Black contractors Win Major battle for Federal contract

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Comment by Bob Shipman on May 12, 2009 at 12:20am

Comment by Bob Shipman on May 11, 2009 at 11:37pm

Today the contractors of color and minority companies staged a dry run of the protest in planning. This protest is geared to highlight the lack of black workers and sub contractors on the major jobs in the city of Philadelphia Pa

Comment by Pedro Dixon on May 10, 2009 at 5:51pm

Bob
Great coverage on that, story. Look a horrible injustice happened to our race, to enslaved any human. The stories that were told in my lifetime and the many stories and books, left to be told, and written still amazes me. The thought of having or to perceive a majority of a race of people, who enslaved a race of people, to work on a project saying; it is for the race they hurt. Could be viewed as an insult. Those who enslaved also built huts, shackles, whips and selling blocks. An assurance that a proper excavation of this property was not done with out rush leaving other pertain artifacts hidden? A non-bias organization should signoff on this. Non-bias funding to erect such a project would be next. We really don't need to erect another hut because; the Government said a memorial could be built there. Planning for a building that will stand all time and element. Erect one that a hurt race of people would be proud of. We must be absolutely sure that, the spirits illuminate from the people who are building it. We’ll know that house was built because we want to build it. We want it to represent a race of people who was slaves. I hope project manager can see the full scope of this picture, and not for the full greed of the almighty dollar. If for one second some of our black contractors are doing this just for that white dollar "only". Look, I know a good metal company who could make some shackles for the people they will be using on that project. Because, they would be no better off than that race who enslaved us from the very beginning. It is time to put that racist and hate in your back pockets. Learn from our past and please let’s all join together in the country looking towards the future through education. Isn’t that what this project is all about? May God bless each and everyone, for a good outcome on this project. Pedro Dixon 5/10/09

Comment by Bob Shipman on May 9, 2009 at 9:16am

Great (his)story.Amazing that a chef had such celebrity then.


HOME HISTORY SLAVERY 1947-PRESENT
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Hercules
By Edward Lawler, Jr.


Museo Thyssen Bornemisza, Spain
"Presumed Portrait of George Washington's Cook"
Attributed to Gilbert StuartHercules, one of Washington's slaves, was the chief cook at Mount Vernon by 1786, and was described by G. W. Parke Custis as "a celebrated artiste … as highly accomplished a proficient in the culinary art as could be found in the United States." Washington was dissatisfied with the cook in the presidential residences in New York City, and brought Hercules to Philadelphia in November 1790.

Hercules had been married to a dower slave named Lame Alice, a seamstress at Mount Vernon, and they had three children, Richmond (born 1777), Evey (born 1782), and Delia (born 1785). Alice died in 1787, leaving Hercules to raise the children. When he learned that he was to be transferred to Philadelphia, he asked Washington's permission to bring his son with him to the President's House. It is likely that Hercules, Richmond and Christopher shared a divided room on the fourth floor of the main house.

Hercules's expertise as a cook was appreciated by the Washingtons, and he was given special privileges. It was estimated that he earned "from one to two hundred dollars a year" by selling the leftovers from the presidential kitchen. According to Custis, Hercules was a "celebrated dandy," and spent this money on expensive clothing and luxuries. A vigorous portrait attributed to Gilbert Stuart is thought to depict him.

Several years after his wife's death, Hercules seems to have had a child by another woman, but her identity and if they married is unrecorded. Hercules escaped to freedom in March 1797, at the end of Washington's presidency, either on the morning they were to return to Mount Vernon, or the night before.

About a month after Hercules's escape, Prince Louis-Philippe of France visited Mount Vernon. His manservant spoke with Hercules's 6-year-old daughter, and ventured that she must have been upset that she would never see her father again. The girl reportedly replied, "Oh! Sir, I am very glad, because he is free now."

By the provisions of Washington's will, Hercules was legally emancipated in 1801, making him no longer a fugitive but a free man. Richmond, Evey, and Delia, dower slaves through their mother, remained in bondage.

(This biographical sketch is partially based upon the unpublished work of Mary V. Thompson, Research Specialist, Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Washington Parke Custis, Recollections and Private Memoirs of the Life and Character of Washington
Benson J. Lossing, ed. (New York, 1860), 422-24.

The chief cook would have been termed in modern parlance, a celebrated artiste. He was named Hercules, and familiarly termed Uncle Harkless. Trained in the mysteries of his part from early youth, and in the palmy days of Virginia, when her thousand chimneys smoked to indicate the generous hospitality that reigned throughout the whole length and breadth of her wide domain, Uncle Harkless was, at the period of the first presidency, as highly accomplished a proficient in the culinary arts as could be found in the United States. He was a dark-brown man, little, if any above the usual size, yet possessed of such great muscular power as to entitle him to be compared with his namesake of fabulous history.

