Why Don't Black People Reenact?

/ notyourmommas. .
Website- NotYourMommasHistory.com
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[@christ5469]

I was once a Civil War reenactor of a Pennsylvania infantry group. There was one large reenactment many years ago we attended and a few of us got to the site a couple days early. While we were setting up, we were approached by a black family who asked if they could camp with us. We told them they were more than welcome to join us. Before setting up, they explained to us that they all portrayed former slaves. Of course this shocked us and we had some reservations, but they assured us it would all be done quite respectfully. We decided as a group to accept them into our camp for the event. I can honestly say it was not only enjoyable to have them with us, it was truly an education. There was a husband and wife with a teenage son and another son and daughter both younger than the first son. They set up their camp behind our officer's tent then changed into their "uniforms" for the weekend. The way they looked blew away any other impression I had EVER seen. The entire family dressed in "rags" and looked as if they had stepped out of a history book. The two boys were barefoot and all were dressed in dirty, ill-fitting clothes, and maintained a first person impression the entire time the public were present. On the first night while sitting around the campfire, we asked them why they chose the impression of escaped slaves. They explained that both the husband and wife had ancestors who were escaped slaves and risked their lives to reach freedom through the underground railroad. They went into great detail of the plight their ancestors endured. They chose to do the impression to honor the struggles and memories of their ancestors and to educate the public on what it took to be escaped slaves and the bravery shown by those who escaped bondage. It was an extremely moving story and one I will never forget.

[@lindseytallent2855]

What were your reservations, and what were you worried might be done disrespectfully, and why?

[@christ5469]

@@lindseytallent2855 I actually wasn't worried anything would be done with any disrespect at all. It was easy for us to see from the beginning that they would do the portrayal with the utmost of respect and with the intent of educating the public on a topic rarely portrayed in Civil War reenacting. Personally I feel it needs to be done more often. My only concern was regarding fallout and negative criticism from the uneducated and ignorant general public. I know that sounds awful to some, but we've become such an overly sensitive and litigious society that we look for reasons to create problems instead of looking for and at the good of the actions of some people. We did encounter a couple of people who were expressing their opinions (disrespectfully of course) but the family expressed (quite respectfully) the reason those opinions were invalid and incorrect. Basically, they politely shut those people down. People need to be more open minded instead of closed minded.

[@BijoudeBexar]

Deciding to harbor fugitive slaves would have been a far more serious consideration at the time, so y’all’s need to find sympathy and courage to allow their presence and further defend this position to the public at large was a crucial piece of a reenactment history usually untold. Bravo to that family for providing that critical experience. Bless them.

[@JessMetal]

Thanks for sharing. Id love to hear from this family too if theyre watching :)

[@arieson7715]

That is genuinely awesome. Instead of running and hiding from their ancestor's history they recognized it and embraced what made their lineage so strong.

[@stinkyjoe4720]

"Why don't black people reenact?" Me, an indigenous person: oh no, no, I definitely get it.

[@Highice007]

Ingenious people react the 1812 War in Canada every summer. Search the Battle of Queenston Heigts in reinactment.

[@aviendha1154]

@@Highice007 r/woosh

[@japspeedgirl6216]

Yep, from my white privileged position, I think i get it too.

[@lkeke35]

As a Black woman, I get it and I would never ask Indigenous people to reenact their trauma, but I would like to see re-enactments of how different tribes lived and worked before the “crying times”, as I call them.

[@ValiantVicuna]

Me as an Asian American: oh no, I definitely get it. Please see Madame Butterfly for further explanation >.>

[@vincenthaegebaert1854]

Slavery was abolished in the USA in 1865, 150 plus years ago, that's a long time ago. BUT not many non African Americans realize that there are African Americans senior citizens alive today who, in their youth (1920-1960) KNEW senior citizens in their families and society who were FORMER SLAVES! The scabs are barely formed, the wounds are a long way from healed.

[@vindictivetiger3958]

Jim Crow was started right after slavery was "abolished" and it stuck around in the laws of this country until 1965... and it's trying to rear its ugly head once again in three court cases currently going on right now.

