loyalists broke out, these four grandmothers were given title to the lands of their husbands while the war raged in a bold strategy to preserve the lands for His Majesty. At the urging of their clever brother, the four grandmothers signed loyalty oaths to the Patriot cause as soon as their husbands were called up to the service of the war, and thus were not killed or burned out during raids by Patriots. The four grandmothers and their brother kept title to all of the lands that had formerly belonged to His Majesty, and through legal machinations after the war, become recognized by the Government of the State of New Jersey as the legal owners of the lands.
Russell’s Knob then is Grandmother’s town. The oldest inhabitants did, in fact, call it Grandmother's town. But it came to be called Russell’s Knob in the late 18th century when all of the settlers accepted the idea first proposed by Russell Sitton, grandson of one of the Grandmothers, that upon these lands no slave catcher, no slave trader, no bounty hunter or profiteer could pursue a bond person and that no one who reached the town would be forced to return to slavery. Russell Sitton’s band vowed to defend themselves against outside threat and, after several burn-outs, hid themselves and fortified with weapons.
Four sisters, four young girls - were part of the good-will gesture of a minor head man of the Lenape in the area above the Falls. He gave his daughters to British soldiers who wanted women and hadn’t thought to bring any along — as if they hadn’t meant to stay. The girls were treated like wives, settled near each other and were pleased with their father’s arrangements. Each had children, each had a clever brother, and when the war between patriots and loyalists broke out, these four grandmothers were given title to the lands of their husbands while the war raged in a bold strategy to preserve the lands for His Majesty. At the urging of their clever brother, the four grandmothers signed loyalty oaths to the Patriot cause as soon as their husbands were called up to the service of the war, and thus were not killed or burned out during raids by Patriots. The four grandmothers and their brother kept title to all of the lands that had formerly belonged to His Majesty, and through legal machinations after the war, become recognized by the Government of the State of New Jersey as the legal owners of the lands.
Russell’s Knob then is Grandmother’s town. The oldest inhabitants did, in fact, call it Grandmother's town. But it came to be called Russell’s Knob in the late 18th century when all of the settlers accepted the idea first proposed by Russell Sitton, grandson of one of the Grandmothers, that upon these lands no slave catcher, no slave trader, no bounty hunter or profiteer could pursue a bond person and that no one who reached the town would be forced to return to slavery. Russell Sitton’s band vowed to defend themselves against outside threat and, after several burn-outs, hid themselves and fortified with weapons.
Closing the book
I like basketball. Lately I've noticed -- other folks have noticed for me -- that I'm now picking up the game's metaphors. Yeah, I suppose I am. "Putting it all on the floor." I think I did. "Taking it straight to the hole." I hope I did. "Draining it from way outside." Yes, I tried to and now I figure it is safe to say:
"Book it!" Read my blog as I'm musing about the process of walking up to the publication date ( JULY 8) of my latest novel, ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE.
http://angelsmaketheirhopehere.tumblr...
"Book it!" Read my blog as I'm musing about the process of walking up to the publication date ( JULY 8) of my latest novel, ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE.
http://angelsmaketheirhopehere.tumblr...
Brave Women
1812: Cochabamba
Women
“From Cochabamba, many men have fled. Not one woman. On the hillside, a great clamor. Cochabamba’s plebeian women, at bay, fight from the center of a circle of fire.
Surrounded by five thousand Spaniards, they resist with battered tin guns and a few arquebuses: and they fight to the last yell, whose echoes will resound throughout the long war for independence."
- Eduardo Galeano, “Memory of Fire II. Faces And Masks”
Faces and Masks
The American continent is so very often imagined as a thing conquered/tamed by heroic individuals mostly characterized as men – rough, aggressive men who bring a sort of order to this vast expanse.
Many brave women have left their tracks on this continent, too. Read my blog here:
http://angelsmaketheirhopehere.tumblr...
Women
“From Cochabamba, many men have fled. Not one woman. On the hillside, a great clamor. Cochabamba’s plebeian women, at bay, fight from the center of a circle of fire.
Surrounded by five thousand Spaniards, they resist with battered tin guns and a few arquebuses: and they fight to the last yell, whose echoes will resound throughout the long war for independence."
- Eduardo Galeano, “Memory of Fire II. Faces And Masks”
Faces and Masks
The American continent is so very often imagined as a thing conquered/tamed by heroic individuals mostly characterized as men – rough, aggressive men who bring a sort of order to this vast expanse.
Many brave women have left their tracks on this continent, too. Read my blog here:
http://angelsmaketheirhopehere.tumblr...
Letting Go
Motherhood for an enslaved mother is a cruel, but simple calculation: all of the issue of an owned woman are owned. Would you free your child by sending her away and understanding clearly that you would not ever see her again?
For a fuller discussion, read my blog at: http://angelsmaketheirhopehere.tumblr...
For a fuller discussion, read my blog at: http://angelsmaketheirhopehere.tumblr...
Sale! Sale! Sale!
