Unite July 2016

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continued from page 11 Craven County in 1850. We know that your William Dove was living in the Brock household that year and therefore would not be in his father’s household. We searched for the households of the Dove family in the 1850 U.S. census and discovered that Jacob and Isaac Dove both had sons named William recorded in that census, so they could not be the father of your William Dove. However, William Dove of Craven County did not have a male in his household in 1850, meaning that the young male recorded in his household

in 1840 was no longer living with him. This could mean that your William Dove belongs to the William Dove of Craven County who was born about 1780, and that he moved in with the Brock family between 1840 and 1850. According to Paul Heinegg, the Dove family owned land by 1775, so you will want to search land, probate and court records in this county to see if you can locate any records for the Dove family that may include relationships of family members. We located a land division in probate records for Craven County for the estate of an Isaac Dove in 1826. According to this record, the parties involved in the land

division were Anthony Brown, Jacob Dove and William Dove. Their relationships are not recorded, but the papers related to Isaac’s estate claim that his heirs were William Dove; Jacob Dove; George Carter and his wife, Susan; Gambo Fenner and his wife, Debby; and Stephen Godett and his wife, Mary. This suggests that William Dove (the possible father of your William Dove), Jacob Dove, Susan Carter, Debby Fenner and Mary Godett were all children of Isaac Dove, and each of them received a partition of his land upon his decease. We also located probate papers for William Dove in Craven County, dated Decem-

ber 1850 (on Ancestry.com; subscription required), which state that William’s wife was Rebecca. This is a match for the William Dove we located in the 1850 census record (the possible father) and suggests that he died around the time that your William Dove appeared in the Brock household. Perhaps the younger William Dove sought out work or training in a trade outside of his household once he reached adulthood, which is how he came to be in the Brock household. To continue this article, please go to www.the root.com and search for Free People of Color in NC.

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UNITE.

Richard Howard Hunt

Black History Summer Academy Adds “Ariya” To Empower Young Women

73rd Carver Day Celebration Diamond, MO—George Washington Carver National Monument is pleased to announce the park's annual Carver Day celebration to be held on Saturday, July 9, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend the 73rd Carver Day anniversary to commemorate the life of George Washington Carver and the establishment of the national monument in his honor. The event is free of charge. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service so this year's event will be a very special one! Special speakers this year include Audrey Peterman, author of Our True Nature, Finding a Zest for Life in the National Park System and Legacy of the Land: A Black Couple Discovers Our National Inheritance and Tells Why Every American Should Care and Toby Warren, author of My

See on page 6

Small Business & Technology Development Center Announces New Director

American (born 1935)

Stopped Hybrid 1974, Bronze Richard Hunt is a sculptor based in Chicago, Illinois. He received a bachelor's degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and almost immediately began exhibiting at art fairs, galleries, and local art centers around Chicago. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, he resumed his career as a sculptor in earnest. His new work met with nearly instant acclaim, and he became the youngest artist featured in the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle. In Stopped Hybrid we see the figure in mid-transformation, halting its movement in place. Hunt’s use of biomorphic abstract forms, juxtaposed with the rigid angularity of the totem base produces a clear tension between the organic (form) and the industrial (material). This tension is intentional; Hunt has noted that one of the central themes in his work is “the reconciliation of the organic and the industrial. I see my work as forming a kind of bridge between what we experience in nature and what we experience from the urban, industrial, technology-driven society that we live in.”

Have A Happy Independance Day Please Be Safe!

Building Empowering Connections In Our Diverse Community

See on page 10

Sign-Up Now For The 2016 ParkDay Community Parade See on page 4

Photo provided BySpringfield Art Museum

Am I Related?

July 2016 Volume 26/ Number 7 • A Monthly Publication by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc •

Am I Related to Free People of Color in NC?

Continued on page 2 George Washington Carver “The Plant Doctor” - Scientist

Movies At Founders Park Starts July 8th See on page 7

Springfield, MO—The Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s annual Movies at Founders Park series begins at

dusk Friday, July 8, bringing recent release and classic movies to a family-friendly outdoor setting in downtown Springfield’s Founders Park, 330 E. Water St., at Jefferson Avenue. The series continues every Friday and Saturday night through Continued on page 2

Founders Park Movie Night

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Carver Day

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Dear Boy, Jack. The latter is an inspirational story of Carver’s friendship with a young child with polio. Bright Star Theatre will entertain visitors with a production of Lift Every Voice, The Black Experience in the Heartland. This play celebrates the National Park Service Centennial and African American history in the Midwest. In addition, performing will be the Roz Gospel Trio from Kansas City; gospel singing group, Sensational Wonders; area choirs; Memphis gospel blues singer and guitarist, Reverend John Wilkins. Activities are scheduled throughout the day, including storytelling, exhibitors, musical

performances, guided tours, educational programs, children’s activities, Junior Ranger station, and much more. The Diamond Lions Club will provide a food concession. Please call the park at 417325-4151 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for further information. Visit our website at www.nps. gov/gwca and Facebook page. Carver Day is co-sponsored by the Carver Birthplace Association, with support from the National Park Foundation’s African American Experience Fund. George Washington Carver National Monument preserves the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver. The park is located two miles west of Diamond Missouri, on Highway V, then south 1/4 mile on Carver Road.

