Dear Ancestors

Dear Ancestors,

I’m sorry that we never had a chance to meet, but I am your descendant. My given babe is Joseph Daniel Patterson III. I put a lot of emphasis on saying my given name because I don’t know my true name, only the name that was given to you and your offsprings that became my lineage. Some of you were fortunate enough to gain freedom. Some of you were not and because of this I wanted to write you a letter chronicling the state of Black people since our liberation.

The day of freedom for Black people in America was June 19th 1865. Many of you were fortunate enough to see this day, but most of you were not. Though it was beyond blessed for us not no longer be bound and captive against our wills, a new struggle was born as we began our journey of liberty. Immediately following our liberation the United States government sectioned our people off in impoverished areas that would become known as the inner city. They also gave us what is known as government assistance; welfare programs and economic aid that seemingly was meant to help us, but in reality it was just a charade to keep us from growing as a race.

Race relations took a very unpredictable turn. Segregation between blacks and whites was enforced. Many whites joined with us and aided in the struggle against our oppression, others fought to keep the oppression intact. Right after Black slaves were freed many hate groups were born. The most prominent one being the Ku Klux Klan. Their mission was to instill fear and a sense of control over our race and anyone who dared to help us. Many of our people died at the hands of the Klan, many whites also died for helping us. American is supposed to be the land of freedom, justice and equality for all, but ever since we got off the plantation our people have been fighting for all.

We had to fight for freedom in the 19th century, but the 20th and 21st centuries were all about equality and justice. It wasn’t until the end of the 1960’s that African Americans were fully granted our voting rights. Nearly 80 years from then we are still fighting against the unjust lynchings and imprisonment of our people. Yes, a struggle still plagues our people, but you would be so proud at how much the world has come together with people of all races fighting side by side to end our suffering.

With all the pain we have endured the progress we’ve made has been just as captivating. In the 160 years since we’ve been freed our people have become creators, innovators and leaders beyond imagining. Black people have become doctors, lawyers, teachers, artists, poets, and even presidents of the United States. Yes, I know many of you thought that was never possible, but that dream has come true. Many of our people have become heroes of society for fighting for our freedom, justice and equality worldwide. Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Huey P. Newton and Rosa Parks just to nane a few.

As for me, well my passion is writing and that’s why I’m writing this letter to you all. I want you to know how much we are still going strong for your ancestry. I hate that you all never got to experience liberation as we know it, but you should know that your suffering was not in vain. We hope that we have made you proud and we intend to keep making you proud with our strides in history.

Love, your descendants.