1619 Project & Harris Neck

In the final bonus episode, we trace the roots of the current unrest in state legislatures across the country to the politics born out of the Reconstruction era.  We discuss the Tennessee state  legislature in particular and how it compares to what happened to the Georgia state legislature under Reconstruction. 

Image of the Tennessee State Capitol Building is courtesy of The Tennessee State Library and Archives. This image of the building was taken during the Civil War when the city of Nashville was under Union control and  was the first Confederate capitol building to fall to the Union Army in February 1862.

Welcome to bonus episode two!  Terri Ward researcher and geneaologist from Ujima Geneaology joins me for a closer look at the legacy of Mustapha Shaw.  Terri and I unpack what instructions this ancestor left for us in his legacy of defiance and "surthrival."

Image of the 33rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment in Beaufort South Carolina courtesy of the Library of Congress.  Mustapha Shaw and my third great grandfather Lester Grant both served with 33rd United States Colored Infantry.  

In this first of three special bonus episodes, Curious Roots, takes a closer look at an episode from Hulu's special 1619 Project docuseries called “Justice” which featured the story of Harris Neck. I break down some thoughts about the episode with genealogist and researcher Terri Ward of Ujima Genealogy of Coastal Georgia.  

Image of the 1940 McIntosh County,Georgia census enumeration district map courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.

We end season one of the podcast by uncovering the roots of the fight to return to Harris Neck and reflect on what the future may hold for this struggle.

Miss Mary tells the story of what happened in Harris Neck on July 1942 in her own voice.

In this episode we’ll learn what life was like on Harris Neck from some of my ancestors and how their deep connection to this piece of land on Turtle Island makes their removal especially harmful. 

We continue to unravel the history of Harris Neck with researcher and genealogist Terri Ward of Ujima Genealogy that includes my ancestor’s connection to the legendary Mustapha Shaw.

Researcher and genealogist Terri Ward of Ujima Genealogy frames the history of Harris Neck inside the larger story of Coastal Georgia.
Find Terri Ward at Ujima Genealogy of Coastal Georgia: https://ujimagen.org/
Episode features 4o Acres and Mule by Oscar Brown Jr.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm_opzUhQj4
Music courtesy of Makaih Beats: https://makaihbeats.net/

The story of Harris Neck comes alive for me at the kitchen table of Mr. Wilson Moran and his late mother, Miss Mary Moran in the summer of 2000. Music courtesy of Makaih Beats https://makaihbeats.net/

The Curious Roots podcast digs deep in the living earth of our personal, familial and communal lives to help us understand how we exist in the world today. Season one of the podcast begins with the maternal story of my own curious roots, still buried, but breathing and holding fast in Harris Neck, Georgia.  

Curious Roots is hosted by Michelle McCrary and is co-produced by Moonshadow Productions and Converge Collaborative.