Jenna! I’d like to say that my first impulse after reading this story was to immediately go online and reserve a copy of the book you mentioned with my local library. I’m impressed with the way you are bringing us into the conversation of the Haitian Revolution and how much we don’t know about it. Or, to confess, I knew nothing at all about it until you brought it to my attention.
But I didn’t. I was too engrossed with your Baltimore story.
My own story is pretty tame by comparison. I was with my daughter more than a couple of decades ago. She was thinking about attending the Maryland Institute College of The Arts, and I was along for the ride. We stayed at a place that could easily have been one of the many houses associated with Poe. There was some association with a raven, of course. I remember having a crab cake dinner in a restaurant in the newly gentrified harbor, watching an iron pour, and wandering around the city as she sat with other potential students in seminars secretly designed to help them get parents to fork over a s**t load of money for an (admittedly) worthwhile and prestigious degree. She ended up with an MFA in design from another institution, that has served her quite well.
I love your story ! We did not watch an iron pour or even eat a crab cake dinner (?!?). There was a newly gentrified harbor though. I hope my daughter's let me tag along on all their adventures someday too.
As for reserving a copy at the library, hopefully you read faster than me! I am currently reading David Copperfield via library books and I have to keep returning my copy and getting on another waiting list. I think I'm on my 3rd copy.
Thanks for reading as usual :) I'm so happy we've gotten to know each other a bit via Substack. Lots of hugs.
Jenna! I love this piece. Frederick Douglass is a true inspiration, and I appreciate that you're highlighting his legacy. I am especially moved by this line you included (from his speech on Haiti) "Religion: '…the conscience of the Christian world slept profoundly over slavery'" ...the idea of people "sleeping" or keeping in their heads in the sand to injustice and atrocities is something I find very interesting and upsetting. It reminds me of the "bystander effect" we see in social dynamics among children and in school bullying situations (and among adults, too). Great article.
Great story-telling, Jenna! You make places, as well as history, come alive!
Jenna! I’d like to say that my first impulse after reading this story was to immediately go online and reserve a copy of the book you mentioned with my local library. I’m impressed with the way you are bringing us into the conversation of the Haitian Revolution and how much we don’t know about it. Or, to confess, I knew nothing at all about it until you brought it to my attention.
But I didn’t. I was too engrossed with your Baltimore story.
My own story is pretty tame by comparison. I was with my daughter more than a couple of decades ago. She was thinking about attending the Maryland Institute College of The Arts, and I was along for the ride. We stayed at a place that could easily have been one of the many houses associated with Poe. There was some association with a raven, of course. I remember having a crab cake dinner in a restaurant in the newly gentrified harbor, watching an iron pour, and wandering around the city as she sat with other potential students in seminars secretly designed to help them get parents to fork over a s**t load of money for an (admittedly) worthwhile and prestigious degree. She ended up with an MFA in design from another institution, that has served her quite well.
Your story’s better. Thank you for sharing it.
I love your story ! We did not watch an iron pour or even eat a crab cake dinner (?!?). There was a newly gentrified harbor though. I hope my daughter's let me tag along on all their adventures someday too.
As for reserving a copy at the library, hopefully you read faster than me! I am currently reading David Copperfield via library books and I have to keep returning my copy and getting on another waiting list. I think I'm on my 3rd copy.
Thanks for reading as usual :) I'm so happy we've gotten to know each other a bit via Substack. Lots of hugs.
Hugs to you too, Jenna! Baltimore and Poe and now Douglass . . . What a journey.
Jenna! I love this piece. Frederick Douglass is a true inspiration, and I appreciate that you're highlighting his legacy. I am especially moved by this line you included (from his speech on Haiti) "Religion: '…the conscience of the Christian world slept profoundly over slavery'" ...the idea of people "sleeping" or keeping in their heads in the sand to injustice and atrocities is something I find very interesting and upsetting. It reminds me of the "bystander effect" we see in social dynamics among children and in school bullying situations (and among adults, too). Great article.