Founders Park

continued from page 1 August 27. The eight-week movie series is a contemporary version of a drive-in theater. Audiences are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy an evening under the stars. Friday is Family Night, Saturday is Date Night. All movies are rated G, PG or PG-13. Feature films begin at dusk. The series includes a special “drive-in” movie screening of “The Little Rascals” during the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Friday, Aug. 12, at the Springfield Expo Center East Field, across from Mediacom Ice Park. Concessions are available for purchase. No tobacco, alcohol or pets allowed. Admission to Movies at Founders Park is free with advance family 4-pack tickets, or $5 at the gate. Individual movie tickets are available the Monday before each film screening at the following locations: • Chesterfield Family Center, 2511 W. Republic Road • Doling Family Center, 301 E. Talmage St.

• Dan Kinney Family Center, 2701 S. Blackman Road • Mediacom Ice Park, 635 E. Trafficway • Busch Municipal Building, 840 Boonville Ave. • Mediacom Communications, 1533 S. Enterprise Ave. The Park Board partners again this summer with SATO48 to highlight several short films produced by local filmmakers in the 2016 SATO48 film challenge. SATO films will be screened prior to the feature films on Saturday nights. For more information, visit ParkBoard.org/movies or call Mediacom Ice Park at 417-8667444, or the Springfield-Greene County Park Board office at 417864-1049.

Minorities In Business monthly networking meeting

Every First Tuesday of the Month at 5:15 pm (For July Only, Meeting is July 12th) Presentation by the MSU/Small Business Technology & Development Center Q Enoteca 308 West Commercial St Springfield, MO 65897

Bring a friend or business partner!! For more information call: (417) 837-2631

You’re Just the Person We’ve Been Looking For City Utilities is looking for motivated people to partner with to provide our customers with the care and service they’ve come to expect. If you’re a contractor who thinks outside the box, a vendor with an item to sell, or a hardworking person looking for a great place to work, look no further than CU. For more information on opportunities at CU, log on to cityutilities.net.

City Utilities of Springfield 301 East Central, Springfield MO 417.863.9000 cityutilities.net It is the policy of City Utilities to offer equal opportunity to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

Library Events

Am I Related?

workshops sponsored by the society at the Library Center. The next one is Wednesday, July 20, 9:30 a.m. in the auditorium. Ancestry recently retired its Family Tree Maker software. OGS member John Carter will discuss other options available. At 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1 in meeting rooms A and B, two members will discuss Tombstone Maintenance and Restoration. A 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, session in the auditorium, explores copyright issues when using documents and photographs. ••• Summer is a great time for many of us to pick up an extra skill, and the Edge Community Technology Center in the Midtown Carnegie Branch is the place for learning or brushing up on computer skills. Mobile Edge classes are also held at your neighborhood library. They’re free and for adults. Pick up a schedule at any library branch, visit thelibrary.org/edge or call 837-5011. Here’s what one student, Virginia Mee, said: “The most important thing about my computer training was that it organized my fragmented pieces of information gathered over the years of computer use and put them into a structured understanding that was current and very useable. It brought me up-to-date and built my confidence.” Kathleen O’Dell is community relations director of the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at kathleeno@thelibrary.org.

have been in the employ of the Brock family, since he is recorded in their household in both census records. You can also gather from the records that William was born about 1825-1830, which may help you identify him in other records. Since William Dove was a free man at a young age in both the census records, it seems probable that he was born free. The 1840 U.S. census only records the name of the head of the household and then the number of individuals in the household between certain age brackets. William would have been too young to have been recorded as the head of household in 1840, but it is possible that his father was recorded if he, too, were a free man. We searched the 1840 census for anyone with the surname Dove residing in Jones County, N.C., and discovered a number of households with free persons of color recorded in Craven County, N.C. This happens to be the same county where Leonard Thomas moved Mary Dove and her family, according to Paul Heinegg’s work, Free African Americans. Craven County, N.C., and Jones County, N.C., border each other. Based on our search, the only people with the surname Dove in 1840 in the area around

