Latest news with #CombaheeRiverRaid
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Miami Herald
The 44 Percent: Protect Black women, Pulitzer prize winner, cooking in Overtown
I think about what Anita Hill endured when testifying against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who famously weaponized race during the Senate hearings, when he said he was being subjected to a 'high-tech lynching.' I remember the leaked police pictures plastered on the internet that showed a bruised Rihanna following her abuse by Chris Brown. You would think it would elicit more sympathy from people or at least from his fans who blamed (and continue to blame) Rihanna for her own abuse. I sat with frustration for weeks on end when people taunted Meg Thee Stallion about being shot by Tory Lanez, who has mocked and harassed her since the 2020 shooting. We've seen the footage of the aftermath of the shooting and the photo evidence of bullet fragments being removed from her foot. Yet, people continue to falsely accuse her of lying about the shooting and some have gone as far as blaming her former best friend for the crime. This brings me to this week with Cassie Ventura testifying against Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Halle Bailey filing for full custody of her son following abuse by her ex-boyfriend and her father's son, rapper DDG. No one believes these women. It's 'protect Black women' until it's time to believe them. Nearly 35 years have passed since we've learned about the harassment Hill endured and we still don't believe Black women or hold their abusers accountable. Instead, we antagonize them for simply existing and seeking justice. When you say protect Black women, it doesn't only look like believing them. It means listening to them, ceasing microagressions, and providing them with the support necessary to receive justice and live any semblance of a happy life. That's what Anita, Rihanna, and Megan needed, and that's what Cassie and Halle need now. INSIDE THE 305: Broward school district to end universal free lunches, raise lunch prices Broward County schools will not offer free lunch to its students, Broward reporter Amanda Rosa reported. As Rosa writes: Mary Mulder, the Food and Nutrition Services executive director, told the school board at Tuesday's meeting that the department had continued with the free lunch program in order to deplete a surplus of funds 'from the COVID years.' Federal rules from the USDA limit the amount of funds the district's nutrition program can have on hand. It costs about $9 million to provide free school lunch each year. Miami native, daughter of Black historian wins Pulitzer for history Edda Fields-Black, a Miami native and daughter of historian Dorothy Jenkins Fields, received the Pulitzer for history. She spoke with me about the honor, which she won for her book 'COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War.' The book used first-hand accounts to detail how Tubman and the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment were instrumental in what Fields-Black called the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. 'It's a form of validation, almost, that these stories are important and that they must be told with the backing of the Pulitzer Prize, even under these very difficult circumstances,' she told the Miami Herald days after her win. Will this soup lead to a healthier and longer life? See what's cooking in Miami At the Overtown Youth Center, a group called Blue Zones is providing a way to improve the health of residents, Health reporter Michelle Marchant reported. The cooking class is part of a pilot program funded by Dan Buettner to encourage a healthier lifestyle and is based on his research and travels through the world's five longevity hot spots, also known as 'Blue Zones.' Research has shown that eating healthier can decrease a person's risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, certain cancers and other chronic conditions. OUTSIDE THE 305: Woman Who Sat Next to Travis Hunter Shared Funny Story How She Got Seat By Mistake A woman seated next to Travis Hunter on a flight to Jacksonville was pleasantly impressed by how polite and humble he was during a first class trip. She took to Facebook to dote on him like he was her grandson. 'Beyond the Gates' is renewed as veteran Black soap actors cheer its success My latest guilty pleasure 'Beyond the Gates' was renewed for a second season. The Associated Press chronicled what the show's success means and what it took to get there: George Cheeks, the CBS chief, told Vulture last year the show was born out of crunching numbers: 'One of the things that the data made very clear is that daytime soap operas over index with Black women.' HIGH CULTURE: Trick Daddy with Bigg D's Band & Orchestra On Friday night, Miami legend Trick Daddy will perform his hits with the backing of Bigg D's Band & Orchestra at Miramar Cultural Center. The black-tie affair will include surprise special guests. Where does 'The 44 Percent' name come from? Click here to find out how Miami history influenced the newsletter's title.
