We Met Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass
Mary McLeod Bethune and Civil War Soldiers in DC National Parks
The original ‘Man Cave?’ Who knew Frederick Douglass had a “growlery” in his backyard, and that he slept sitting up?
Happiest day, beloved Joy Train Rider! I love you! Bless you! I affirm you’re doing well.
By this time (4 pm) most Fridays we’ve wrapped up our ride for the day. I share that only to highlight the level of hectic activity that has been my norm since our journey last Monday! Already today I’ve edited the documentary that our award winning documentarian Andre Lambertson produced from our Grand Canyon Tour less than two weeks ago; AND reviewed the video invitation that will air in Times Square this coming week. Heaven!
I hope you will appreciate the enormousness of today’s tour, brief though it may be. We were able to visit multiple National Park sites in just two days.Except for the boundary stone which is on edge of Virgiinia, these National Park sites are close together and easily accessible.
Alyssa Combs gets contact information from Susan who was walking her dog past Banneker Park and we found that she knew many of our friends in the environmental sector.
The Tour involved my grandson Yero Winborne, cameraman; and Alyssa Combs and David Wilson flying to Washington DC, staying over just one night.
I shared on Facebook:
“The HIGHLIGHT OF THE MAGICAL TRANSFORMATIONAL TOUR OF NATIONAL PARKS WE TOOK IN DC Tuesday and Wednesday for ME was that I GOT TO SASHAY DOWN THE SAME STAIRS OUR PRESIDENT ELECT WILL WALK DOWN IN THE US CAPITOL ON THE WAY TO INAUGURATION!!!!!!!!
“That’s the one thing that could possibly outshine our tour of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; the Benjamin Banneker Boundary Stone of the District of Columbia; and Lincoln Park where the legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune and the National Council of Negro Women balanced a statue of President Lincoln that a Black Woman gave the first contribution toward.
I finally got to visit the Boundary Stone Benjamin Banneker used to mark the boundary of the District of Columbia and expressed thanks for his life.
Our Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff’s office gave us a tour of the capitol and our guide Alex Robinson was a brilliant scholar of history. We got to visit the historic offices of the original Supreme Court, the Chambers where our heroes and stalwart supporters Reps. Carrie Meek; Elijah Cummings; John Lewis and our personal friend Alcee Hastings served. May God rest their beloved souls. We’re grateful for our principled leaders serving there now.
We visited the Carter G Woodson Home National Historic Site (more to come on that;) and the White House outside where the scaffolding is being raised for the inaugural parade.
We visited The African American Civil War Museum commemorating the service and sacrifice of 200,000 Black soldiers and sailors to win the war that HELPED FREE FOUR MILLION AFRICAN AMERICANS!!!!
The younger people met up with friends and partied and we enjoyed each other’s company and had a rollicking good time.”
Beloved Rider I hope that whet your appetite to travel more to the national parks that contain the history of America’s development where you can meet and be inspired by the giants of our past. Especially for the important elections coming up, it’s vital for every one of us to know and demonstrate that we have a vital stake in this democracy, secured for is with the life and labor of our ancestors. Stay tuned for our campaign launching next week.
I made the tour free today. Please take a paid ticket if you value our efforts.