I recently read Stephen L. Carter‘s novelThe Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln. I boldface novel so not to confuse the book with other Lincoln titles, usually non-fiction. In Carter’s novel, Lincoln lives after the play, and is still President. But he’s on the hot seat with Congress for going “too far” with the South, “too hard” on the rich folks, and “not far enough” for the radicals. At the center of this argument is a young aspiring Oberlin College graduate named Abigail Canner. Abigail was born a free black woman, she’s smart, determined, and through her Oberlin connections has a job with the law firm for the President’s defense team. Everyone seems to want to know Abigail.
Saturday, June 29 at 2:30 PM I moderate the discussion around the 1867 world of Abigail Canner at the Historical Society of Washington, DC (801 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001). [Download the flyer or RSVP for the free event on Eventbrite.] Our speakers and Carter are blurring the lines between fact and fiction. The thematic discussion of the book will go deep around Abigail, her world, her dreams even what she and her colleagues and neighbors would eat. Carter doesn’t give too many details, but we’ll fill the plate. One of my favorite culinary historians, Michael W. Twitty will join me to talk about foodways before, during and after the Civil War. You can read Michael’s open letter to Paula Deen on his Afroculinaria website — check out all the other good stuff in his web library too including a recipe for blueberry barbeque sauce. Michael and I take our southern food seriously.
Charles FinneyBut my principal assignment is to explore Abigail’s alma mater, Oberlin College, founded in 1833 in the western wilderness of Ohio. Oberlin was estblished by northern missionaries and grew when the “father of Revivalism” Charles Grandison Finney came on the scene. Finney was also a staunch abolitionist (radical?). With Finney established, students and financial support soon followed. In the novel, Finney provides the important letter of reference and recommendation for Abigail to clerk at the Dennard and McShane law firm in downtown Washington.
Before HBCUs and Seven Sisters, the Oberlin Collegiate Institute that became Oberlin College, was the go-to college for all women and persons regardless of color for a complete Bachelor’s degree course, a “Literary Course” (for women minus Greek, Latin, and advanced mathematics), Theological studies, and eventually the Convervatory of Music (founded in 1865).
George VashonAbigail was recruited to attend Oberlin by the first African American college graduate and fellow Obie George B. Vashon who makes an appearance in flashback in The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln. Vashon was among the first graduates of the college in 1838. He would return to earn a MA in 1849. Vashion was a first in law as well — the first African American to practice law in New York state.
Once enrolled, Abigail the freshman would be on campus with some prominent upper class women. Abigail Canner may not mention these women, but they certainly would’ve crossed paths on Tappan Square:
Mary Jane PattersonMary Jane Patterson who graduated with a B.A. in 1862 was also the first black woman in the world to earn a Bachelor’s degree from a collegiate institute. Patterson would go to Washington to teach at the Preparatory High School for Negroes (later M Street High School, and then Dunbar High School). She would become its first woman principal.
Edmonia LewisMary Edmonia Lewis enrolled in 1859 at the recommendation of her brother. She didn’t complete her studies for the Literary course. Things got a little out of hand when she was accused of poisoning two white students/friends. This was known as the “Spiced Wine Scandal.” Part Chippewa Indian and African American, Edmonia was somewhat exotic in the Ohio town, never hiding her heritages. But just before her friends were leaving to enjoy a sleigh ride with their fellas, Edmonia invited the girls up for spiced wine. It’s been said that the wine was spiked with Spanish Fly which made the girls violently ill. The incident nearly split the abolitionist town in half. Edmonia was dragged out from Mr. Keep’s house and beaten.
John Mercer LangstonJohn Mercer Langston, a prominent Oberlin resident and graduate from the Oberlin College and School of Theology, came to Edmonia’s rescue in court and won for her. John Mercer Langston, also of Native American/Black heritages, would later become the first dean of the Howard University’s law school and elected to Congress in 1888, the first U.S. Representative of color from the state of Virginia.
Bust of Lincoln, 1871Even with her court victory, Edmonia couldn’t stay in Oberlin and left the campus in 1862 for Boston. Edmonia was also an artist. She started sculpting and sold small plaster souvenir busts of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, and created busts of Abraham Lincoln and John Brown. With these earnings and the help of patrons, Edmonia booked a passage to Rome, Italy to continue sculpting and was part of a group of expatriot women sculptures known as the Marmorean Flock. Whether Abigail Canner heard gossip around Edmonia’s story, warnings or passed the future sculptor as she was leaving town, is left to our imaginations.
Fanny JacksonFanny Jackson Coppin would’ve been Abigail’s classmate; both graduating around or at the same time in 1865. Fanny was born a slave in Washington, DC. Her aunt purchased her 12-year-old niece’s freedom for $125. Fanny worked as a domestic, hired a tutor, attended public school. She enrolled in Oberlin’s Literary course followed by the collegiate course and earned her BA in 1865. There’s no mention of Fanny in the novel. But maybe Fanny had no time for Abigail. While a student, she started an evening school for freed persons.
After graduation, Fanny Jackson became principal of the girls’ high school at the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia. She opened the only trade school for African Americans in that city. Abigail would meet her fiance at Oberlin. Fanny was 44 when she married AME minister Reverend Levi Jenkins Coppin. Fanny also established homes for working and poor women and was a fighter in defending the rights of women and African Americans (source: Oberlin College). Coppin State University, in Baltimore, is named for Fanny Jackson Coppin.