Miami Herald
10-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Miami native, daughter of Black historian wins Pulitzer for history
Armed with a list of questions on a legal pad and a tape recorder, Edda Fields-Black and her older sister went from house to house in Brownsville recording her family's history – a task she was paid to do by her mom, historian Dorothy Jenkins Fields. The Miami native was about 8 years old at the time, but this task planted the seeds of curiosity about history —particularly family history— that she credits her mom with instilling in her. Being raised by a historian led her to follow her mother's footsteps. Fields-Black is now a professor of history at Carnegie Mellon University and director of the school's Dietrich College Humanities Center and author of two books, the second of which just won a Pulitzer Prize for history. On Monday, it was announced that Fields-Black won the Pulitzer for her book 'COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War,' which used historic first-hand accounts to detail how Tubman, who enlisted the help of the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, was instrumental in what Fields-Black called the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. Fields-Black is still processing her win, having received more phone calls and emails than she can count, but one thing she said is for certain, the win is for 'our ancestors.' 'It's a form of validation, almost, that these stories are important and that they must be told with the backing of the Pulitzer Prize, even under these very difficult circumstances,' she told the Miami Herald days after her win. Fields-Black is one of two Black people who has won the Pulitzer Prize for history, with author Annette Gordon-Reed being the other. None are more excited than her mother, Jenkins Fields, founder of Miami's Black Archives, an organization committed to preserving the history of people of African descent in South Florida, who told the Herald that her daughter's achievements 'are a testament to her strength and perseverance. Her hard work and dedication paid off, and I couldn't be more proud.' Her win comes at a time when restrictions have been imposed on how Black history has been taught statewide and nationally, and there have been threats of cutting funding to entities whose work serves Black communities or preserves Black history. Telling the story of the Combahee River Raid, which took place from June 1-3 in 1863, took Fields-Black 10 years to research and three years to write. Fields-Black recounts the events using Civil War pension files to identify the enslaved men who participated in the raid— files she also used when tracking her own family history. The files contained first-hand accounts from enslaved people about the raid. Fields-Black got the idea to tell this story after stumbling upon the Combahee River Raid in her research for another project. She came across the name Linus Hamilton, an 88-year-old man who told his life story a few weeks after the raid, and told what happened to him and his wife on the morning of the raid. 'It is such an extraordinary story and historical document,' she said. 'It is extremely rare to know an enslaved person's name, first and last name. It's extremely rare to hear their voice, and it's almost unheard of to hear them tell in their own words, how they felt at any point in their lives.' She eventually realized his story was a piece in a 'much larger puzzle,' and came in handy when she researched and wrote about the Combahee River Raids. 'In reading the literature about the raid, I began to connect it to Linus Hamilton. It had not been connected before, and I began to think maybe there's a story here that hasn't been told,' Fields-Black said. Her mission became to identify the rice plantations where the raids took place and the people who Tubman helped liberate. 'Could I identify them? Could I tell the story of the raid from their perspectives, knowing full well that as a historian, this had never been done before — to identify individual enslaved people on a plantation or a set of plantations, and then to be able to hear their voices and tell their stories from those voices?' she said. 'I knew it hadn't been done before, but because I had found Linus Hamilton, I thought I could do it.' Fields-Black also had to use digitized archives in her research, including a collection from History Miami that focused on Col. James Montgomery, a white commander with the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, the Black regiment that conducted the raid. Ultimately, Fields-Black wants people to take away two things from her work: Tubman's civil war service and leadership in the Combahee River Raid (she is part of a team working to get Tubman a medal of honor) and that civil war pension files are key in connecting Black people to their ancestors. Jenkins Field told the Herald that she is particularly proud of how her daughter's work has shown 'that once-difficult-to-access records are now digitized giving African American families opportunities to recover more of our lost past.' Understanding how to access and research Black history will help future scholars, and Fields-Black said she wants to see more Black Pulitzer winners in the field of history. 'I feel like I'm standing on a lot of people's shoulders,' she said, 'and a lot of people have sacrificed and invested and prayed so that I can be here today to not only represent our ancestors and all of their experiences, but then to open the doors for others.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds honor Beaufort Rev. Hodges for being soft-spoken with a powerful voice
