History
Searching for your ancestral roots can be a daunting task especially if you possess African ancestry. Connecting the dots of this diaspora can lead to feelings of happiness, sadness, frustration, and sometimes complete disbelief over triumphs and tribulations traveled by the feet of our ancestors. We’ve all heard the wonderful stories by the local historians that romanticize the founding fathers and wealthy planters of this region and we've all wondered "is that it?". While I take nothing away from Captain Shreve and others who historically have taken credit for settling towns/cities in this region, lets be realistic and explain it was also the hundreds of brave slaves who actually removed the Red River raft with their bare hands. While there is no doubt, Anglo planters and farmers men made an impact on settling Rural Northwest Louisiana, let us not forget there are always two sides to every story and whether they care to acknowledge it or not, our ancestors were there too and much of the prosperity experienced in that region came as a direct result of agriculture which required the blood and sweat of our kinsmen. Very little has ever been written, let alone published that captures the voices of the combined 14,000 slaves from Bossier & Caddo who were held in bondage until 1865. Little has ever been written to acknowledge the adversities, terrorism and atrocities experienced on a daily basis after Emancipation and despite their obstacles, our ancestors prevailed and made a way for their descendents, like myself, who see the richness and value of this forgotten population.
I wonder if the men and women who only write about the glorified accomplishments of the anglo planter & farming communities ever wrestle with the concept of equality and consider the life that they idolize is no less important than the life of a slave. I wonder if they ever consider the sins of their grandfathers, great grandfathers, great, great, grandfathers (and mothers) caused irreversible damaged to the nexus of the African American family structure. It appears that much of what has been written about this region of the country experienced an acute failure to equally weigh the good with the bad. Not that I want anyone to feel a heap of guilt but it is a real feeling that settles in the pit of my soul when I can't seem to figure out if my great, great, great grandfather was the overseer, slaveowner, slaveowner’s son or any "gentlemen" visiting the plantation that particular day. Not that I will ever identify the truth or ever know the tribe in Africa I am descended from... what I do know is that despite the evil that occurred, I am also conscious of the occasional light at the end of the tunnel and not every owner of slaves resided with malice in their hearts.
This project was born as a direct result of the lack of resources available to one like myself whose ancestors were mainly brought from areas like Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and somehow ended up along the Red River in Bossier and Caddo parishes. From the emails I've received since launching the site, many African Americans scattered all over the United States are finding the same connection back to the Red River and share this same fact finding mission. My goal was simply to create a website that serves as a resource for sharing & collecting data for those interested in piecing their ancestral puzzle together. The articles listed to the right contain information regarding the African American presence in this region in addition to information which helps depicts the climates in which they lived. We are constantly seeking information that will help piece this together and invite anyone to send us an email with anything relevant. All email can be sent to info@redriversankofa.org.
~Erica
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