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Jones County were people of color living in Craven County, making it extremely likely that your William Dove is connected to these individuals. Your William Dove would have been between 10 and 15 years old during the enumeration of this census, based on his age in other records, so you could search for a household with a male in that age bracket to find a potential match. We noted a William Dove, a Jacob Dove and an Isaac Dove all residing at the South Side Neuse River, Craven County, as well as a Lemuel Dove and a James Dove residing at Newbern, Craven County, that all had males between the ages of 10 and 23 in their households that could be your William Dove. It may seem logical that the William Dove we located could be your William Dove’s father, since they share the same name. However, it also seems likely that all of these individuals are closely related, so do not assume that your William is the son of the William Dove in Craven County just because they share a name since he could have also been named for an uncle, cousin or grandfather. The Dove men we located in Craven County in 1840 all had males in their household the right age to be your William Dove, so to see if any of those children could have been your William Dove, we looked for the Dove men of

Affordable Housing Opportunities There are currently housing vacancies in the City of Springfield’s program for rental or home ownership. These programs include requirements for fair marketing and non-discrimination. You must be income eligible to qualify. For rental, call Marti Fewell, 417-864-1039 For home ownership, call LeeAnn Camey, 417-888-2020

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A Directory of free or low cost Business Assistance Minorities In Business Monthly Networking Meeting 417.861-0760 Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce www.spfldchamber.com 417.862.5567 Small Business Administration (SBA) www.sba.gov 417.890.8501 Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) www.score.org 417.837.2619 Drury University - Breech Center / Student in Free Enterprise www.drury.edu 417.873.7243 The Library Center Business Reference thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org 417.874.8110 Small Business & Technology Development Center sbtdc.missouristate.edu 417.836.5685

On Going Entrepreneurship Networking Opportunities One Million Cups: Every Wednesday morning, one or two early-stage startups present their companies to a diverse audience of their peers, mentors, educators, and advisors. This event is free and open to everyone. Where: Springfield Art Museum 1111 E. Brookside Dr. When: Each Wednesday morning at 9a.m.

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IN THIS ISSUE

The BusinessSection MSU/SBTDC Announces New Director Springfield, Missouri --- Chrystal increased productivity and Irons is the new director of the management improvement in Small Business & Technology small businesses and prospecDevelopment Center tive small businesses (SBTDC) at Missouin southwest Missouri. ri State University, The Missouri State SBTeffective May 25, 2016. DC will celebrate its 35th She replaces Rayanna anniversary of outreach Anderson whose retirein October 2017. ment was effective June Irons says, "I’m 3, 2016, after 25 years excited to work with Chrystal Irons of service. Irons is the skilled, veteran staff responsible for coordinating the at the MSU SBTDC. We have resources of the federal, state been colleagues in the statewide and local governments with the network for the last 6 years; and resources of the University and I look forward to continuing the private sector to promote the success that the Springfield growth, expansion, innovation, center has always achieved.

The Missouri State SBTDC is designed to deliver up-to-date consultation, training, and technical assistance in all aspects of small business management. Assistance is available to owners interested in improving or expanding an existing small business and to prospective business owners. The Management Development Institute is a collaborative effort between Missouri State University and Springfield Innovation, Inc. to support the successful development of small and growth-stage companies. Call 417-837-2617 for more info.

Government Contracting: Service Disabled Veterans discharged. (Disability requirements are discussed in the next paragraph). The following are (This is MO PTAC’s 7th article in the other requirements: this series) 1. The veteran(s) must own at least 51% of the In honor of Indebusiness; 2. Uncondipendence Day, Service tional control of the Disabled Veteran Owned business; 3. Managerial Small Businesses (SDexperience needed to VOSB) and Veteran manage the company; 4. Owned Small Businesses Strategic policy and daily (VOSB) are summarized. Allen Waldo decision making authoriBoth are certified by the ty; 5 The highest compenDepartment of Veterans Affairs sated individual (usually); and, 6. (VA). The SBA also offers a Hold the highest officer position Service Disabled Veteran Owned in the company (CEO, President). Business (SDVOB) but it is recAs for the definition of a ommended that a business owner service related disability, the VA should prioritize the application website has available a Verificafor the SDVOSB/VOSB as these tion Self-Assessment Tool. The certifications are accepted unifollowing is the direct quote from formly across the US government that tool giving this definition. contracting offices. “Service-disabled Veteran is a As for requirements to be Veteran who possesses either certified, the obvious main one is a disability rating letter issued that the business owner(s) must by the Department of Veterans have served in one of the five Affairs, establishing a service-conbranches of the US Armed Forces nected rating between 0 and 100%, and has not been dishonorably By Allen Waldo, Guest Contributing Writer

or a disability determination from the Department of Defense.” A rating of 0% can be given for those disabilities that may not be readily apparent or may grow worse over time such as arthritis. The advantages to these certifications are that many times federal solicitations will be specially “set aside” for a veteran owned business (non-veteran businesses can’t bid on these jobs). Typically, the goal for SDVOSB companies is 3% of all federal contracting. If you are eligible for a veteran certification, the applicable website to learn more is: http:// www.va.gov/osdbu/. The VA recommends that the veteran then establishes a relationship with a Certified Verification Counselor (CVE) through the local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). A CVE is locally available in the Springfield PTAC office. For further information, contact Allen Waldo at either waldoaj@ missouri.edu or (417)837-2612.

