America 250 - Alex Breanne Corporation Projects
As you may know, I've been researching stories of the formerly enslaved in Connecticut for a some time now. My focus has been not only to re-inject these stories into the historical narrative, but primarily to give current-day descendants back their history. With credit given to God, we have been able to do this for many families across Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Georgia.
For the past two years, our focus has been ensuring that during this 250th anniversary year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the narrative would not focus only on white men. Therefore, we implemented multiple projects focused on Black Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers and the women associated with those families. My non-profit provided loans of our artifacts to multiple museums, funded installations, and shared our research for Connecticut Department of Transportation installations. The culmination of many of these efforts are all happening this week! Those available for public view are:
Mary Herritage Newton Portrait: Beginning tomorrow, the commissioned portrait of Mary Herritage Newton will be on display at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism in Hartford, CT! Mary was a freedom fighter, who freed her husband from slavery and had 3 sons who fought during the Civil War.
Primus & Venus Armes Portrait: The commissioned portrait of Primus & Venus Armes of Norwich, CT will be on display at the Slater Museum in Norwich, CT. Primus has a Middle Passage slave narrative. His son, Job, fought during the Revolutionary War, and he had 3 great-great grandsons who fought during the Civil War.
Primus & Venus Armes Mural: A Mural representing the life of Primus & Venus is open to the public in Norwich, CT.
Job Lathrop Department of Transportation Sign:A DOT sign celebrating Job Lathrop is installed at a highway service area near Norwich, CT.
Robin Starr Paybill: A 1782 Robin Starr paybill is on display at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Robin served during the Revolutionary War. He also had 3 grandsons who served during the Civil War, one died in the war. He also had a great-grandson who served and died during the Civil War.
Robin Starr Department of Transportation Sign:A DOT sign celebrating Robin Starr is installed at the Danbury, Connecticut Welcome Center.
Robin Starr Cenotaph:A cenotaph celebrating Robin Starr has been installed at Calhoun Cemetery in Cornwall, CT.
Prince Mortimer Portrait: A portrait of Prince Mortimer will be on museum display beginning on July 4th. Prince was an enslaved man from Middletown, CT, who served as a servant to officers during the Revolutionary War.
Peter and Esther Jackson Monument: A monument celebrating the lives of Peter and Esther Jackson of Simsbury, Connecticut, exists at Simsbury Cemetery. Esther's father served while enslaved in the French & Indian War. She had three brothers who served during the Revolutionary War. She also had 7 grandsons who served during the Civil War, six died during the conflict.
Esther Jackson Portrait: A portrait of Esther Wallace Jackson will be on museum display beginning on July 4th.
Richard Myers Hedgman Portrait: A portrait of Richard Myers Hedgman is on display at Connecticut's Old State House. Richard escaped slavery in Virginia, arrived in Connecticut, and served in the Civil War under an assumed name.
I feel incredibly blessed and proud of what we've been able to inject into this year's celebrations. If you get a chance, please stop by some of the above locations to witness Alex Breanne Corporation installations celebrating diversity and inclusion related to our 250th celebrations.
John