More than 500 people, including local, county and state leaders, gathered to say goodbye Saturday to the Rev. Kenneth Hodges, a widely-known religious, political and community leader in Beaufort who was also a father, husband, brother and friend to many. He was also known for his relentless efforts to preserve Black history. For 30 years, Hodges was the pastor at Beaufort Tabernacle Church on Craven Street, and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 10. But he was a complex man who wore many hats. In addition to these professional roles, he was a talented photographer, studying under the noted photographer Edmond Marshal at Clark College in Atlanta. He was an avid art and antique collector and owned LyBensons Studio and Art Gallery on St. Helena Island. The church, one of the city's oldest, seats about 400 and not one was empty during a emotional but joyful service filled with songs and words celebrating Hodges' multi-faceted life and accomplishments that was also streamed to a room in a neighboring building capable of holding another 100. Hodges, who was 73, died April 22 at Beaufort Memorial Hospital after a brief illness, shocking the congregation that he led for many years. Hodge's wife, Patricia, and their three daughters, Kendrea, Kenyatta and Kenithea, were among the crowd that filed into the 200-year-old church, quickly filling it to the rafters. As they passed Hodges, who lied in repose at the front of the church under a scripture on the wall, Matthew 11:28, that reads, 'Come onto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest,' some reached out to touch the pastor who touched so many lives in the community. Hodges was remembered as a visionary go-getter who did things his way and waited for others to come around, especially when it came to memorializing important contributions of historic Black leaders in Beaufort. One was Robert Smalls, born a slave, who became a Civil War hero and congressman. The famous Beaufortonian is buried at the church and a bust graces the property. Later, Hodges fought to recognize abolitionist Harriet Tubman with a sculpture that was erected on church property last year. The sculpture recognizes her role in freeing hundreds of formerly enslaved people during the Combahee River Raid in 1863. In a prayer at the beginning of the service, the Rev. James Moore asked God 'to help us in this hour' and thanked him for Hodges who was born in the fishing community of Bennetts Point in Colleton County and rose to lead a historic church in Tabernacle Baptist that was 'born out of the depths of slavery.' The church was started by Black worshipers in 1863 although the historic building dates to 1811. Hodges became the pastor in 1995. Despite his role leading a historic church, Hodges was not afraid to try new ideas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, recalled Savanah French, who works in the church's media ministry, Hodges continued to preach, without an in-person audience, while French recorded the sermons for online viewing. Later during the pandemic, Hodges oversaw 'drive by' communion, when congregation members drove up in front of the church to receive communion from Hodges. 'He wanted to be available and accessible and get the Lord's word out,' French said. The funeral drew a who's who of community leaders including Mayor Phil Cromer, former mayor Billy Keyserling, County Councilman York Glover and state Rep. Michael Rivers of St. Helena Island. Hodges served in the Legislature from 2006-2016. Cromer called Hodges a pillar of the community who was devoted to preserving African American history and led with purpose, grace and deep devotion to God and others. A proclamation he signed officially declared May 3, the day of Hodges' funeral, a day of mourning in Beaufort in remembrance of his contributions. Glover drew an 'Amen!' when he noted that Hodges may have been soft spoken but spoke with a powerful voice that he used to get things accomplished. Hodges was a visionary who thought 10 to 15 years ahead, Deacon Howard Reeves said. When he first arrived, Reeves noted, Hodges walked around the block to meet with neighbors and ask them if the church could get the first right of refusal if they decided to sell their property. That outreach allowed the downtown church, surrounded by other properties with no room to expand, to acquire land over the years for its needs including parking space. 'He did a lot of things independently because he liked to move fast,' said Reeves, drawing laughter from the knowing audience familiar with Hodge's reputation as a maverick who got things done. Hodges, he added, 'will be missed dearly.' 'We can never replace him,' Reeves said. Yassie Hodges, Hodges' sister, called her brother a complex man because of his many roles: Pastor, politician, community leader, and husband, father and sibling. But to her, he was just 'big brother.' Their parents were farmers and shrimpers, Yassie Hodges said. Her brother, she said, had a sweet tooth and was known for his fondness for chewing on sugar cane. But he grew up to be a man, she added, with a big heart and big dreams. With the death of their parents, Hodges, the oldest, took on grown-up responsibilities sooner than most, taking Yassie under his wing and helping her when she followed him to Atlanta for college and cheering her on, reminding her that their parents 'would be proud.' She laughed when Hodges first told her he wanted to be a pastor but she learned quickly not to doubt his vision. 'Today I see him in no other role,' she said. Hodges was a master at multi-tasking, Yassie Hodges said. And when people would doubt him, telling him he was just going off and doing what he wanted, he would reply, 'I'm just waiting for you to catch up.' Hodge's crown jewel, Yassie Hodges said, was the Harriet Tubman sculpture. She challenged the hundreds in attendance dream big, too. Figure out what lasting impact they can achieve in their lives, she said, and draw inspiration from Hodges, who was 'an example of our ancestors' wildest dreams.' 'I say to you, 'Well done!' Yassie Hodges shouted to her big brother, bringing the attendees to their feet in applause.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Prominent Beaufort Pastor Kenneth Hodges has died. ‘It's a shock to the whole congregation'