Tap Into The Valuable Local History and Genealogy Dept At The Library by Kathleen O’Dell , Springfield-Greene County Library District Henry Louis Gates Jr. has helped make genealogy cool again for Americans who are mesmerized by his gentle storytelling in the PBS series Kathleen O'Dell “Finding Your Roots.” In each episode, he and the staff of researchers tackle the hidden family histories of several celebrities to reveal often astounding stories. He shows how, with some digging and trail-following, the rest of us can find our own roots. The series reminds us in the Ozarks what a valuable resource we have in the Local History and Genealogy Department at the Library Center, and in our partnership with the Ozarks Genealogical Society, which has 2,500-plus historical resources you can check out from the Library Center. You can always get beginner help from local history staff. You can also tap in to the genealogy hobbyists and experts at the various genealogy continued on page 11

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Community News

Reception Honoring Rev Donald Glunt Black History Summer Academy Adds “Ariya” To Empower Young Women Photos by Tondaleigha Jones

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Lifestyle & Entertainment News

Movie Review: “The Free State of Jones” by Lyle Foster

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UNITE. Volume 26, Number 7 PUBLISHER Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc. MANAGING EDITOR Samuel G. Knox CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lyle Foster Bon Tindle Gwen Marshall Kathleen O'Dell Tyler Hatten PHOTOGRAPHY Tondaleigha Jones

Business News

MSU/SBTDC Announces New Director

GORMAN-SCHARPF FUNERAL HOME, INC

The Quality And Care That You Expect In 242 Years Of Combined Experience W. Bruce Howell Robert J. Lohmeyer Don R. Lohmeyer Heather K. Howell Angela N. Collins Harley R. Williams 886-9996 Clint W. Mease Russ Allen

(417) 886-9994 • Fax: (417) 1947 E. Seminole Springfield, Missouri 65804

City Employment Link The City of Springfield offers a variety of municipal career opportunities for individuals interested in public service. Job opportunities are updated each Friday and can be accessed through a number of mediums: Web: http://www.springfieldmo.gov/jobs; or TV: CityView on Mediacom Cable Digital Channel 80; or In Person: visiting our offices at 840 Boonville, Room 324, Springfield, MO 65802. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. Individuals with disabilities should request reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act prior to testing or appointment. Proof of United States Citizenship/Authorization to Work in The United States as established by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 is a condition of employment. Pre-employment drug testing required.

VOLUNTEERS Tyra Knox

The Unite. publication is a monthly newspaper published by Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization. Distribution of Unite. is by free circulation at various locations. However, request for home delivery by mail may be directed to Unite. P. O. Box 1745, Springfield, Missouri 65801 and accompanied by $25. for one year’s postage and handling. Those wishing to make a contribution or become a monthly sponsor should direct correspondence to the same address. Readers comments and questions are welcomed. The opinions expressed in these pages do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite. of Southwest Missouri, Inc. “The Unite Publication in accepting advertising in this publication, makes no independent investigation concerning the services of products advertised and neither endorses nor recommends the same and assumes no liability therefore.” For further information, you can contact us at (417) 864-7444. Email: unitepublication@yahoo. com

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CommunityNews

Free State of Jones continued from page 8

Getting Ready For ParkDay 2016

Reception Honoring Rev Donald Glunt

Springfield, MO—Get ready Springfield! It’s time for Park Day 2016. Mark your calendar and save the dates—August 5, 6 and 7, 2016. Springfield Reunion Club has been busy planning to make this year’s celebration a renewal of family and community ties and values. This starts with our roots and our heritage. Park Day gives everyone an opportunity to connect with their relatives, honor those who have passed on and strengthen their connections with friends and family. In keeping with these goals, the theme this year is “Roots: The Strength Within Me” Some highlights this year are: • Hospitality – Get ready to smile at the Park Day Photo Booth! Take a picture with your BFF from high school, spouse or loved one. The photo booth is affordable and pictures will be available immediately. This year there will be a youth dance for kids ages 9-16. • Annual Park Day Community Parade - It is free and open to everyone. However to be successful, community participation is needed. In addition to parade entries, people are also

Springfield, MO—Gibson Chapel Presbyterian Church, 536 E Tampa St., will host a reception honoring the Reverend Donald Glunt, for 20 years of faithful service. The reception will take place

asked to come, bring their kids and grandchildren to cheer the parade on. Please watch for parade route update due to construction on Central Street! • Picnic in the Park - Stay for the picnic after the parade. Enjoy the food as well as the fellowship. While this is free, donations are greatly appreciated. • Park Day Dance – Somethin Xtra will be back by popular demand! Complete with a new light show, double keyboard player and a dynamic show. Get ready to get your groove on, shake a tail feather, twerk or whatever they are doing today. You won’t be disappointed. The theme this year for the dance is “Wear All White on Saturday Night.” But if you don’t have white, don’t let that stop you for coming and enjoying the fun. There will be other activities to fill the weekend. Gospel Music in the Park, golf, bowling and tennis tournaments. The finale of Park Day 2016 will be the Bathing Beauty Pageant. So, mark your calendar and make plans to support Park Day. We should never forget where we came from or those who helped us get to where we are today!

