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April 28, 2014 Current Events in Education

Irish & African American Struggles for Freedom: Day 2 at the Organization of American Historians Conference

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About Sarah Denham

Sarah has been a classroom teacher for eleven years and is certified in almost every subject area. She also holds a Bachelors and Masters in Social Studies and a Specialist in Instructional Tech. She is also an ed tech guru who loves blending current technologies into her literature classroom. When she is not teaching, Sarah loves books, writing, playing with her dogs, and going on adventures with her husband. Sarah loves to hear from readers and other fellow educators so feel free to contact her at @EdTechieSarah or sarah.denham416@gmail.com.
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manos-union-color2-1113fg-v-554On Saturday, April 12, I again attended the Organization of American Historians Conference 2014 in Atlanta. Saturday was a very busy day as there were more people there than on Friday. I arrived to the conference around 10:00 AM and explored the exhibition hall. Several of the publishers represented there were giving away their stock for free or for a very low price. Let’s just say I walked away with a stack of amazing history books to read over the summer. It also gave me a chance to talk to publishing house representatives about what could and could not be used by K-12 teachers. They were very interested in non-college/university level educators’ opinions.

The time had come to go to a session. Since there were only three session times a day, I had to choose which one I wanted really wanted to attend. Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances, this turned into my only session out of the three. There were several interesting ones, but I decided that I would attend the session, “Bridging the Black and Green: African American & Irish Freedom struggles in 19th/20th.” This interested me personally since I had studied Irish history in college and grad school as well as some of the connections between African American leaders and Irish/Irish American leaders. The session, which covered the 1840’s, 1880’s, and 1960’s/1970’s, gave a quick overview of what different ways African Americans and the Irish tried to connect in their different but related struggles in the United States or Ireland. My overall take-away from session: Irish and African American struggles for freedom were a common cause between 1840s-1970s

Interesting points made during the session:

Ian Delahanty- Speaker on 1840’s

o   The 1840’s saw the Abolitionist movement trying to connect and intertwine with the Repeal movement in Ireland (attempt to repeal the union between Britain and Ireland.)

o   Daniel O’Connell (Repeal Leader)was vocal against slavery and slaveholders as well as an Irish nationalist.

o   Abolitionists hoped that O’Connell’s abolitionism would bridge anti-slavery and Irish nationalism.

o   Frederick Douglass did a speaking tour of Ireland on the 1840’s.

o   Douglass pushed for Irish to sever ties with friends/family who hold slaves in U.S.

o   Douglass argued that Irish could leave the country if they wanted a better life. They could reform, petition, etc. Slaves could not.

o   Question during repeal period- Should Irish Nationalist care about anti-slavery?

o   If Irish wanted freedom, must move away from others who oppress.

o   Many Irish nationalists in Union Army felt Emancipation would help restore Union.

Millington Bergeson-Lockwood- Speaker on 1880’s

o   Connection between African American and Irish Political Coalitions could be described with look at protest, politics, and past.

o   Belief during late 1800’s- If Irish Americans and African Americans could overcome misconceptions, they could form powerful coalition.

o   1885- Boston Advocate arranged a benefit concert hoping to build Irish/African American common cause.

o   Late 19th- A turn from Republican Party by Black Bostonians as Irish Boston Democrats court them for politics.

o   1884- Boston Globe reports surprise among White Bostonian Republicans seeing Black Bostonians voting Democrat.

o   Black Bostonians and Irish Bostonians shared oppressed pasts.

o   Late 1880s – Many Irish Bostonians called for equal rights for the fellow Black Bostonians.

Rachel Oppenheimer- Speaker

o   1960’s/1970’s looks at IRA in Northern Ireland and Black Panthers connection.

o   Irish Civil Rights cited US Civil Rights movement, MLK, SCLC, SNCC, etc.

o   IRA began looking at BPP and Malcolm X though as movement became more militant.

o   Faulkner in Northern Ireland try to use similar tactics against IRA or Irish Civil Rights members as like in US.

o   Support for IRA jumps due to Bloody Sunday, peaceful march against internment where 13 marchers were killed.

o   Prisoners of internment in Northern Ireland “required reading list” included many writings by BPP members.

Minkah Makalani- Speaker

o   Discussing some other scholarship/works about Black/Irish coalitions or connections.

o   Ex: Steve McQueen, Black/English director-12 Years A Slave did Hunger, film about 1981 Hunger Strike in Northern Ireland.

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