The Rev. Kenneth Hodges — a prominent pastor of one of Beaufort's oldest churches, a former state lawmaker, businessman, community minded promoter and photographer whose pictures ranged from civil rights icons to famous entertainers — has died. He was 73. Hodges, of Burton, was the pastor at Beaufort's Tabernacle Baptist Church in the center of downtown. After guiding the church for some 30 years, he was as iconic as the weathered wooden church with the massive steeple on Craven Street. The legendary church is a historic landmark where the enslaved first went to worship in the mid-1800s and continues as an active congregation. He leaves behind a legacy of community activism and preserving the history of the church and historic figures with ties to it including Harriet Tubman and Robert Smalls. As a state lawmaker, he supported small businesses in rural areas where he said self-employment was a way out of poverty. Friends and church members confirmed that Hodges died at Beaufort Memorial Hospital Tuesday morning. 'It's a shock to the whole congregation,' said Ed Allen, a church member and former Beaufort County coroner. Hodges had been in the hospital since last Sunday, April 13 after complaining of weakness in his side, Allen said. But congregation members had expected him to recover, said Allen, who had spoken with Hodges this week. Allen described Hodges as a 'community person.' One example, he said, was how he spearheaded a monument to abolitionist Tubman that was erected at the church in June. The storied Tabernacle Baptist Church that Hodges led was officially established in 1863 as a church for Blacks worshipers, although the building dates to 1811. Hodges once described himself as a steward of the church and its history. When whites fled Beaufort following the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, Hodges told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet in 2021, 'Blacks remained and worshiped here.' One of his crown jewels was the monument to Tubman which he promoted for years leading fundraising efforts that finally culminated in a sculpture by Colorado-based artist Ed Dwight depicting Tubman leading a faction during the Combahee River Raid in 1863. The statue captures the moments when Tubman joined Col. James Montgomery on an armed steamer sailing from Beaufort on a raid at the Combahee Ferry. Tubman, who had extensive local knowledge of the waters of the Lowcountry, directed the three steamboats with Black soldiers under Montgomery's command past mines to assault several plantations to free 750 formerly enslaved people. 'He was very engaged in the community, no question,' said Fred Washington Jr., a church member and former Beaufort City Council and Beaufort County School Board member. 'When he put his mind to something, he went after it.' Hodges also lobbied for a bridge over the Combahee River on U.S. Highway 17 in northern Beaufort County to be named after Tubman. It approved and dedicated in 2008. At the time, Hodges told the Beaufort Gazette he advocated changing the name to educate residents about Tubman's role in the June 1863 raid. Tabernacle Baptist is also known as the final resting place of Robert Smalls, who rose from slavery to Civil War hero and congressman, changing the course of Beaufort's history and he was instrumental in reconstruction after the Civil War. He is buried in the church's cemetery along with his two wives who preceded him in death. Washington said of Hodges, 'he was a student of the life of Robert Smalls.' Smalls died in 1915. Tabernacle Baptist emerged during the Civil War and its early members sent resolutions in support of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation to the president on Jan. 1, 1863. Hodges told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet in 2021 that the resolutions, which are recorded in the Library of Congress, proved the important role of the early church in the formative years of a people as they moved from slavery to freedom, and showed the significance of prayer and praise in their lives. 'The church was the foundation of the Black community,' Hodges said in 2023. 'It's where people come together to worship, to educate their children and to focus on the challenges of each era. Over the decades — from slavery through Reconstruction through Jim Crow through the civil rights movement to today — the church was home to rallies, lectures, concerts. It was here that people became knowledgeable about the various issues impacting them.' Hodges grew up in Bennett's Point in Colleton County and attended Greenpoint Elementary and Walterboro High School. He earned an undergraduate degree at Clark Atlanta University and in 1986 and a master's of divinity at Morehouse University's School of Religion. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2015 until 2016, representing Beaufort and Colleton counties, where he supported legislation that helped people start small businesses and honored S.C. history. 'I believe in self sufficiency, and I believe in some of our rural and remote areas, self employment is their major (opportunity) out of poverty,' Hodges said at the time. Hodges ran unsuccessfully for the late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney's seat in the fall of 2015 after Pinckney, whom he considered a close friend and colleague, was gunned down alongside eight of his parishioners at his Charleston church in June of that year. Hodges lost in a Democratic primary runoff against Walterboro attorney Margie Bright Matthews. She went on to win and is now serving in the S.C. Senate. Tabernacle Baptist has 400 members. Its legacy includes 12 churches that spun off from the original, Hodges said in 2023. One of the biggest challenges today, Hodges said, is that the church is no longer surrounded by the Black community and Black businesses as it once was. 'How do you remain relevant when your community doesn't live right around you,' he wondered. Above the church's sanctuary is this scripture: 'Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.' Hodges also owned LyBensons' Gallery featuring some of his own photography including photos he took of famous figures such as jazz trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie, entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., poet Maya Angelou and Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks. The gallery was once located on 211 Charles Street in downtown Beaufort. Today it is located in The Gullah-Geechee Cultural Visitors' Center on St. Helena Island. Hodges told the Beaufort Gazette in 2012 that he started the business 35 years ago in Atlanta, where he had the opportunity to take pictures for area colleges and universities and those schools asked him to photograph important people who visited the city. One assignment, he noted, led him to the home of Coretta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr. 'It was a unique experience,' Hodges said. 'When I went to Mrs. King's home for an assignment, she gave me an obituary from Dr. King's funeral. So that's something that I treasure.'