[@anonymous-cx7ng]

In the Middle East there’s still slavery

[@vincenthaegebaert1854]

@@anonymous-cx7ng That is sadly true, we have a long way to go yet. 😪😪😪😪

[@jmitterii2]

The recency makes it tough I'm sure for many both myself as European ethnic and for some African ethnic people. It's a far cry from the distance between re-enacting as a serf during the medieval or dark age periods... or as a Germanic or Gaul slave of a Roman family. This stuff is still very recent... so feelings are mixed. I personally am glad they do and agree with what she said on the entire video. It's about education... we cannot forget. And re-enactments are necessary whether in person living museum like events... or acts in a show or tv or movie. Similar to tragedies of the Bores War, to the concentration camps of NAZI Germany. We cannot forget. And when we feel dirty about it... that's good. It reminds us that it wasn't "the good ol' days". It's our learning opportunity and that we don't forget. We understand the context of the time, and how times have changed. And the biggest thing, as that we do not repeat the horrors of slavery or serfdom or extermination or any of the rotten things that humans have done to one another over recorded history.

[@sabrinacheek]

That doesn't even mention neo-slavery. Even though slavery was abolished, there were a lot of methods used to keep black americans what was essentially still enslaved. This went on up until the 1940s, when these practices were ended so America didn't resemble the N@zis too much. When you look at it that way, there are STILL people alive who still lived the exact same way enslaved people did when it was still "legal". Past that, segregation didn't really end until the early 70s, and to this day interracial marriage is still debated in politics. People say slavery and racism was in the distant past, but that's just not true at all. And frankly, that ignorance stems from American schools not even educating it's students on how long slavery really went on. The story did not end with the Emancipation Proclamation.

[@butternutsquash6984]

Ex 18th c reenactor here. I recall my first trip to Williamsburg and noticing that there was only 1 black person in costume but lots of back of house staff who were. The extreme whiteness of most public mass reenactments serves to bury the story and gives the mostly white folks who visit a false sense of their ancestors' nobility. Black and native stories need to be told because there is so much more to understand about the social dynamic. To my knowledge, there remains only 1 battle reenactment where the non-white participants are victorious. (Martin's Station in Virginia.) As a white person, I *want* to hear the stories and get a whiff for what life was like for others and hope that it makes people reeeealy uncomfortable. We need it.

[@ArianaSantos420]

This story of you SEEING the disparity yourself as a white person even in a reenacted setting is amazing and very uplifting to hear especially when things like that can easily go over a non-interested person's head. Also totally 100% agreed, away with the comfort. It is in the discomfort in which we grow and thrive and understand one another.

[@smoothskin46]

I think that a lot of non-black people seems to forget that slavery wasn't that long a go historical information was past down by word of mouth by our elders in our own families. I was a child of the 60s and my best friend (who last name was Jefferson) while she and I was playing on the floor with our dolls I over heard her grandmother who was talking to her sister about them being related to Sally Hemmings even before I knew who she was. My family talked about my great great uncles who ran away they being house slaves and could read and write found out that they were emancipated about six months after and the owner wasn't going to tell them. They being very light complexion men and could past for being white would write false notes for other slaves giving them permission to leave the plantation on being load out for hired hands on other plantations at the financial benefits of their owner. It cracks me up sometimes when whites like to argue with me base on the information they read in a texts book. And not wanting to understand that that information was either watered down, altered or omitted from history books.

[@setablaze1802]

Its incredible to imagine how dangerous their lives were and how they none the less went on to try to live happy and safe lives afterwards. You said that these stories were passed down through word of mouth for you, but by any chance do you know of where I could read about the lives of formerly enslaved black people? Being from New Zealand and living in Australia, I don't get much access to black history, especially around emancipation, and I've been looking into finding good resources to look into.

[@chriswhiteauditions]

@@setablaze1802 there's an excellent memoir called "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet Jacobs. It's about an African-American woman who was born into slavery in The South and remarkably escaped slavery as a young woman. It provides an excellent look at the experiences, concerns, and psychology of some enslaved African Americans and their white enslavers. It's an eye-opening read, and you can find it online!

