Black History Postcards (2 Sets Of Eleven Cards)

BEAUTIFUL BLACK HISTORY POSTCARDS -- (2 sets of eleven cards).Images on cards are all from The Freeman Institute Black History Collection. Some people use thesde cards to create a wall montage with black 4" x 6" frames. DESCRIPTIONS: 1. Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577-1640), diplomat, linguist, scholar. Much sought-after painter during 17th Century. The original Study of Negroes (Etude de Negres) is in the Royal Fine Arts Museum of Belgium, Brussels. This etching (1883) was produced in very low numbers by J. Rouam and Remington Company. Etching done by Edm. Ramus. 2. Vivant Denon etched the image of the Sphinx of Giza around 1798, prior to its defacement. In his written account, Denon stated, "...Though its proportions are colossal, the outline is pure and graceful; the expression of the head is mild, gracious, and tranquil; the character is African, but the mouth, and lips of which are thick, has a softness and delicacy of execution truly admirable; it seems real life and flesh. Art must have been at a high pitch when this monument was executed …” -- Universal Magazine, 1803 3. Phillis Wheatley (c.1754-1784), born in Africa, was enslaved and brought to America in 1761. Tutored by the Wheatley family (Boston), Phillis was soon able to read the Bible and Latin, Greek and English classics. Against all odds, her first poem was published in 1767 and her book, Poems On Various Subjects was released in 1773. Wheatley achieved international renown, traveling to London and being called upon by noted social and political figures of the day – including George Washington. A hero in her own right. Image on front is from the rare 1838 edition of her book, which includes poems of the North Carolina slave George Moses Horton. 4. Peter Jackson (1861-1901), the "Black Prince,” a Heavyweight (one of the finest boxers who ever fought in the ring), was from the Virgin Islands. As a youngster he moved to Australia. In 1886, Jackson won the Australian heavyweight title by knocking out Tom Leeds in the 30th round. Finding it difficult to get opponents in Australia, he moved to the USA in 1888 and fought his way across the country. John L. Sullivan (then) US Heavyweight Champion, would not fight Jackson, saying he would not box against Negroes. Traveling to England in 1892, Jackson won the British Empire championship with a 2nd-round knockout of Jem Smith, and then defended the title with a 10th-round knockout of Frank Slavin (pictured). In that bout, however, Jackson suffered two broken ribs that punctured a lung. He ultimately died of tuberculosis. – image from cover of June 12, 1892 issue of Le Petit Parisien 5. Toussaint L’Overture (1743-1803), Black revolutionary -- Liberator of the Haitian Slaves. The struggle which Toussaint waged for freedom lasted 12 years. He defeated the local whites, the soldiers of France, a Spanish invasion, a British force of 60,000 men, and a similar size sent once again by the French. The revolt led by L’Ouverture is the only successful slave revolt in history. Between the years 1789 to 1815 there was no other singular figure who appeared on the historical stage with such talent than the man who was a slave until he was 45 years old. Toussaint died on April 6, 1803. His body might have been destroyed, but his work lived on. 6. Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia -- An engraving by F. Dielman, from the May 12, 1866 edition of Harper's Weekly. On April 19, 1866, the African-American citizens of Washington, D.C., celebrated the abolition of slavery. A procession of 4,000 to 5,000 people assembled at the White House, where they were addressed by President Andrew Johnson (1808-1875). Marching past 10,000 cheering spectators, the procession, led by two black regiments, proceeded up Pennsylvania Avenue to Franklin Square for religious services and speeches by prominent politicians. A sign on top of the speaker's platform read: "We have received our civil rights. Give us the right of suffrage and the work is done." 7. Alexander Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers, was born in Villes-Cotterêts. His grandfather was a French nobleman, who had settled in Santo Domingo (now part of Haiti); his paternal grandmother, Marie-Cessette, was an Afro-Caribbean, who had been a black slave in the French colony (now part of Haiti). Dumas did not generally define himself as a black man and there is not much evidence that he encountered overt racism during his life. However, his works were popular among the 19th-century African-Americans, partly because in The Count of Monte Cristo, the falsely imprisoned Edmond Dantès, may be read as a parable of emancipation. 8. Jesse Owens (1913-1980), the son of sharecroppers and the grandson of slaves, assured himself a place in sports history. Adolph Hitler and the Nazis had hoped that the 1936 Olympics would prove their theory of racial superiority. Against all odds, Owens made Hitler eat his words with four gold medals: 1st Gold = Aug 3rd (100m). 2nd Gold = Aug 4th (long jump). 3rd Gold = Aug 5th (200m). 4th Gold = Aug 9th (4x100m). One of these world records, (26' 5 1/4" in the long jump), would last for 25 years. The person holding the Aug 4th ticket actually saw Jesse win the Long Jump competition and was present at this ceremony. 9. Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), Engraved image from the scarce First Edition 1855 copy "My Bondage And My Freedom", which chronicled his life as a slave and then as a freeman. With his freedom purchased from Thomas Auld in 1846, Frederick was an American abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. In 1852, three years prior to getting this image engraved, Frederick had made the famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" Called "The Sage of Anacostia" and "The Lion of Anacostia," Douglass was among the most prominent African-Americans of his time, and one of the most influential lecturers and authors in American history. 10. Jubilee Singers of Fisk University -- An engraving from 1n 1873 issue of The Illustrated London News after the singers had performed at Willis's Rooms in London. The abolition of slavery in 1863 was commemorated by founding the college in Nashville (1867), under the superintendence of the American Missionary Association, named after General Clinton B. Fisk. Choirmaster, George L. White, selected and trained the musicians who would become the first internationally acclaimed group of African-American musicians who attained recognition, then fame, and along the way, financed their school, helping to build the beautiful Jubilee Hall. The talented vocal artists introduced "slave songs" to the world and, in many opinions, preserved this music from extinction. Pictured is the expanded group of singers on their second European tour: Minnie Tate, Greene Evans (bass), Isaac P. Dickerson (bass), Jennie Jackson, Maggie Porter, Ella Shepard (pianist), Thomas Rutling (tenor), Benjamin M. Holmes (tenor), and Eliza Walker. Only two, Jennie Jackson and Minnie Tate, were born free; the rest were brought up in slavery till the decree of emancipation. issued. 11. Annie Malone (1869 - 1957) recorded as America's first Black female millionaire based upon reports of $14 million held in assets in 1920 from her beauty and cosmetic enterprises, headquartered in St. Louis and Chicago. An entrepreneurial inspiration for the 21st century: