A MERE VERSIMILITUDE OF FREEDOM

A MERE VERSIMILITUDE OF FREEDOM by Rev. Dr. Larry Delano Coleman 11/06/13 This morning, as I reflected on last night's (Nov.13, 2013) presention of PBS' outstanding program, “MANY RIVERS TO CROSS,” dealing with the African American Experience in America in the period 1861-1896, that was so expressively narrated by Harvard professor/historian, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., I was reminded of a similarly-themed program that we presented here in both Kansas Cities, Missouri and Kansas, in September and October 2011, at the National Archives and Records Administration Center and at the Kansas City Kansas Community College, respectively. The thematic thrust of our two panel discussion programs, which I designed and moderated was: —“If the African Freedom War began on the slave-ships, among captive Africans, during the Middle Passage, and culminated among captive Africans, with victory by the North in the American Civil War, when did the African American Freedom War, actually end?” a. In December 1865 with ratification of 13th Amendment? b. In 1965 with passage Voting Rights Act, and ’64 EEO Act? c. In 2008 with President Barack Obama’s election? d. It has not ended there’s merely a verisimilitude of freedom! Like Dr. Gates' televised program, our lively discussions, led by Missouri and Kansas scholars, concluded that (d) was correct: “It (the African American Freedom War) has not ended there’s merely a verisimilitude of freedom!” The group that organized and presented these twin historical-panel discussions was the Civil War Committee, of the Lorenzo J. Greene branch, of the Association of African American Life and History,(ASALH) Dennis Robinson, Branch President. Mrs. Brenda Vann was invaluable to the process. The scholars/historians appearing on the respective panels were: Sub-Topics for discussion and elucidation Missouri 9/22/2011 Kansas 10/20/2011 1. 13th Amendment, U.S. Const. Dr. Antonio Holland Dr. Jennifer Weber 2. CRA 1964 & VRA 1965 Mr. Joe Mattox Dr. Jimmy Johnson 3. Election of Pres. Barack Obama Dr. Shawn Alexander Rep. Valdenia Winn 4. Not ended, Mere Verisimilitude Dr. Gary Kremer Mr. Chester Owens