[@maureenhansen3308]

Jacqie Miles It cracks me up when blacks think any whites today had the least to do with, somehow hold some guilt for, involved with, caused slavery or were slave holders. Even 95% of whites in the American South weren’t slave holders. Not only that but they completely shut out the slave trade and all the slaves who existed in the Middle East at the same time as in America. There isn’t 1 person out of the 7 billion people living today who was a slave holder. There are whites (90 plus year olds) today who are guilty of Jim Crow laws. There are millions of black enslavers, white enslavers, brown and yellow enslavers of people today who are guilty of holding the 20 million economic and sex slaves (black, white, brown, yellow women and children today) in existence. But not 1 person today guilty of slave ownership 160 years ago.

[@eshowoman]

Black folks reenact in our spaces. We may not have the garb or the physical plant but we pass down our stories through parades, carnivals, festivals, churches with storytelling, music, food, dance, plays and other arts. If historical societies were willing to reenact slave rebellions, the Underground Railroad or communities of free people of color in the North or New Orleans in way that emphasize our ancestor’s resourcefulness and resilience then more Black people would be willing to do historical re-enactments.

[@thecourtlyalchemist]

Life's too short. If you (or anyone reading this) are interested, don't wait for an existing historical society in your area to pick events that interest you when you can become your own historical society and recreate the exact events that you want to make real for this generation and the next. You can start small with just a couple friends and others will come. The more unique the event the more interest you'll probably receive.

[@kh-uw6um]

Well said...so much more to our history in America.

[@MelanatednNature]

@@thecourtlyalchemist I like that

[@kieramaccourt8717]

Yes! There are Black recreationists! We even have medieval recreations. Thanks for getting rid of that misconception.

[@chelseaoates610]

There are Black medieval recreations!? I must know more. I love anything medieval era, Victorian era, viking era, etc and want to dress in historical clothes and go to events/learn traditional crafts

[@chelseaoates610]

@@FoxyJane1348 thank you!

[@MachaMongRuad]

Yes yes yes! I've met so many wonderful, amazing Black folks and POC through SCA and other re-enactment groups! 💜💜💜💜💜

[@cadileigh9948]

and Roman in Britain after all York had a legion mostly recruited from north Africa and at least one Black emperor

[@nickb1156]

@@cadileigh9948 North Africa.. And as we all know, North Africans are black..

[@missartist123]

I don’t think you were harsh at all. You gave the reality of it. I’ve learned a lot from your videos and have a deeper appreciation for reenactments.

[@hypps35]

Thank you Cheney. As a Black person I have to say we have nothing to be ashamed of. I feel that "other" people don't get the reality of our past. I'm a student of history and even though I believe our voices should be heard, I accept that I'm not the person to speak for us in that manner. I feel i would be triggered and wounded.

[@sharonriley4137]

Thank you for this talk. I am new to your channel and came over from Bernadette Banner's American Duchess piece. I wanted to hear a LOT more from you than was in that presentation, so here I am ! You were not too harsh - our history is pretty harsh, but you are so honest and intelligent about all the issues involved. I can only imagine the pride and gratitude black folks must feel for their ancestors, those people endured, they lived and loved through all the awfulness and they BUILT America ! We all owe a debt and I guess it can only be repaid with respect and appreciation. Which I send to you in thanks for this heartfelt talk ! I look forward to exploring more of your online presence, Cheney !

[@bugeyedmonster2]

Same here!

[@DAYBROK3]

me too. abby cox who i got to through bernadete and american duchess.

[@lauraoergel6003]

Amen. You do such beautiful work with the you educate people with honesty, and its badass

[@ChloeRaeofSunshine]

It's could also be paid back in actual $ and tax benefits 😊

[@clod8]

I believe our ancestors live through us. By giving them a voice, you are healing the world😍🌍😍

[@ilahjarvis]

I'm blown that white and non-black people might have trouble understanding the enormous emotional baggage a black person would feel reenacting a scene from the 1800's. Doing so would involve enormous trust in your fellow actors and a need for very clear boundaries to create a sense of safety. Honestly it would be good to have a professional mediator or therapist who specialized race relations present. I have HUGE respect to you for working in this field and being willing to raise people's awareness of what this time in history was like for everyone. I sincerely hope that your non-black colleagues will do the same as well.

