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african diaspora 0

BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: CATHAY WILLIAMS-THE BLACK AMERICAN JOAN OF ARC β€πŸ’›πŸ’š

By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

EARLY LIFE

Cathay Williams was ironically born in Independence, Missouri, sometime around September 1844. She was the daughter of a Black freedman and an enslaved Black woman, therefore making her a slave. Williams worked as a house slave on the Johnson plantation, which was located on the edges of Jefferson City, Missouri, until the early phases of the civil war, when Union troops occupied Jefferson City in 1861 and captured enslaved Black people, who were then labeled as “contraband” and forced to serve as soldiers or military support staff.

Soldier’s Life

Some people claim that Cathay Willaims may have served in the Battle of Pea Ridge and the Red River campaign. Women weren’t allowed to participate in combat service, so historians believe she may have enlisted as a man under the name of Finis Cathay. As Finis Cathay she would of enlisted in the 32nd Missouri infantry in 1862 and would have particpated in many vital campaigns, including: The Siege of Vicksburg and Sherman’s March to the Sea, before fighting to force Joseph E. Johnston’s Confederate army surrender in North Carolina. On November 15, 1866 Williams would again sign-up for military service. This time under the name of William Cathay (since women were still prohibited from combat military service). Williams would be assigned to the 38th United States Infantry regiment (Buffalo Soldiers). Unfortunately, soon after her enlistment (or better yet re-enlistment), Williams would contract smallpox. After she recovered, she rejoined her unit, but would have to be repeatedly hospitalized, possibly due to the effects caused by small pox, combined with the extreme heat of the New Mexico desert, where her team was posted. Eventually, the post surgeon would discover her “feminine secret”, and informed her post commander. This led to her being discharged by the United States Army, by her commanding officer, Captain Charles E. Clarke, on October 14, 1868.

Post Military Life

In Fort Union, New Mexico, Williams would be employed as a cook. Williams would eventually move to Pueblo, Colorado and would get married. The marriage wouldn’t last long, her untrustworthy husband would steal her money and several of her horses. She would have him arrested and then moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where she worked as seamstress, and may have even owned a boarding house. Sometime around late 1889 or early 1890, Williams would enter a hospital, there she would attempt to physically recover from her bad heath issues she was suffering from at the time (her exact illness is unknown). In June of 1891, Williams would apply for disability pension because of her past military service. At the time there was a precedent for granting a military pension to a woman soldier. By 1816 Anna Maria Lane, Mary Hayes McCauley (better-known-As Molly Pitcher) and Deborah Sampson all received pensions for their service in the American Revolutionary War of Independence. Despite her military service, and the fact that she suffered from neuralgia,diabetes and had toes amputated and had to walk with a crutch; despite her injuries and health issues, Williams would be denied disability payments. It is believed that Williams died sometime around 1893 (shortly after being denied a military pension for her service). Her exact resting place is unknown.

External Education Resources



political 0

TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL IS GOING INTO AFFECT, AND OVER 3000 INMATES GET RELEASED EARLY FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR

By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

At the end of last week the Justice Department revealed it intends to release 3,100 inmates from federal prisons nationwide. Most of the people are being released for good behavior and were non-violent drug offenders, but some of the people being released also served time for weapons charges, robbery, sex offenses, and national security-related crimes.

This move is part of Trump’s administration implementation of the “First Step Act”, which is part of a criminal justice reform bill, that President Donald Trump signed into law in December of 2018.

According to The Boston Globe:

The First Step Act is one of the signature pieces of legislation passed during the Trump administration with bipartisan support. It shortens sentences for some inmates β€” partly through a change in the credit they are given for good behavior β€” and increases job training and other programs. It also requires the new risk assessment system, which officials said Friday will allow inmates to complete in-prison programs and, for some, receive β€˜β€˜earned time’’ credits to get out earlier.

Reportedly, the Trump administration will redirect $75 million in fiscal spending for 2019 to help fund the First Step Act and its programs.

For additional information use the link below:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2019/07/19/inmates-being-released-trump-administration-implements-criminal-justice-reform/micsKTQDrixJxGfTDdtjXK/story.html%3foutputType=amp

african diaspora 0

CANADA LABELS WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUP A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, WHILE THE U.S. LOSES ITS FILES ON ONE OF THE LARGEST NETWORKING SITES FOR WHITE SUPREMACISTS

By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

Canada labels White supremacist organization a terrorist organization, at around the same time the United States claims that they supposedly lost the files on one of the world’s largest networking websites for White supremacists.

The neo-Nazi group “Blood and Honour” and its armed division “Combat 18” were labeled terrorist entities this past week in Canada. This puts them on Canada’s terrorist list, which includes international terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, the Islamic State, and about 60 other organizations. Because of this classification, they potentially could have their assets seized because they are known as an organization that supports terrorism.

The group has a history of killings and bombings across Canada and Europe.

Ironically, south of the Canadian border, at around the same time, the FBI who has refused to label White supremacist-extremists, “terrorist”, eventhough they commit most of America’s terrorism, now claim they loss their files on the White supremacist Networking site “StormFront”.

For additional information use the links below:

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/06/27/americas/canada-neo-nazi-terror-organization-list-trnd/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1fDn-jRC4V_10DjDhMQ0lSxbXhRWExIMbVnRPR9R3bIZjGL1XeThkmIC8

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rawstory.com/2019/07/fbi-claims-it-lost-file-on-neo-nazi-website-stormfront-after-a-reasonable-search/amp/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/beta.washingtonpost.com/opinions/can-we-forget-politics-and-just-focus-on-keeping-people-safe/2019/05/03/d6cfe574-6d24-11e9-8f44-e8d8bb1df986_story.html%3foutputType=amp