Welcome to the very first minisode in our Black from the Past™ series.
Black from the Past™ is our contribution to preserving and normalizing Black history.
Here’s where we shine a light on Black women who are often forgotten, but have most certainly made an impact on the Black female culture.
Today’s spotlight is shinning bright on Margaret Garner, who in one heart wrenching moment slit the throat of her 2-year-old daughter rather than return her to slavery.
Tune in to hear an account of Margaret Garner’s desperate act of love.
Here are few things to ponder while listening:
- How far back the dehumanization of Black people date
- The depths that a parent will go to ensure her child is out of harm’s way
- The Psychological and emotional effects that Slavery had on Black people
- Slavery being a worse fate than death
Not only have artists and poets honored Margaret Garner with their paintbrushes and proses, her story was the inspiration behind Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved, (also available as an audio book) paper back the movie Beloved starring Oprah Winfrey, Kimberly Elise, and Thandie Newton, and it later inspired the 2005 opera, Margaret Garner composed by Richard Danielpour.
Although indirectly, Margaret Garner has made significant contributions to the Black female experience. So today we shine a light on her, we celebrate her and we honor her.
Below are a few links where you can read more about her story.
- https://www.blackpast.org/
african-american-history/ margaret-garner-incident-1856/ - https://www.npr.org/2010/11/
17/131395936/a-mother-s- desperate-act-margaret-garner - https://www.waymarking.com/
waymarks/WM2F7K_Stampede_of_ Slaves_The_Margaret_Garner_ Family_Tragedy_Near_Covington_ KY - https://mrroukisela.files.
wordpress.com/2019/01/ commonlit_margaret-garner- defying-the-fugitive-slave- act_student.pdf
Do you have a family member or know of someone you would like to see us shine a light on? Send us an email at hi@shadesofstrong.com with the subject line Black from the Past suggestion or hop over to our website at shadesofstrong.com and leave us a voice message and we’ll do our best to make it happen.