Extra! Extra! Hachette is offering a sale on eBOOK preorders of ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE beginning today( June 26th) through July 8th, Publication Date.
Watch the video trailer at: http://bit.ly/Vp6pac
Helmar Cooper and Breena Clarke read out loud a few tidbits from ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE
Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to suit up your eReader and be ready when the coach calls . . . I mean when pub date comes on July 8th.
Here's a list of links to ebook retailers who are excited to take PREORDERS for ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE:
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ange...
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...
Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=te_i...
Ebooks.com: http://www.ebooks.com/1335182/angels-...
Barnes and Noble (ebook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angel...
Watch the video trailer at: http://bit.ly/Vp6pac
Helmar Cooper and Breena Clarke read out loud a few tidbits from ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE
Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to suit up your eReader and be ready when the coach calls . . . I mean when pub date comes on July 8th.
Here's a list of links to ebook retailers who are excited to take PREORDERS for ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE:
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ange...
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...
Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=te_i...
Ebooks.com: http://www.ebooks.com/1335182/angels-...
Barnes and Noble (ebook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angel...
Celebrate Independence Day
Celebrate Independence Day by purchasing your copy of ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE from an independent bookstore in your community. Find a location at Indiebound:
http://bit.ly/VjDy6R
http://bit.ly/VjDy6R
Today's the Day! ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE is on sale!
My latst novel, ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE
is ON-SALE today in all formats.
read an excerpt here: http://on.fb.me/1mTY0Wt
listen to an excerpt of the audiobook: http://bit.ly/UZxal7
is ON-SALE today in all formats.
read an excerpt here: http://on.fb.me/1mTY0Wt
listen to an excerpt of the audiobook: http://bit.ly/UZxal7
Mapping the real and imagined
Robert S. Duncanson (1821 – December 21, 1872) was an African-American painter associated with the Hudson River School. - wikipedia
When I read about Robert S. Duncanson’s intriguing, complex identity and saw photos of the romantic idyllls he painted, I wanted to get an upclose look to see if I could feel inspired by his work. I went to Newark Museum’s American Art collection to see an important Duncanson painting, Mountain Landscape with Cows and Sheep, that is part of the Museum’s permanent collection of American paintings.
go to: http://bit.ly/1pEMKP0 to see several pix of Duncanson's paintings.
link to Placing Literature and check out the locations in ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE I've mapped. http://bit.ly/1llQEqG
Check out this podcast interview. I discuss the creation of Russell's Knob.
When I read about Robert S. Duncanson’s intriguing, complex identity and saw photos of the romantic idyllls he painted, I wanted to get an upclose look to see if I could feel inspired by his work. I went to Newark Museum’s American Art collection to see an important Duncanson painting, Mountain Landscape with Cows and Sheep, that is part of the Museum’s permanent collection of American paintings.
go to: http://bit.ly/1pEMKP0 to see several pix of Duncanson's paintings.
link to Placing Literature and check out the locations in ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE I've mapped. http://bit.ly/1llQEqG
Check out this podcast interview. I discuss the creation of Russell's Knob.
The life of an enslaved child
Angels Make Their Hope Here
"The life of an enslaved child held no guarantee that she would not be involuntarily separated from her mother and father. She might be sold, she might be put to work on another plantation, she may be beaten, she may be raped, she may die of disease or malnutrition. The only certainty in her life is that the people who love her cannot protect her. They can only facilitate her escape. Fear, uncertainty and a certain certainty motivate Dossie’s parents to make a plan and implement it.”
from the interview with Breena Clarke on LATE NIGHT LIBRARY
I was pleased to have the opportunity talk with Anne Rasmussen for Late Night Library and muse on my characters, discuss their roles as parents and offer insights about the tri-racial community of Russell’s Knob. I shared some of the photographs that I use to nourish my creative imagination. Once I’ve “adopted” a soul captured by chemicals and light, I feel as though they’re my own People.
read my entire interview at : http://bit.ly/1vimpLq
"The life of an enslaved child held no guarantee that she would not be involuntarily separated from her mother and father. She might be sold, she might be put to work on another plantation, she may be beaten, she may be raped, she may die of disease or malnutrition. The only certainty in her life is that the people who love her cannot protect her. They can only facilitate her escape. Fear, uncertainty and a certain certainty motivate Dossie’s parents to make a plan and implement it.”
from the interview with Breena Clarke on LATE NIGHT LIBRARY
I was pleased to have the opportunity talk with Anne Rasmussen for Late Night Library and muse on my characters, discuss their roles as parents and offer insights about the tri-racial community of Russell’s Knob. I shared some of the photographs that I use to nourish my creative imagination. Once I’ve “adopted” a soul captured by chemicals and light, I feel as though they’re my own People.
read my entire interview at : http://bit.ly/1vimpLq
A Few Whiles
I knew a boy once who thought that, if there was one while, i.e. a unit – a while of time, then surely there were two whiles and three and so on to several. So, often he would say that he’d be back in
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