[@angelagrimes8237]

Thank you! I work with a group that presents Victorian England during the Christmas season and given the re-rising of the BLM movement, our director honestly wants to be sure the POC in the group are not 'props' to trot out but also the burden of fielding all the political stuff is not just on our shoulders. I am going to share this video with her and hopefully make it a part of the conversation on how our troupe evolves. Thank you so much for your continued frankness, openness and willingness to support other POC in historical interpretation or re-enactment and their allies. Cheers

[@rath60]

You can't accuse people of not knowing there history when there history has been and is being systematically erased.

[@salem1281]

It doesn't seem like it should be so hard for anyone to know how that would possibly take a mental toll. You weren't harsh at all. Great video, keep it up!

[@kassywilson9276]

I think you were a lot politer than you needed to be. I need to talk to my organization about hiring you in to do some presentations at our after school programs once the pandimec calms down.

[@lottaraatikainen3942]

Thank you for this. I'm Nordic myself, living in Finland, and your channel is very educating and eye-opening.

[@gessochick]

Thank you for creating this video. I appreciated everything you had to say. Love your work!

[@amysakovich8555]

I clicked this because it was the first video on your feed. When I saw the title I thought the answer would be obvious. I’m blown away by the experiences you’ve shared. You weren’t harsh at all, you shared the honesty we need. Thank you for this and all you do to help create a bigger, more honest picture of American history.

[@horseenthusiast1250]

Wow, what a great video! I'm not Black (I'm. Extremely Scotch-Irish lol), and it's always bugged me when people assume no Black folks re-enact. As you said, there's plenty of re-enactors and interpreters! And racial history is a very complicated beast, and generational trauma is a very potent thing, so I find it very understandable why lots of people wouldn't want to re-enact, either. And a lot of re-enactments (19th century especially bc it's what I actually know about, I can't say much for other eras) are...let's just say notoriously bad at keeping racists out. I can't speak to the familial experience of becoming a Black historical re-enactor or interpreter, but I really sympathise with the whole thing about feeling gross doing this stuff sometimes. My area of historical interest is 1840-1860, and not only does that line up with the Civil War, but it also lines up with a lot of the most brutal parts of the anti-indigenous genocide where I live (Northern CA, in Wiyot and Yurok country). I sometimes feel like I'm betraying my native friends by the fact I'm white and I wear clothes from that era, even though in my study of history one of my main goals is to educate folks (mostly ignorant white folks tbh bc every time I hear one of em say something racist without meaning it, if I don't educate them I REALLY feel like decking them) in an intersectional way/reveal history that got covered up/propagandised over by America. It's...a weird spot to be in, I guess. And the whole thing of playing into people's fantasies...that's honestly one of the things that truly bothers me about this pastime, is the amount of people who'll ignorantly romanticise stuff like Gone With The Wind. I just wanna do history in an interactive way my dudes...anyway, I ought to shut up, lol. I have a bad habit of letting my words get away from me. My point is: really loved this video, it struck a chord with me for sure. Best wishes

[@jeffberndt3027]

Thank you for posting this. I'm a hobbyist reenactor (late 18th/early 19th century). A friend of mine in the hobby shared your channel with me, and I look forward to watching more of your videos. A lot of my fellow (white) reenactors could benefit from listening to you.

[@trenae77]

One of the things I loved about Colonial Williamsburg is that all the interpreters - regardless of color - had a specific individual they took the time to research and strove to understand on a level they could portray them to a modern audience. When you consider a people who had very minimal 'written' history, then I can only have more respect for the dedication that went into the slaves and free people of color represented by the community and others like it.

[@travish194]

I am working on a PhD in public history, and I think it is great that you are doing what you are doing! The public needs African-American living history actors!

[@701kimmie]

Thank you for your honesty and critical context. It is such a hard job to relive that kind of trauma as a part of your career.

[@pennycheshire5608]

Harsh? Not at all. You are honest, knowledgeable, funny, and have an invaluable level of experience that’s a privilege to listen to. I’ve been working my way through your videos since finding your channel and I really can’t thank you enough for the insight and education you’ve given me in this short time. 🙏🏻💜

[@vanessabogaert2104]

When I was little, I was told I had to be a Native American for our class’s thanksgiving reenactment. Of course back then they used the word Indian. When I asked if I could be a pilgrim, my teacher said “no, your skin is too dark, so you have to be an Indian.” My mom had a word with that teacher.

