A letter from A “FREE AMERICAN” to his former Slave Owner
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under NEWS
In August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee, wrote to his former slave, Jourdan Anderson, and requested that he come back to work on his farm. Jourdan — who, since being emancipated, had moved to Ohio, found paid work, and was now supporting his family — responded spectacularly by way of the letter seen below (a letter which, according to newspapers at the time, he dictated).
Rather than quote the numerous highlights in this letter, I’ll simply leave you to enjoy it. Do make sure you read to the end.
(Source: The Freedmen’s Book; Image: A group of escaped slaves in Virginia in 1862, courtesy of the Library of Congress.)
Dayton, Ohio,
August 7, 1865
To My Old Master, Colonel P.H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee
Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin’s to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.
I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,—the folks call her Mrs. Anderson,—and the children—Milly, Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others saying, “Them colored people were slaves” down in Tennessee. The children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.
As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor’s visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams’s Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.
In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. You know how it was with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay here and starve—and die, if it come to that—than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits.
Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.
From your old servant,
Jourdon Anderson.
Please visit www.lettersofnote.com
Tags: AMERICA, BANSKY, BOMBING, BOOKS, CUKILLZ, EZO.SHEPARD FAIREY, EZO.WIPPLER, GRAFFITI, GRAFFITTI, MIGENE GONZALEZ WIPPLER, POP ART, President Obama, PUERTO RICAN AUTHORS, slavery, tennesee, the United States of America, WIPPLER
GEORGE CARLIN ALWAY’S tells it like it is
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under 9/11, BOOKS, FILM, NEWS, PAINTINGS
For me personally when I’m feeling a little lost and need some direction or just need some Fucking Truth and Clarity. George Carlin is my go to Guy…take the time to check out the link under the pic of one of his more truthful moments and his many other performances on www.youtube.com
george carlins greatest moment
Tags: carlin, comedian, george carlin, politics, truth
Woo Woo Wildstyle
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under NEWS, PAINTINGS, STREET ACTION
I came across this truck today tagged by sometime undercover Agent Tracy 168.. and it was a good thing to see…Like any great artist, Tracy 168 evokes emotional opinions that span the full spectrum from all sides. but they can all agree that on a career spanning 4 decades, The man is Consistant..
Woo Woo WILDSTYLE!
Tags: BANSKY, BOMBING, CUKILLZ, Dondi CIA, EZO.SHEPARD FAIREY, EZO.WIPPLER, KEITH HARING, PAINTING, POP ART, STREETART, tracy168, wildstyle
Take it to the Bridge
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under COMIX, DRAWINGS, FILM, MUSIC, PAINTINGS, POLITICS, SHOWS, STREET ACTION
Rolling on The Don P Peace Train….
Tags: BANSKY, BOMBING, CUKILLZ, Dan Fogler, Don Peyote, EZO.SHEPARD FAIREY, EZO.WIPPLER, GRAFFITI, GRAFFITTI, KEITH HARING, OBEY, POP ART, STREET ART, WIPPLER
EZO street Action..PEACE is the New F.U
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under 9/11, FILM, NEWS, PAINTINGS, POLITICS, SHOWS, STREET ACTION
Heading into the Faux-lidays I gave myself… “The GALLERY OUTLAW” the Best present possible…A new Series, Hand painted and Hung in my Gallery, namely The Streets of the City of New York. This series is called:
PEACE IS THE NEW F.U!
It illustrates that the idea of Peace, Self Respect and Human Dignity is not DEAD and that We the 99% do Count.
So no matter the amount of Douchbaggery you may face, You may be battered and tired but You can stand in the face of all that is wrong with OUR WORLD…and Raise your tired fingers and SHOUT F.U! and if you can’t,No worries, I’ll be doing it for you…ENJOY!
Tags: BANSKY, BOMBING, CUKILLZ, Don Peyote, Dondi CIA, EZO.SHEPARD FAIREY, EZO.WIPPLER, GRAFFITI, GRAFFITTI, harlem, Kase2, KEITH HARING, OBEY, POP ART, STREET ART, STREETART, WIPPLER
JON 156 Sculpture Show
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under NEWS, PAINTINGS, SHOWS, STREET ACTION
Tags: 156, BANSKY, BOMBING, CUKILLZ, Dondi, Dondi CIA, EZO.SHEPARD FAIREY, EZO.WIPPLER, GRAFFITI, GRAFFITTI, harlem, Jon 156, JONONE, KEITH HARING, OBEY, PAINTING, Paris, Sculpture, SEEN, STREETART, WIPPLER, Zephyr
ZEPHYR Speaks…
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under BOOKS, NEWS, SHOWS, STREET ACTION
I conducted this Short interview with my Boy The Enigmatic Zephyr last week..En-JOI
E: You have done quite a few interviews and have been the subject of Articles, Etc. Your History and influence is well documented in the movement. But I’m more interested in your beginnings and motivation as a graffiti artist/painter and that personal evolution. New York city in the 60′s and 70′s and early 80′s was a vastly different city than it is today. How did that environment and your life at that time conspire to lead you into the movement.
