I've watched troop trains come home from WWII with Black soldiers in separate cars.

I've seen a Black general conduct a major campaign of war.

 

I was chased out of Lincoln Park, in my hometown of Chicago, as a youth because I was Black.

I've had a street in Grant Park named for me.

 
I was sent to the back of the bus while wearing my Navy uniform. Sailors of lower rank told me to leave a train station waiting room because it was "White Only."

I personally know four "Flag" officers (Generals and Admirals).  I was recognized by the first Black commanding officer of the U.S.S. Constitution—the oldest commissioned warship in the world—at his Change of Command ceremony.

 

I watched Governor George Wallace bar Black students from the doors of the University of Alabama, saying "…segregation forever," on a black and white TV.

On a giant High Definition screen I watched a Black quarterback throw a touchdown pass to a white receiver in a game between "’Bama" and "Ole Miss."

 
I saw the funeral for Emmit Till, a Black man from Chicago, who was tortured and murdered for allegedly whistling at a white woman in the South.

I've watched integrated couples stroll virtually unnoticed down the streets of Atlanta.

 

I've voted in every Presidential election since I was 21. But I had never seen a U.S. President in person, even though I’ve spoken with and even joked with the President of Sierra Leone.

A few weeks ago I sat not 75 feet from the first Black man to be elected to the Presidency of the United States of America.

 
Is it over?
 
Has racism ended?
 
Is true equality the rule in this land?
 

Hell no!

 
But, I can see the tide starting to turn, and deep in my heart I can say I am proud to be an American.




William D. Pinkney PhD (hc)

First Blackman to sail alone around the world via Cape Horn

Born Chicago, Illinois September 15, 1935

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class 1953-1961

Our ignorance of history makes us libel our own times. People have always been like this. -- Gustave Flaubert

Webmaster's Comment: The article below is a verbatim excerpt from an interesting website "Historical Atlas of Twentieth Century" created by  Matthew White who describes himself as "No one in particular"  and advices to "never trust any information without double checking."

That self presentation alone would be enough for me to respect a person behind the website.  I admit developing some personal fascination with the author after reading the "Fine Print" notes on his website, discouraging attempts to email him: " If I don't answer your email, please don't take it as an insult. Maybe I'm in the hospital or in jail. Maybe I'm doing something nice for an elderly retiree, or feeding the homeless. More likely, I'm hungover. Really, it's no reflection on the quality of your email if I don't answer it."  and "If you claim to be a woman who finds my writing totally fascinating and could we please meet, I don't believe you. Plus that would just be more work." I am worried about Matthew's well-being as it seems that his website was not updated in a long time.

I have found "Historical Atlas of Twentieth Century" doing my own research inspired by participating in the 10th Annual International Conference on Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Indian Ocean and Arab Worlds: Global Connections and Disconnections organized by the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery. 

I had a pleasure of representing Amistad America at the 10th Annual International Conference on Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Indian Ocean and Arab Worlds: Global Connections and Disconnections organized by the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition, on November 7th and 8th.

This conference explored the complexity and importance of the Indian Ocean and Arab slavery and slave trades in terms of their connections to the meaning of slavery and abolition in a world-wide context. In addition, it examined the relation between these trades and the development of 19th-, 20th-, and 21st-century global economies. Of particular importance are the legal history of abolition in the Indian Ocean World, and the legacy of slavery and the slave trade in the region today, in terms of cultural memories, patterns of human trafficking and subjugation, stigmatization, and family relationships. 

On Monday, October 13, I rejoined the crew of the Freedom Schooner Amistad in Baltimore, Maryland, for the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. On my first night aboard, several schooner crews were invited to a party aboard Mystic Whaler, with Capt. John Eginton serving up an unending supply of oysters, both raw and grilled.

The days leading up to the race were largely spent in preparation, with the crew doing a lot of maintenance on the boat, particularly working on the brightwork. As the docks in Baltimore's inner harbor filled up with dozens of other schooners, the Fell's Point area took on the flavor of a family reunion and even a first-timer like me found it easy to make new friends.

Among my new friends were the crew of the schooner Liberty, sailing out of Jersey City. I was walking along the quayside, looking for a place to get some crab cakes when Philip du Plessis, Liberty's owner, invited me aboard for dinner. While aboard, Philip and his wife, Sharon, told me about how they had only recently purchased Liberty and were still building their charter business with the help of their friend and captain, Bill Noe.

The organizing committee for the schooner race did a marvelous job and made sure that there were all sorts of activities for the schooner crews. There were concerts and shanty-sings, and a dinner at the Latin Palace restaurant. As an after-hours bonus, the crew of the Martha White, who had performed a dockside concert, continued with an impromptu jam session that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. Banjos, guitars and fiddles were handed around and many of us who had shown up to listen to the music ended up leading songs ourselves.

On Wednesday, there was a parade of sail through the harbor. I understand that this was the largest fleet of schooners that has assembled for the race and is, quite possibly, the largest group of schooners since the end of the age of sail. Whether this is so or not, it was an impressive sight as they made their way past the USS Constellation.

On Thursday, the schooners gathered south of the Annapolis bridge for the beginning of the race. With light air, Amistad had every stitch of canvas set and, at the sound of the starting horn, we were off! Almost immediately, the schooners Virginia and Pride of Baltimore II took the lead, their longer waterlines and greater spread of canvas giving them a definite advantage. Throughout the day, we sailed along with Lettie G. Howard and Lady Maryland, jockeying for position until sundown. Around midnight, the wind began to pick up and Captain John called all hands to strike the t'gallant, which involved lowering the sail and its yard to the deck, a process that proved to be much easier than it sounds.

Throughout the night, we made our way down the bay, watching the running lights of the other schooners and keeping a lookout for the frequent barges with their attendant tugboats. As the sun rose, we could only make out two schooners ahead of us, with several more on the horizon astern. We continued to plow on, passing the USS Cole as she made her way up the bay. Around 11:00am, we crossed the finish line in fourth place and began to take in sail as we made our way up the Elizabeth River into Portsmouth, Virginia, passing aircraft carriers and destroyers docked at the Norfolk Naval Base. When we arrived at the boat basin in Portsmouth, we came alongside the A. J. Meerwald and rafted up with her. That evening, the crews of the various schooners had their own informal festivities.

On Saturday morning (!), several schoolchildren came to visit the vessels and I helped demonstrate the use of mechanical advantage on the ship as the children hauled me aloft using a bosun's chair with a four-part purchase. At noon, shortly before the pig and oyster roast that was put on by the race committee, the Virginia hosted their own gathering in loving memory of their main gaff, which had broken during the course of the race.

With the race over, it was time for me to return to life ashore in New Jersey. I take with me memories of a great race and hopes for more sailing opportunities in the next season.  

Read more musings of the best Amistad's blogs author Paul Bryant-Smith and visit his blog "Boats, Music, Faith, Life."

The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race is over. We still have not heard anything from the Schooner Amistad.  The pigeon carrying the news from Captain John Beebe-Center and the crew onboard apparently got intercepted by a hawk over Central Park in NYC, while flying to New Haven.  In case you wonder about the race results, here is some information:

The Virginian-Pilot