A Call For ParkDay Parade Entries Springfield, MO—Ladies Civic League will be coordinating the Annual 2016 Park Day Community Parade on Saturday, August 6. As in the past, it is free and open to the public. The theme this year is “Roots: The Strength Within Me” Participants as well as

spectators are needed. Those who wish to be participants are asked to complete and return the following registration form. Lineup start at 11:00 am with the parade starting at 12:00. Please watch for possible changes in the route due to construction on Central Street.

Sunday, July 24, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Please join us in acknowledging Rev. Glunt's service to Springfield and the congregation of Gibson Chapel. The community is invited.

Both Ebony and Jet Magazines Sold Off to a Private Equity Firm Chicago, IL—Ebony magazine and the digital version of Jet magazine, two of the most popular publications that have chronicled African-American life for the past 71 years, have both been sold to Clear View Group - a private equity firm based in Austin, Texas. The sales price was not disclosed, but Michael Gibson, chairman of Clear View Group, says the company will retain its Chicago headquarters and much of its staff. What happened? The exact details are not clear, but after the founder, John H. Johnson, died in 2005, his daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, took over as president. Soon after, the company began to take

a hit from declining circulation and low revenue generation. In 2014, Jet discontinued in print, and shifted to a new digital approach - being only available as an e-magazine on smart phones and tablets. Ebony, however, continues to be available in both print and digitally, but is noticeably a lot thinner than it used to be. The company's fall has been blamed on new competition from other African-American focused publications including various web sites and blogs. The histor y A young 24-year old John H. Johnson founded Johnson Publishing in 1942 with the continued on page 5

2016 PARK DAY PARADE ENTRY FORM THEME: Roots: The Strength Within Me Parade Date: August 6, 2016 12:00 Noon (Please Print) Organization Name: Mailing Address: Contact Person:

Phone Number: Type Of Entry — Please CIrcle All That Apply Float

Car

Dance Troupe

Walkers

Other

There is no fee for this parade, however tax deductible donations to the Ladies Civic League Scholarship Fund are welcome! Please Make Check Payable To: LCL and mail to: Ladies Civic League – P. O. Box 8296 – Springfield, MO 65801

actress named Gugu MbathaRaw that I am not familiar with are the main characters in the film. They both do an outstanding job. There are a number of other actors and actresses that are in the film who are in smaller roles consisting of a number of whites and blacks. I am not sure how the film is going to do with the summer blockbusters it has to compete with but if you can process the reality of the Civil War for some of the violent scenes the narrative of this film is one to learn about. It is a good film and well done and a very

Bubba's Bar-B-Q continued from page 8

visit I almost ordered the same thing because I was so pleased the first time which I know I am not supposed to do but the guests with me tried enough other offerings that I got a good representative sample. The pulled pork, the sandwiches, the turkey all passed muster. Unfortunately they also have fried pies for dessert. This is not what you need when you are trying to get your beach body ready. Oh well you can’t have everything. The service was friendly and very attentive which is sometimes almost as important as the food itself. I came during both a lunch time and a dinner time and there are people in the restaurant. It hasn’t been open that long and each time I went there was a decent number of customers. This is good and important for a new business. They state very

important story that needs to be heard. It is also significant to have this awareness that in the middle of this horrific part of our southern history a few people stood up and made an interesting stand. Films like this expand our understanding and help us to learn more about the stories of our past that still speak to our present. And again we get to see more about the experiences of our ancestor slaves and freemen and women and what the story of their lives was like. I’m glad ….really glad that I got to learn this story. 93 out of 100

clearly that they aim to serve the best meat and will not run out of meat. You maybe aware that there are a number of new bar-b-q places opening and the competition and the stakes are getting higher. I can’t say we have gotten to the St. Louis and Kansas city level yet but Bubba’s is a real contender. By many reports it also fills a gap in restaurants of this nature on this side of town i.e. northwest Springfield. I didn’t realize that there wasn’t a q joint on this side of town…..but I tell you what I think Bubba’s is going to make the neighbors happy and may just draw some folks from the rest of the city as well. As they say when I get a hankering for some bar-b-q and pulled pork etc. and yes the fried corn I know how to make it to Chestnut Expwy and West Bypass. Can somebody say like Tyler Perry …..hallelerya! 3 ¾ forks!!!