Z:From day one I resisted authority. As a kid this simply meant not liking being told what to do. When I was ten years old I began venturing down to The Village, where I saw images of Angela Davis and Abbie Hoffman in the poster shops. I was fascinated and drawn toward these folks, before I even understood who they were. I knew they were not rock musicians, and I was amazed that they could cultivate the same adoration that was then reserved for musicians who played The Fillmore. Around that time I saw the movie “Easy Rider” and was never the same. I was too young to have a rational grasp of Vietnam, The Panthers, or psychedelic drug use, but I did my best to advance my little adolescent self into the counter culture. Graffiti was a little later—an outgrowth of playing hooky and hanging out behind the Bandshell in Central Park with the likes of SHADOW, MALTA, STEVE 161 and LSD OM.
E: The Pre Min RTW was known for a particular tag style. Your Tag style has that iconic flavor from that era.. how did you develop it and who influenced you the most from that time..
Z: AZTEC and JESTER and two guys from the Walden School, CURSE 5 and PERIL.
E: You’ve had many Bombing Partners in your long Graffiti Career. from your associates in RTW to Dondi to Fuzz one to the Mayhem Crew and everyone in between. A partner brings a particular flavor, a skill set to a bombing mission, sometimes making it more successful or bringing more danger and uncertainty to it. Which were your more successful associations and which ones were not.
Z:REVOLT and I think alike. We’re both demented, so he will always be my number one homie. As for less successful partnerships, here’s a story. I was doing freights with a guy at one point a few years back, and he was so mentally unstable that he started dogging my pieces behind my back. He’s probably dead or residing in a psych ward now.
E: Wildstyle is a signpost, it’s logo an iconic symbol of the Golden age of Street Culture. One of the first of many Films attempting to portray Graffiti in a Dramatic way as opposed to a straight Documentary, it also helped to permanently link Graffiti to HipHop. Charlie Ahearn’s film brought together on film… LEE, PINK, IZ the Wiz, DONDI Yourself and others. It’s History is fraught with many controversies as any important work should. What are your Thoughts on Wildstyle?
Z: I always call it “The Harder They Come” of HipHop. Nuff said.
E: You were a part of a pivotal time in the movement when it truly began to transcend from the Trains to the Artworld, how did that transition develop from your standpoint and how do you see that development impacting on You and The Artworld in General?
Z:It was great being part of the Fun Gallery and it was also gratifying to be compensated for the art I made, but the art world is really just an elitist trash heap, and for better or worse, it has never handled graffiti in a discerning way. Obviously, these days, subway graffiti has been completely eclipsed by “Street Art”, with folks like Banksy selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
E: How did the Fun Gallery come about and how was the working relationship between You and Dondi and Futura and Ero, You four being the House Graffiti Artists, there must have been some interesting moments.
Z:You have left out Crash, Pink, Lee, Fab Five Freddy and many others who were part of the Fun Gallery roster. The history of the Fun Gallery has been well-documented, so I won’t repeat it here, but the term “House Graffiti Artists” sounds horribly offensive. Patti Astor was the first person to ever give a subway painter a one-man show. Good legacy in my book.
E: you were Good friends with Dondi, what were some of the Cars you painted with him and can you give us some insight into his development from a Painter of Subway Trains to a Draftsman of the Blueprint Drawings and why he eventually shied away from Painting altogether? He did a few handball courts in the eighties with Fuzzone and Flame in Queens and of course The Buffalo Gals wall for the Video but afterwards he seemed to favor Drawing to Painting. Any thoughts on that?
Z: Dondi and I painted many trains together. As for the subject of his trajectory as an artist, he struggled with his identity as an artist, and sometimes even the process of creating art weighed heavily on him. However, the mysteries of what drove him to make the choices he did died with him in 1998, so anything I could say on the subject would primarily be speculation, so I’ll refrain. Thankfully Dondi left behind an extraordinary body of work, and his work will enlighten and inspire future generations forever.
When we did the “Heroin Kills” car we had do to two of them the same day because right before we put on the outlines, the car pulled out. Aeron was inside the train when it pulled out, and he had to jump out while it was moving.
We had enough paint, so we started the car all over again. That whole week I kept hearing guys from the bench telling me “Yeah, you did TWO of those “Heroin Kills” trains, didn’t you?” That was pretty funny.
I have a photo of me painting that train back in 1980. Broad daylight, casual attire. Bowling shirt, of course!
E: I remember your comeback around 1993-94 on walls and then unto Freights, how did that develop?
Z:In October 1992 the Groningen Museum, in Holland, had a major graffiti exhibit. They flew many of the featured artists over for the opening, and I was one of them. At the time I had removed myself from graff. I was burnt out from it. By 1986 or ’87 I needed new things to look at and think about, and I really didn’t pay much attention to graffiti. Being at that exhibit reminded me how much I loved graffiti, and when I got back I went straight to the Soul Artists wall in Riverside Park and did some ugly pieces with LSD OM. That was the start of my second go round.
E: Trains Versus Freights Compare and Contrast…is there much difference?
Z:Huge difference. Subways carry people, freights carry boxes. Subways are alive, freights are dead. But freights are still fun to paint, even though they rarely offer smooth surfaces like subways do.
E: Trains Versus Canvas, different Graffiti Artists deal with the issues involved differently. Some feel painting canvases is a sell out, some feel if they paint canvases they must also balance it out with some street action ( Bombing), some feel they don’t have anything to prove anymore or their just too old and tired. How do you handle the issue?
Z: Painting trains is pure freedom Everything else is me in a box with a piece of paper. But there’s a time and a place for everything, n’est ce pas?
E: your Throwup was JOI, where did that name come from and how did you settle on that letter style. What are your Favorite Throwups? Your Favorite Tags?
Z: JOI is french for JOY. I like doing graffiti, so I wrote JOY, but the “Y” was using too much paint, so I changed it to an “I”. As for Favorite Throwup and Tags? Unbelievably, the same person gets both honors. DY 167 and JESTER.
E: Whats your Feelings about the Worldwide Street Art Movement.
Z:I appreciate the dedication and talent but I’m dismayed because none of it matches my couch.
E: You began working on Graffiti 365 with Jayson and wrote it’s Forward. You have also been writing Articles since the late 90′s as well writing “The Style Master General” The Dondi Biography. You seem to have Transformed from a Graffiti Writer to a WRITER of Letters. How did this happen?
Z: Unbelievably, there are people willing to actually pay me money to write down what I think. Go figure. I’m a hack, but I guess I have exploited some kind of obscure niche for generating questionable-quality pop culture commentary.
E: Where does Zephyr stand today? With such a long Graffiti History already written, Is there more to be added to that History as an active Writer? As a Writer Myself I personally don’t believe in retirement. any thoughts on that.
Z:Oh man. When I come back, I’m taking over everything!
Peace! I’m out.
Photo credits and All Rights: Henry Chalfant, Haze, Zomboider,Urban Photos @Flickr
Tags: AUTHOR, BANSKY, BOMBING, Dondi, Dondi CIA, EZO.SHEPARD FAIREY, EZO.WIPPLER, GRAFFITI, GRAFFITTI, KEITH HARING, OBEY, POP ART, RTW, STREET ART, STREETART, Writer, Zephyr
A Love Story in the Face of the Inevitable
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under NEWS
It is said that there are 10 million stories in this city and 7 billion more on this Planet and that is just the People.
Each story is a lesson that will instruct you if you listen and allow it.
This one is about The Triumph of Love, The Courage of the Human Spirit and The Loss that we must all carry with us until it is our turn to lay down our Earthly Burdens.
We have many enemies as Human Beings but CANCER stands out as one of the Most Insidious and Demoralizing. It has robbed me of Family and Friends as it has to most of you as well. But not of the Courage to stand with My fellow Human Beings to face it and out of the Hope of one day defeating it. I urge you to visit the sites after.. A True Love Story.
Not out of Tragic necessity, Hopefully but out of a need to learn how to help against this Common Enemy.
How’s this story for a reminder that “We don’t know we’re alive”.
Her name is Katie Kirkpatrick, 21 yrs old. Next to her is her fiancé, Nick, 23. This picture was taken prior to their wedding January 11th, 2005. Katie has terminal cancer and spends hours in chemotherapy. Here Nick awaits while she finishes one of the sessions…
Even in pain and dealing with her organs shutting down, with the help of morphine, Katie took care of every single part of the wedding planning. Her dress had to be adjusted several times due to Katie ‘s constant weight loss.