Abigail had loads of oppportunities to connect with fellow Obies when she returned to Washington, DC. But she had more pressing matters in the post-Civil War city known for corruption, intrigue, danger, and mud.
The discussion at the Historial Society of Washington, DC is a program of DC By the Book, the DC Public Library’s website for mapping Washington, DC in fiction…or its gray areas, the color of Abigail Canner’s eyes.
“I love my devices and services, I love being connected to the global hive mind…but I am more aware of the price we pay, lack of depth, reduced accuracy, lower quality, impatience, selfishness, and mental exhaustion, to name but a few. In choosing to digitally enhance lives, we risk not living them.”
Baratunde Thurston
author, How to Be Black
Are you a digital addict? Take the Fast Companyquiz
Modern American popular traditions break Mother’s Day down to a day off for mom with breakfast in bed and the laundry folded; for Father’s Day, dad gets to play with the new gas grill, catch a live ball game, enjoy that 3’inch thick steak (when he knows he shouldn’t). Dad’s induldged and mom’s pampered.
As I was thinking of Father’s Day, my mind drifted back to a series that broadcast on PBS titled “Africa.” It’s one of the few series about the continent that features people, not animals. In the 2nd episode, “Dessert Odyssey,” viewers are introduced to Adam Illius, a member of the semi-nomadic Tuareg people living in Timia a village in northern Niger. At the time of the filming, Adam was nine years old and about to set off with his father, uncles and other men from the village in a family-run salt caravan across the dessert. This trek would be made by camel. They will collect the salt in Biskra and sell it at market in Zinder. It will also be Adam’s test as to whether he can meet the responsibilities of a caravan leader. The camel trek will take them 6 months to cross 400 miles. Along the way Adam’s uncles set up surprises to scare the youth. These tests will build his confidence and courage. Adam is up for the challenge and the men in the caravan will not accept failure on either side to guarantee a safe and successful journey. The entire community’s survival depends on it. If Will Smith and company were inspired by Adam’s story for “After Earth” (a father/son sci fi feature starring Will and his son Jaden), it would be Adam’s determination to get his camel and the caravan safely across the dessert. But unlike your average hero movie, Adam is not alone. Adam’s uncles and father will be part of that community of men in this vast testing ground that will make for a happy ending…that includes the film crew.
The “Africa” series was a co-production between WNET and National Geographic. I asked, Jennifer Lawson co-executive producer, if she knows how Adam and his family are fairing as we hear news about the Tuareg, and Al Quaeda in Mali and along the Mali/Niger border. So far no official reports have indicated trouble near Adam’s village. Jennifer hasn’t been in contact with the village in some time, but estimates Adam is in his twenties now. Adam is a man, maybe a father.
Ironically I finally got to see Rashaad Ernesto Green‘s first feature-length film “Gun Hill Road” Friday on DVD. I say “ironic” because I didn’t plan to watch the film with Father’s Day looming on the calendar or in my mind. Maybe it’s “coincidence.” The film stars Esai Morales as Enrique Michael Rodriguez, fresh out of prison from a 3 year sentence to find that his only son and namesake, Michael (newcomer Harmony Santana) is transgendered, and his wife (Judy Reyes) has found a new love. From prison Dad has come away with more demons around sexuality, masculinity, and fewer opportunities to pull a life back together. This makes “Gun Hill Road” Enrique’s story. It’s a story about his imperfect struggle to be the father he never had and the father he wants to be to a son that no longer exists — at least as Enrique would want him to exist. It takes a strong actor to keep Enrique human. In less capable hands, Enrique would’ve been Michael’s worst nightmare; a bully monster dad. But Esai refuses to dehumanize the character; like the old saying, “…he was somebody’s baby once.”
Troubled fathers who desire to be part of their children’s lives exist. Incarceration and the prison industry have put a steel wall between them and any hope for reconcilation; most important, reform. Back in the day, social stigmas were prominent for persons who served jail time. But there were blue collar jobs with a liveable wage (and affordable living standards) to get back on your feet. Keep quiet about the jail stuff, ask God for forgiveness, and stay out of trouble and you and your family can have a future. I’ll put a link here to a wonderful program, Hope House, founded by Carol Fenneley that works to strenghthen the bonds between children and their fathers incarcerated far from home.
Depending on your age, the “Gun Hill Road’s” ending may leave you wondering — if Enrique takes steps to understand his son’s pain (baby steps maybe), will Michael/Vanessa ever take the steps to understand his/her father’s.
I recently read Stephen L. Carter‘s novel The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln. I boldface novel so not to confuse the book with other Lincoln titles, usually non-fiction. In Carter’s novel, Lincoln lives after the play, and is still President. But he’s on the hot seat with Congress for going “too far” with the South, “too hard” on the rich folks, and “not far enough” for the radicals. At the center of this argument is a young aspiring Oberlin College graduate named Abigail Canner. Abigail was born a free black woman, she’s smart, determined, and through her Oberlin connections has a job with the law firm for the President’s defense team. Everyone seems to want to know Abigail. 