Am I Related?

continued from page 7 which social prejudice could not entirely rob them, and which helped them to prosperity in certain walks of life.” Chestnutt’s perspective was undoubtedly influenced by his own origins as the successful son of free people of color from North Carolina, and the notion of “mild” slavery may sound naive by today’s standards. For a somewhat more recent account of the topic, we suggest that you pick up the historian John Hope Franklin’s classic 1943 text, The Free Negro in North Carolina, 1790-1860. It describes the very real limits placed by the state on free people of color, and the difficulties they had maintaining their freedom. As we see below, the free Dove family had struggles of their own. The Free Dove Family According to Heinegg’s history, which you have cited, the Dove family came from Anne Arundel County, Md., to Craven County, N.C., through Mary Dove, a “Negro woman” born circa 1710 who actually sued her Maryland master for her freedom. Heinegg quotes court testimony in a later suit for freedom by one of Mary Dove’s grandsons that Mary’s own grandmother was “a Yellow Woman and had long black hair, but this deponent does not know whether she was reputed to be an East Indian or a Madagascarian, but she has understood that she was called in the family Malaga Moll.” As to whether you may have a trace of that Malagasy heritage, we refer you to a previous column on The Root by Professor Gates and Zachary Garceau, “Tracing Slaves

Brought From Madagascar to Va.” In it, genetic genealogist CeCe Moore says there is no specific DNA test to tell you if you have ancestors from Madagascar (an island nation off the coast of Southeast Africa in the Indian Ocean), but she does relay advice for exploring the connection. We suggest that you check out the article. Connecting Families by Working Backward Meanwhile, there are two methods you’ll want to use to see if you can make a connection between your William Dove and Mary Dove. You will want to work backward from your known ancestor, William Dove, to see if you can identify his parents or other relatives, and you’ll also want to conduct further research into Mary Dove to determine how her line moves forward. Researching in both directions may help you identify a person that is connected to both people, proving your connection. You located William Dove in both 1850 and 1860 in the households of the Brock family, which owned a number of slaves. From an examination of these records, it is clear that your William Dove was a free man and not a slave. William was recorded by name in both the 1850 U.S. census and in the 1860 census. In both of those years, there was a separate census for slaves called the slave schedules, and a slave would not be recorded by name in the federal census this way, meaning that William Dove was a free man prior to emancipation. His occupation in the 1860 federal census was recorded as a cooper, meaning that he was trained in a trade and could continued on page 11

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Arts&Entertainment News

2016 ParkDay! Reunion Weekend Schedule

Movie Review: “The Free State of Jones”

the experience of the slaves is always problematic in so many respects. But the story itself is Ok….I admit it…..I am a so fascinating and the fact that sucker for the slave era Civil it is based on a real story and War type story. This period of event that took place is in some our nation’s history was so volaways mind boggling. I had tile and for people of color such never realized this event took a difficult pivotal era. The piece place and in Mississippi no less. that almost floors me The story is so intriguis that even still there ing that I had to spend are so many stories a considerable amount that are being uncovof time after watching ered about events from the movie to look up this period and movie the story that the film plots being developed. is based on. Obviously Recently the movie 12 the movie is not line Lyle Foster Years a Slave would for line the way events be an example of this. occurred but rather Obviously a part of this reason loosely based on a true story. is that film makers and producAnd the story is a remarkers are recognizing that there is able one…about a white poor a tremendous appetite for this farmer who questioned for kind of narrative. whose benefit the Civil War The movie Free State of was occurring and as a result Jones is difficult to watch in became a deserter and became some respect because of seva spokesperson for a group of eral graphic war scenes and outcasts during the Civil War By Lyle Foster Unite Contributing Writer

need to go see it again because and a period after. Eventually it makes you think. he became a leader of a three I would really be interested in county area that declared your take on the film if you get themselves to be a free state to see it….the toughest of the and every man to be free. The graphics are at the beginning film also depicts a bit of the of the film in some of the war Reconstruction period which is scenes so once another fascinatyou get through ing and unusual that it is not as period of our violent in most of nation’s history. the parts. Don’t get it The charactwisted the film ter in the film is not all about Newt Knight entertainment has descendants and telling a who are alive good story there and well today are some funand you can read damental truths about many of about life and them and there who we are as a are some family nation and how structures that we got there STX Entertainment 2016 are fairly surpristhat is worth the ing that really took place. movie itself. In fact the developMatthew McConaughey ment of the storyline in the film plays the lead role and an is so strong that I think one of continued on page 9 these hot summer afternoons I