An expected guest was her oxygen tank. Katie had to use it during the ceremony and reception. The other couple in this picture is Nick’s parents, very emotional with the wedding and to see their son marrying the girl he fell in love when he was an adolescent.
Katie, in a wheel chair listening to her husband and friends singing to her.
In the middle of the party, Katie had to rest for a bit and catch her breath. The pain does not allow her to stand for long period of time.
Katie died 5 days after her wedding. To see a fragile woman dress as bride with a beautiful smile makes you think… Happiness is always there within reach, no matter how long it lasts. Let’s enjoy life and don’t live a complicated life. Life is too short.
Work as if it was your first day. Forgive as soon as possible.
Love without boundaries. Laugh without control and never stop smiling Please pray for those suffering from cancer.
Tags: American cancer Society, CANCER, Katie Kirkpatrick, LOVE, Nick, Wedding
RIFF 170 needs your Help
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under DRAWINGS, NEWS
Riff 170 Style Pioneer is Homeless and needs your Help, Every little bit Helps so please Go to the link below to see how you can Purchase an extraordinary piece of Riff Artwork and also contribute to the Fund..Don’t Front
http://www.indiegogo.com/Help-graffiti-pioneer-Riff-170-get-a-home
www.dirtypilot.com www.subwayoutlaws.com
Tags: BANSKY, BOMBING, CUKILLZ, EZO.SHEPARD FAIREY, EZO.WIPPLER, GRAFFITI, GRAFFITTI, Kase2, KEITH HARING, PAINTING, POP ART, Riff 170, STREET ART, STREETART, whatyouwrite.com, WIPPLER
Piri Thomas ..Down that Mean Street
Posted by Megadriel | Filed under BOOKS, NEWS
Piri Thomas (September 30, 1928 – October 17, 2011) was a writer and poet whose autobiography Down These Mean Streets became a best-seller.
Early years
Thomas (birth name: Juan Pedro Tomas) was born to a Puerto Rican mother and Cuban father. His childhood neighborhood in the Spanish Harlem section of New York City was riddled with crime and violence. According to Thomas, children were expected to be gang members at a young age, and Thomas was no exception. Thomas was also exposed to racial discrimination because of the color of his skin and because he was Hispanic. [1]
Thomas was involved with drugs, gang warfare and crime, and spent six years in prison as a consequence. While in prison, Thomas reflected on the teachings of his mother and father. He came to realize that a person is not born a criminal. Consequently he developed a conviction that he should use all of his street and prison know-how to reach at-risk youth, and to help them avoid a life of crime.[1]
Down These Mean Streets
In 1967, Thomas received funds from the Rabinowitz Foundation to write and publish his best-selling autobiography Down These Mean Streets. The book describes his struggle for survival as a Puerto Rican/Cuban born and raised in the barrios of New York. It has been in print for over 43 years. His other works include Savior, Savior Hold My Hand; Seven Long Times; and Stories from El Barrio. [2]
Thomas was influential in the Nuyorican Movement and worked on a book titled A Matter of Dignity. He also worked on an educational film titled Dialogue with Society.
“It came very naturally,” he told an interviewer. “I promised God that if he didn’t let me die in prison, I would use the Flow. He called writing “the Flow.” ”
The book, with its harsh language and scenes, was banned by some schools but soon became assigned reading in many others. The poet Martin Espada said its influence was enormous.
“Because he became a writer, many of us became writers,” Mr. Espada said. “Before ‘Down These Mean Streets,’ we could not find a book by a Puerto Rican writer in the English language about the experience of that community, in that voice, with that tone and subject matter.”
Carolina González, a professor of literature at Rutgers University, said her students continue to find the book “very immediate and descriptive of their lives.”
Thomas traveled around the U.S., Central America and Europe, giving lectures and conducting workshops in colleges and universities. He was the subject of the film Every Child is Born a Poet: The Life and Work of Piri Thomas, by Jonathan Robinson, which featured a soundtrack by Kip Hanrahan. [2]
On October 17, 2011, Thomas died from pneumonia at his home in El Cerrito, California. He is survived by his wife Suzie Dod Thomas, six children, and three stepchildren.[3]
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/books/piri-thomas-author-of-down-these-mean-streets-dies.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piri_Thomas
Official piri thomas website : http://www.cheverote.com/
Tags: AUTHOR, BOOKS, down those mean streets, East Harlem, el barrio, harlem, hector lavoe, HISPANIC AUTHORS, MIGENE GONZALEZ WIPPLER, nuyorican, Piri Thomas, poet, PUERTO RICAN AUTHORS, purto rican, tito puente, willie colon, WIPPLER, WOMEN AUTHORS