The chief cook gloried in the cleanliness and nicety of his kitchen. Under his iron discipline, wo[e] to his underlings if speck or spot could be discovered on the tables or dressers, or if the utensils did not shine like polished silver. With the luckless wights who had offended in these particulars there was no arrest of punishment, for judgment and execution went hand in hand.The steward, and indeed the whole household, treated the chief cook with such respect, as well for his valuable services as for his general good character and pleasing manners.

It was while preparing the Thursday or Congress dinner that Uncle Harkless shone in all his splendor. During his labors upon this banquet he required some half dozen aprons, and napkins out of number. It was surprising the order and discipline that was observed in so bustling a scene. His underlings flew in all directions to execute his orders, while he, the great master-spirit, seemed to possess the power of ubiquity, and to be everywhere at the same moment.

When the steward in snow-white apron, silk shorts and stockings, and hair in full powder, placed the first dish on the table, the clock being on the stroke of four, "the labors of Hercules" ceased.

While the masters of the republic were engaged in discussing the savory viands of the Congress dinner, the chief cook retired to make his toilet for an evening promenade. His prerequisites from the slops of the kitchen were from one to two hundred dollars a year. Though homely in person, he lavished the most of these large avails upon dress. In making his toilet his linen was of unexceptional whiteness and quality, then black silk shorts, ditto waistcoat, ditto stockings, shoes highly polished, with large buckles covering a considerable part of the foot, blue cloth with velvet collar and bright metal buttons, a long watch-chain dangling from his fob, a cocked-hat and gold-headed cane completed the grand costume of the celebrated dandy (for there were dandies in those days) of the president's kitchen.

Thus arrayed, the chief cook invariably passed out at the front door, the porter making a low bow, which was promptly returned. Joining his brother-loungers of the pave, he proceeded up Market street, attracting considerable attention, that street being, in the old times, the resort where fashionables "did most congregate." Many were not a little surprised to behold so extraordinary a personage, while others who knew him would make a formal and respectful bow, that they might receive in return the salute of one of the most polished gentlemen and the veriest dandy of nearly sixty years ago.

Comment by Bob Shipman on May 8, 2009 at 3:58pm

PD, u r the man of the hour..I did not know if anyone could our would read the story and comment is nice...Tell ms. Gregory Bob from the Institute for the Study of Civic Values sends his lov

Comment by Pedro Dixon on May 8, 2009 at 2:17pm

It is so good to hear Congressman Fattah, along with Congressman Robert Brady of Pennsylvania is in full support of this project. thanks for your continuance in seeing such vital infomation iis passed on. My wonderful and honored freind who worked with Congressman Robert Brady Mrs. Shirley Gregory Ward Leader of the 49th Ward would also in form us of these happennings. This project is ever so important to all of us.

Comment by Bob Shipman on May 8, 2009 at 7:53am

http://www.myspace.com/avengingtheancestors

www.avengingtheancestors.com

Comment by Bob Shipman on May 8, 2009 at 7:52am

Must visit sites

don't stop there go here

Comment by Bob Shipman on May 7, 2009 at 10:51pm

http://www.myspace.com/avengingtheancestors

Comment by Bob Shipman on May 7, 2009 at 10:50pm

A.T.A.C. (Avenging the Ancestors Coalition) MICHAEL COARD, ESQUIRE - FOUNDER ------------------------------------ ATAC is a broad-based coalition of historians, activists, attorneys, elected officials, religious leaders, media personalities, and other tax-paying voters — descendants of the victims of the greatest holocaust in the history of humankind. ATAC has the active support of Black (and other) elected officials throughout Pennsylvania. What Have We Done? ATAC spearheaded a letter-writing campaign, garnering over 15,000 signatures. ATAC held large and vocal demonstrations annually, usually on July 3, from 2002-2007, in connection with the President's House project. In October 2003, ATAC helped secure $1.5 million from Mayor John Street of Philadelphia toward funding the President's House project. ATAC provided substantial documentation to U.S. House Appropriations Committee member Congressman Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania who was instrumental in securing an amendment to the Interior Department's 2003 budget requiring the National Park Service to develop plans for the President's House site, including an "appropriate commemoration" of the nine enslaved African descendants there. In August 2005, primarily through the efforts of Congressman Fattah along with the assistance of Congressman Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, $3.6 million in federal funding was made available for the site and the commemoration. For more information, Contact Us. Also, visit ushistory.org/presidentshouse/slaves
Who I'd like to meet:
other descendants of the victims of the greatest holocaust in the history of humankind. YOU! Please visit ATAC's official website at www.avengingtheancestors.com. Also, contact ATAC at its official email address at: ATAC@avengingtheancestors.com or call ATAC at its official telephone number at 215/552-8751. ATAC's next meeting is Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at Zion Baptist Church, Broad and Venango, in Philadelphia

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