Restaurant Review: “Bubba’s Bar-B-Q” By Lyle Foster Unite Contributing Writer

Ok….before anyone starts throwing forks or bar-b-q sauce in this direction let me say that I am not a fan of the name either but we know that we are in the city of Springfield down in the Ozarks. I didn’t pick the name I’m just reporting on the food! Bubba’s is located at 504 NW Bypass in a small strip center that has had a number of places come and go….several of them food establishments. But the bets are on that this place is

going to stay. Now let me send a definite shout out to the all of the neighborhood bar-b-q places that there is much love to them still. But we know that it is summer time and this is the time that we have to get our share of the ribs and pulled pork and whatever other fixings goes with it. If you don’t have the time to grill it yourself or know what you are doing well there are a few places where you can get some good q to go or to eat out. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went there because well

it is called Bubba’s ….ok I am just joking but this is the name. The environment is cool with a typical Missouri flavor with ample seating and a small bar space with moonshine on the menu. I have gone twice because after my first visit I enjoyed it enough to go again. And I was not disappointed. So what did I eat? I have shared before that I do a lot of talking about ribs but I really don’t eat them that often….but I did the combo here and got four bones of ribs and pulled chicken. The meat was tender and

almost fell off the bone and the sauce that I tried was delicious. No complaints on the chicken either. I got sides of baked beans and fried corn. I am not sure if I’m just getting forgetful but the fried corn which was on the cob was the best I think that I have had. I wanted more but I was trying to represent so I exercised restraint. The baked beans were delicious with bits of meat in them which I really like and just the right amount of sweetness. Texas toast was the bread choice. On my second continued on page 9

~ Sponsored by Springfield Reunion Club, Inc. & Springfield Greene County Parks Theme for 2016….”Roots: The Strength Within Me”

FRIDAY, August 5, 2016

8:00 p.m. ~ 1:00 a.m. HOSPITALITY ~ University Plaza Hotel, 333 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy, 417-864-7333 featuring … Springfield’s Own…. “ D.J. Kendra “ Adults - $10 Kids Party - $5 (ages 9-16) THIS YEAR- Visit the Photo Booth (To capture the FUN times)

SATURDAY, August 6, 2016

8:00 a.m. ~ SKINS GAME – TEE TIME ~ Payne Stewart Golf Course Contacts: Bevo Looney 343-8228 Tommy Bedell Gene Johnson 869-1308 9:00 a.m.~ TENNIS TOURNAMENT ~ Silver Springs Park Contacts: Randy Smith 886-3430 or 576-6116 Vincent Stout 886-2682 11:00 a.m. ~ BOWLING TOURNAMENT ~ Sunshine Lanes ~ 1500 W. Sunshine Contacts: Sidney Needem 865-1203 Skip Thompson 862-7225 Richard Young 882-1737 12:00 Noon ~ PARK DAY REUNION PARADE ~ Silver Springs Park – Sponsored by Ladies Civic League & NAACP Contact: Carlene Ferguson 869-1443 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ~ KID’S $1 SWIM – Silver Springs Park 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ~ PARK DAY REUNION PICNIC - Everyone is Welcome. Monetary Donations Accepted. 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. ~ PARK DAY REUNION DANCE ~ University Plaza Hotel, 333 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy featuring … “SOMETHIN’ XTRA” Wichita, Kansas (Tickets- $15 in advance, $20 at the door) THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, Let’s All Wear White

SUNDAY, August 7, 2016

MORNING WORSHIP ~ Go To the Church of Your Choice 3:30 p.m. ~ PRAISE IN THE PARK Contact: Nora England – 861-7568 or Marlon Graves – 954-214-6002 6:00 p.m. ~ MISS SILVER SPRINGS BEAUTY PAGEANT Contact: Jane Pike 869-8091 (for pageant information)

Ebony & Jet Sold Off continued from page 4

launch of the first issue of a magazine called The Negro Digest. He was able to do so with some financial help from his parents and a $500 loan, and the magazine was an instant hit. It's name was later changed to Black World, and it had a peak circulation of 100,000 - a huge accomplishment in those days for an African American entrepreneur. It was also a stepping stone to a bigger, better, and bolder magazine that would be called Ebony magazine. What made Ebony so unique was that the articles were designed to look like those in Life or Look magazines, and emphasized the achievements of successful African Americans. It also was the first major publication for African Americans that featured photo essays about current events, and articles about race relations. Later in 1951, Jet magazine was launched as the first ever weekly, pocket-size publication for African Americans. Both publications were very successful for more than 7 decades. So what now? Although under new ownership, both magazines will continue to be published as usual. Linda Johnson Rice, Johnson's daughter and former president of Johnson Publishing, comments, “This is the next chapter in retaining the legacy that my father, John H. Johnson, built to ensure the celebration of African Americans. I am pleased to continue as Chairman of Johnson Publishing Company and serve as Chairman Emeritus and member of the board of the new African American led media entity, Ebony Media Operations.”

July Unite Page 7

July Unite Page 6

Am I Related to Free People of Color in NC?

