Perceiving the Dream |
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I Wish I Knew How It Feels To Be Free . . . |
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"What Happens to a Dream Deferred? Does it just rot like a raisin in the sun . . ." Kentucky
African American Ancestors
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Grandfather and I talked of many
things, but very little about family history. After his passing in the
nursing home, I found the deeds to the family cemetary plots. Inside the
enevelope: Inside the USCT Army Discharge of Great-grandfather Ned Hopson.
Years later while surfing the Internet, I read an article datelining a USCT Reenactor's Celebration in Washington, DC. One hundred thirty years later for a dream deferred. The National Park Service's year long celebration would conclude with the dedication of the African American Civil War Monument, July 17, 1998. In addition, a search bank of 235,000 names indexing each Colored soldier and White officer who served during the Civil War. |
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| "The light of my dream
Rose until it touched the sky, The Wall. My Dream" Langston Hughes |
My search indexed the Hopson surname
24 times: Ned Hopson and Lewis Hopson were listed as members of the 8th
KY USCT
Artillery H Regiment, in different companies. Each had enrolled and was discharged on the same date. This data bank initiated my research of our family history. |
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"First feel, then read, or read then feel, Then stand or fall where you already are. |
I posted on a Kentucky message
board asking for information
related to a pair of former slaves. I received an answer from the g-grandfather of William H. Hopson, Happy Grier, providing excerpts and a copy of the will. The will probated in Will Book G, p 448, Christian County, January 1833 -- included the names, Lewis and Ned. There was a nine years age difference between the two Neds. But fortunately, the 1850 and 1860 slave schedules indicate a possible match. The 1900 Federal Census provided a surprise: Our maternal Great- grandmother Mrs. Milieu Askew, b 1830. |
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MouseOver. Click. |
The National Archives and Records
Administration, Kentucky Historical Society, the Interior and War
Departments provided a
wealth of helpful data, greatly enhancing background information about the earliest family history i.e., the affidavit of James Hill, a lifelong friend, who fought alongside in the same regiment, and was at his deathbed, died January 4, 1896. A great number of affidavits were submitted supporting the family matriarch's petition for disability pension war related injuries, often supply personal information. |
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| "Think of yourself and and all
the other selves
. . .Look closely into all things close to you . . . |
Great-grandfather End Hopson died
January 4, 1896, interested the confirmation of his dream: I wonder
how it feels to be free!
And now, nine generations later, and still growing, each generation is described as a dream scene. The Dream Keepers have kept the faith . They are keeping the Dream alive. |
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| "Make some muscle in your head,
But use the muscle in your heart." -- Young Soul, Amiri Baraka |
Great-grandmother Naomi Ann
Hopson died July 12, 1924, age 71. I, proud to be a grandson, was
born March 22, 1924. I would hope the she was aware of me, then, too. Some
things are priceless: A discharge spanned our time barrier revealing our
proud heritage.
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