[@mahaliathompson3639]

Noooo wayyyy

[@karenbensdon4643]

This was incredibly valuable. The honesty, detail, open discussion, give me (not a black person) a peek into the realities of how you feel, today, now, in this century. Not forgetting history, that is so important!!

[@FallonBurner]

If no one has told you this yet today - all of the work you're doing is SO inspiring! :) I hope I will get to see you reenacting at a site some day! I enjoy how many different aspects you touch on that intersect with my own interest - living history, historical photos and documents, and APPAREL, yay! But also the very human aspects of being a woman of color working in this field, the business behind the business, and addressing issues of historical trauma. Thank you!!

[@fromgoodtoglam7564]

This was a great video but I was a bit disappointed to see it was more directed towards white reenactors rather than Black reenactors. Hear me out: I'm Black and a huge history buff (I love everything, doesn't matter the era or niche) and one of the reasons I'm so active online is because in my every day life, I don't see many non-white people who are into reenacting, or even basic costuming like cosplay, renaissance faires, etc. and when I ask them they say it's largely because they don't feel welcomed in those spaces. There are a lot of us who do enjoy it and I'm glad the internet brings us together, but unless you live in a big city like NYC, LA, ATL, Chicago or something, I think Black and even other people of color may sometimes shy away from getting into those fields cuz it may mean being "the only one" at many events which usually doesn't go well for the reasons you mentioned in this vid. (But then again, maybe if we're more present in spaces we'll attract others? Idk idk??) I hope this made sense! Love your work and keep it up!

[@magnushelin007]

Interesting points. I will look up your channel.

[@joannaglasby2596]

Part of the problem when you’re the only one or two of your kind in a “white space” you will inevitably have someone who will use the occasion to use their hidden racism to make a “joke” about what you as a black person or POC in this time period are supposed to be doing. Especially white men. Just taking AP US history in a predominantly white high school whenever certain subjects come up they think they’re being funny and everytime I called them on it I was told to not be so sensitive it was just a joke. So no I wouldn’t trust myself in such a setting around a bunch of white people. It’s not the professionals it’s the day trippers

[@cindabearr]

Hi! I wanted to let you know that I do SCA historical events. I'm in Southern NJ, and we have a few black members. The middle ages weren't rife with slavery the way the 18th and 19th centuries were, so maybe it might be an easier period to reenact(?) -- I don't know, I'm about as white as they come. I do know that our local group is very inclusive to all people. We have multiple ethnicities, and lots of LGBTQ members, we have members with mobility issues, and we all seem to get along very well, and take care of each other. I'm quite proud of our group. I hope other groups in the larger reenactment community are similar, that we aren't special in that way. Anyway, I just wanted to say hello and let you know there are black people reenacting the middle ages in South Jersey! *Edited for clarification

[@soccerchamp0511]

@@cindabearr The middle ages wasn't rife with slavery?!? Are you stupid or just ignorant? Slavery was a huge part of the middle ages, but it was white people enslaving other white people. Interracial slavery is not the only slavery that has existed through time.

[@cindabearr]

@@soccerchamp0511 read it again, brainwave. No where did I say there wasn't slavery in the middle ages. Human enslavement, (read importing human beings from Africa as a trade) exploded in the 17th and 18th centuries at a rate that eclipsed enslavement in the middle ages. Thanks for calling me stupid, though. It speaks volumes about you.

[@armorsmith43]

Sending some love from London!

[@scarlettoslapas2084]

Thank you for helping me learn more about how to be kind and honor others' experiences ❤

[@allison8411]

I came across your channel while doing research on proper 19th century headwraps and have fallen down the rabbit hole. This video was really enlightening - I'm not a reenactor, but I love the idea of living history. Many of the points you made about why black men and women don't reenact were surprising - I would have also said things like "Oh, just portray a free person," because I have always assumed they were 100% free. Yes, they probably experienced racism, but they were still free. I have learned in recent months that that is not the case. They were in constant fear. I had no idea. I've been trying to really educate myself beyond what schools tell us (Slavery happened. It was bad. The end.). I'll definitely be subscribing so I can learn more from you.