Black History Summer Academy Adds “Ariya” To Empower Young Women by Gwen Marshall SPS Diversity & Inclusion Specialist

Springfield,MO—The Bridge Builders organization along with the help of the Springfield Community has completed another successful Black History Summer Academy! This year, there were 134 registered students and a nightly average attendance of 101 people. For the first time, we added a rites of passage "Ariya" (celebration) for four young ladies. The young ladies that were presented to the community were: Eriana Alexander graduate of Republic High School, Mariah Gilmore graduate of Parkview High School, Ma-Kayla Hanson and Daelyn Jones graduates of Central High School. They were escorted by Kyran Dixon graduate of Glendale High School, Donte Reese Sophomore Central High School, Robert Galvin Jr. Senior Central High School and Javeon England graduate of Parkview High School. The Ariya Rites of Passage purpose is to motivate African-American Women and to encourage them to pursue college after high school graduation as well as to empower them to take ownership of their futures. This year’s Black History Summer Academy theme was entrepreneurship and innovation. The students learned about past and present inventors and produced their own products to sell during the banquet. I would like to thank New Hope International, Pastor Lamarr Jamerson, Sanctuary of Praise, Pastor T.J. Appleby, Deliverance Temple, Bishop David Knox Jr., Pastor Edward Alexander, Turning Point Church, Springfield Public Schools and

all of our sponsors for their dedication and support of this project. We would also like to recognize our sponsors: Big Momma’s Coffee and Espresso Bar, Blu Styles Barber Shop, Buckhorn Inc., Michelle Gavel,

Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Homes, Minorities in Business, Sherman Street Project, Springfield Chapter of the NAACP,, Springfield History Museum, and the UNITE News Publication. The Academy had the best

volunteer staff and teachers in Springfield MO. We are looking forward to next year. Please enjoy the highlights from 2016 Black History Summer Academy. For more information contact: (417) 523-0008

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er element in the population, whose influence was cast against slavery, not in any fierce polemical spirit, but in such a way as to soften its rigors and promote gradual emancipation.” As a result, he said, “The mildness of slavery, which fostered kindly feelings between master and slave, often led to voluntary manumission.” Blood ties with whites may have contributed to this, he suggested, noting that “many of them, perhaps most of them, were as we have seen, persons of mixed blood, and received, with their dower of white blood, an intellectual and physical heritage of

By: Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Meaghan Siekman Nehgs Researcher

Tracing Your Roots: A reader seeks to connect the dots between her recent ancestors and a well-documented family who sued for their freedom. Dear Professor Gates: On the 1850 and 1860 censuses in Cypress Creek, Jones County, N.C., my ancestor William Dove/Duff appears in the household of the Brocks, who were wealthy slave owners before the Civil War. In 1850 he was about 20-25; in 1860 he was 30-35 years of age. He shows up on the census in 1870 with his wife and several children. The Dove family is believed to be of East Indian descent. They are mentioned in Paul Heinegg’s history Free African Americans as pre-Britain or East India. They originated from Anne Arundel County, Md., and were relocated to Craven County, N.C. I’ve been trying to locate and link my William Dove to the free Dove family in neighboring Craven County. Please help! —Alexis It turns out the condition of the free Dove family was not an anomaly in their region of North Carolina. Free People of Color in North Carolina We checked the University of Virginia Library Historical Census Browser to find that the 1860 census recorded 992,622 people in North Carolina, of which 331,059 were enslaved and 30,463 in the state were free people of color (making up 8 percent of African-descended

“Free women of color with their children and servants in a landscape” by Agostino Brunias WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

people). By comparison, Craven County had 6,189 enslaved and 1,332 free people of color, making the latter population close to 18 percent of African-descended people. In an excerpt from “The Free Colored People of North Carolina,” in The Southern Workman, Vol. 31, No. 3 (1902) by the renowned writer Charles W. Chesnutt, he theorized that the relatively high proportion of free people of color along the state’s Eastern Seaboard was due to “a somewhat mild character” of 18th-century slavery in the state, which typically involved small farms where slaves worked side by side with their masters. As well, he said, the “ScotchIrish Presbyterian strain in the white people of North Carolina brought with it a fierce love of liberty. … and while this love of liberty was reconciled with slavery, the mere prejudice against race had not yet excluded all persons of Negro blood from its benign influence.” He also described “a considerable Quak-

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Carver Day Celebration! Saturday, July 9, 2016 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Portrait of George Washington Carver © Tuskegee University Archives/Museum

      

Exhibitors Guest Speakers Music Performers Storytelling Guided Tours Education Programs Activities for Kids

Food Concession Diamond Lions Club

Rev. John Wilkins Gospel Blues Singer & Guitarist

Toby Warren Author My Dear Boy, Jack

Bright Star Theatre Production

Lift Every Voice The Black Experience in the Heartland

Roz Gospel Trio

All Activities Free of Charge!

Carver Birthplace Association

Audrey Peterman Author Our True Nature, Finding a Zest for Life in the National Park System

Sensational Wonders

For more information contact the park at 417.325.4151 or visit www.nps.gov/gwca The park is located two miles west of Diamond, Missouri on Highway V, then ¼ mile south on Carver Road.