[@gerdine9258]

Came here also after recommendation of another costuber. I don't think at all you are harsh. It actually surprises me that this needs to be said. Maybe I should state here that I am Dutch, but we also have a big history with slavery. Which is teached in all (high)schools as far as I am aware.. Slaves were not thát much in the Netherlands itself (mainly domestic slaves for well off families, who generally were treated less bad than on the (Dutch) plantations and such in America or other (Dutch) colonies, where Dutch people owned and ran those plantations), but we played a big part in the slave trading business that gave our country a lot of wealth in the 17th/18th century. And it completely makes sense to me that it is not easy (understatement) for black people to reenact their ancestors that were often basically treated (and spoken to/of) like animals instead of humans, especially in combination with white people. It therefore also makes sense to start reenactment in 'your own' black community and figure out your relation with the past, without white people showing ignorance (though probably not purposefully).. Keep doing what you are doing, my lady, I have a lot of respect for you and all other black people that put themselves on the line in order to educate and empower others. Sorry for may be not choosing the right words, it is not my first language..

[@ArianaSantos420]

I appreciate YOU.

[@angrycat1583]

Rachel Maksy brought me here, so far I love your channel and I subscribed.

[@anon6056]

You're so engaging! I never even knew about historical re-enacting until today but I'm glad I'm here. You're a great teacher

[@sawyersweetart1042]

I'm so happy I found this channel. It's great to see fashion and presentations of history from a side that I haven't seen. There's a lot I can't fully understand because I don't have those experiences, and no amount of study can match that. I appreciate the fact you're blunt and real. Black folks have been uncomfortable for hundreds of years, we white folks need to learn to sit with that and do something with it so it changes. Taking your advice and going to search the black reenactor tag!

[@holzlastname1976]

I lived in Louisiana for 3 years and passed what I knew had to have been a plantation. I couldn't pass it without getting a sick feeling in my spirit. I can't imagine being a black reenactor on that land and what that must do to your psyche. Although I do understand the importance of having these stories told and I would like to again thank you for taking that on...on the other side of that it must be pretty awesome to get even more inlightenment on the people who actually lived through this and to finally have there voices in some way heard.

[@sileigh1]

Came over from Abby Cox's channel. Totally understandable why someone would have a hard time wanting to reenact such a difficult period in black history. Thank you for the education and keep up the amazing work. Stay safe out there!

[@elysemccarty1415]

Your talks and discussions on this channel make me, and I think everyone else who listens to them, a better historian, a better reenactor, and a better person. Understanding perspectives that aren't mine is critical to being a not only an empathetic, but also a more accurate and well rounded historian. I'm so thankful you're able to teach and for me being able to learn about stuff I couldn't know. Keep up the amazing work, so much love.

[@nicolewright5342]

What you do is so important!! God bless you for what you do to educate us!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@annejeppesen160]

Based on my experience from the viking reenactment scene, I'm impressed that POCs do reenact. Viking reenactors can be extremely nit-picky about accuracy, but you never meet a hobby reenactor portraying a slave, even though viking society was based on slave labour! I'm in awe of POCs taking on the lousy conditions (bit of an understatement) of historic POCs (not that current POC conditions are exactly peachy (another understatement)), and I applaud your efforts to give enslaved people a face and a voice.

[@s.o.6486]

Please know that POC are immigrants from all over the world. Don't conflate the POC with black American Descendants of U.S Slavery who are a uniquely American lineage with a unique history in not just America, but the entire world.

[@fleebee4115]

American Lady thank you for pointing this out! If our ancestors had a choice, they would’ve never came.

[@mydirtyfeet]

Thanks for this explanation. I am not American and have only done medieval inspired larp in Europe. So this was an entirely new topic for me, but was great to hear about your experiences and views. It gave me the opportunity to see some of the complexity and challenges for re-enactors of colour. History is not the romantic picture we would like it to be.

[@susandreyer9019]

Thank you for the generosity of your discussion. “Rip off the bandaid.” Thank you! Great stuff.

[@freyaegrey]

Thank you for existing and for making this channel and these videos.

[@YesJasonYes]

Wow. You are such a vivid storyteller and teacher. When people come here to have one question answered, you so artfully paint a picture that encompasses all angles. And I love your word choice-you are always so mindful of the many connotations a word can have, and you choose the most effective and accurate one. I have to ask-in your reenactment of Fick, you mentioned that you had to be docile enough to not intimidate. I get the impression from this video that even today, you still have to carry a delicate balance so as to not offend or intimidate. Do you feel this is the case, and to what extent? I am wondering if it is a professional skill of keeping your lessons objective, or if it is more personal-remaining docile as a modern black woman. One of my friends said that she does this daily, and that it is exhausting. Lastly, cheers from Atlanta!

[@lrowerowe7207]

Reenacting seems interesting, I love learning our history. I am black and I am proud.

[@s.o.6486]

Thank you @NotYourMommasHistory for talking about this. My lineage is ADOS and I can't imagine the triggers of the 400 years of unresolved trauma that is likely to occur as a reenactor whose lineage is black American Descendant of Slavery. To add to that I know that the tourist make racist comments, I've never been to a historical site with ADOS reenactors but I know how white Americans are. As an amateur genealogist whose traced most of the lines of my ancestors to the mid 1800s it's not easy to learn the horrors that my ancestors were experiencing both the enslaved and the Free People of Color, who were extremely poor and living hand to mouth and not wealthy slave owners like the WASP love to espouse. You choose to actually relive what our ancestors survived and while we are still oppressed in our country. People don't understand that sites like Historic Williamsburg were not that long ago and we black American Descendants of U.S. Slavery are still living with the cost of our ancestors enslavement. I truly appreciate you and the other reenactors whose lineage is black American Descendant of U.S. Slavery for telling our story. I I know that this is just the beginning and there is so much more to uncover, God willing our reparations will also provide us with the healing we need and more "slave movies" as the Slave Era is was the majority of American history.

[@dianaendo1742]

Fellow amateur genealog ist as well. I enjoyed your post.

[@MrsMaggieReid]

You are so incredibly well-spoken and respectful. Even when mentioning opinions you don't necessarily agree with, you are still so respectful and I truly admire that. Thank you for sharing information as to how POC may feel about reenacting. I know this is an old video but if you happen to see this, have a great day!

[@monkiram]

I'm a person of colour (not really considered black in Canada, although apparently in the US I am considered black. Not a descendent of slaves though so not sure how relevant my opinion is). Anyway, I've always been obsessed with history and I spent my childhood reading historical fiction and still read a lot of history in my spare time. I had a couple of friends in high school volunteer to be reenactors at the local "Pioneer Village", and I always wished I could do it too and thought it would be so much fun, but never did because I'm not white and I didn't want to be historically inaccurate. (I'm pretty sure Canada did not have anybody from my country of origin at the time, so it actually would have been inaccurate). People often say to me "you were born in the wrong century" which sounds pretty nice to anybody who loves history until I actually think about it and realize that if I was born in the 18th or 19th century here in north America, I'd most likely be a slave or at least considered among the dregs of society. I think all of us lovers of history have our fantasies of living in the past, and I think that's why a lot of people start reenacting, but I doubt any of our fantasies involve being a slave. Kids don't grow up imagining themselves as the poor sad widow that needs to be helped in the fairy tale, they imagine themselves as the beautiful princess or brave knight that everybody admires. Personally I fantasize about being a fancy aristocrat or even just a normal free working-class person who isn't marginalized by society, which obviously would not have been possible for a POC. So that being said, I have 3 options if I were to reenact. Either I a) imagine myself as a white person and deny my own identity, b) deny history and only accept the parts of history that are appealing to me like dresses and chivalry while leaving out the part of POC being marginalized, or c) take the depressing and sad roles and leave the fun roles for the white people. Or I could not reenact at all, and I think that for most POC, it's more straightforward and easier just not to involve ourselves in all this politics. That's been my personal approach at least. Edit: I should add that I find you very inspiring and I'm glad there are people like you doing what most of us would shy away from. I love all your costumes and videos and you make me want to learn more about historical reenactment!

[@DAYBROK3]

i grew up in a northern british columbia small but historic town (look up ft st james) not many blacks as far as i know, not that i know much, but there are mexicans in the graveyard from the time. im sort of sure there were those of other tints there at that time.

[@Elizabeth-rq1vi]

I’d say do it anyways. I’m sure there was someone with your skin colour there at some point in Canadian history...ancestors of one of my profs came from Oklahoma after the civil war & with the free land (with caveats) Canada was handing out, many blacks came north. John Ware is an important person in early Alberta. CBC has an article on him. As does Wikipedia. Be a part of bringing fuller truth to Canadian history!

[@trenae77]

Please don’t relegate yourself to the shadows, so to say. Black voices in history are often overpowered, but they are there and just as poignant - if not more so - than their white counterparts. Sometimes you have to sift through mounds of historical dross, but when you find them, you are astounded by the power behind them! My suggestion, get acquainted with genealogists and historians who specialize in minorities. I’m not sure how prevalent this is in Canada, but in Missouri where I live, there are quite a few sources. I’m also a member of the NSDAR. While in the past they had a bad rap for prejudice and racism, the last twenty years or so have shown a surge of branching out and building up all races and creeds. As for people who say POC have no place in medieval reenactment? Where the heck do they think their spices and luxuries came from? Arabia, China ... heck, Mali was a thriving EMPIRE when Europe was muddling through the dark ages. Carthage, Zimbwabe ... Keep at your passion, and always feel free to reach outside your immediate location for whatever support and assistance you need! Lovers of history look out for one another wherever we call home!

[@Elizabeth-rq1vi]

Tara P genealogy/family history is thriving in Canada & there are tons of resources in Alberta, not sure about black centric, but most likely there is. Apparently if there are ones in Alberta they’re pretty low key, Google doesn’t know them really well. Canada.ca has a list of resources under Canadian heritage-black history month..

[@trenae77]

Elizabeth the specialists in black history I’ve found were generally through word of mouth, but it sounds like you have a good starting base!

[@forthebaby8519]

This was the gentlest, sweetest way of saying what needed to be said. I can’t imagine saying this in a nicer way.

[@joannaglasby2596]

Not to harsh. I love how you told the truth. I also love how you told them to re enact safely.

[@ad6449]

Thank you for this very important video to educate people. It matters. Not harsh; real. We need real.

[@gmdanna]

Very good. Enlightening. Been so caught up in my persona, what I'm doing during the Civil War, I guess I haven't thought outside that box. Now, as an author, writing about the Civil War, I'm very cautious, perhaps scared, of writing the scenes that involve slaves and freedmen, realizing it is a delicate issue. So I truly appreciate your discussion here. I don't think you were harsh at all. Thank you!

[@ChuChild]

I couldn't do it because I think I would get angry, break down, and cry. Especially if guests said degrading things to me.

[@LuisaD93]

I love what you teach and stand for . You’re amazing and articulate and thank you for showing me how things were during times I otherwise would not have been aware of . Your deserve so much more recognition and praise than you all have been given and that is why these videos you do are so important. What you are teaching is so important. All I can say is I’m so very sorry for what history has done to specific individuals such as yourself and always extremely dislike that all that had taken place . Please keep the education coming . You’ve made me so much more aware of racism than I was even aware of . Some things I may not have thought of as being so made me more aware of the fact that it’s being done in subtle ways and the fact that most who do it in such a way aren’t even aware of it which makes your videos all the more important so ppl can become knowledgeable. Good work . Thanks again .

[@mmessi72]

This was great! I think the psychological and cultural components you address are so universal. Love the structure and the conscious way you present your thoughts.

[@boeingvideography]

I'm absolutely loving your channel! I did renaissance faires of we had in my first guild the captain was black and in my second guild we had 2 black women who's characters were Moors. I learned a lot from them and love learning black history and culture as a white gal so much it white washed and skips actual history so I thank you for your time and enthusiasm in the videos you make

[@k2wi]

Dear C McK that was really powerful. It has to be hard to put yourself out there that way at times and I appreciate your talking about stories of resilience.

[@rickschuman2926]

Well said. I was given the opportunity to participate at a venue where we had been for 3 years but where the focus was on the slavery aspect of the property that year. At first, we were told we would not be participating, but if I could involve a person of color, as a slave or as a free person, I would be able to join in. First of all, I did not know what to do. I would like to get someone to learn about what I do as an 18th century itinerant rural wood worker, but there is a very steep learning curve and I did not have any contact in the local black community. So, I asked the only person I knew if he knew someone who would be interested. He was also at a loss as to how to proceed. I wish I had seen this back then. Not that the information would have made for any more success, but I would have had a better understanding of what I was asking and certainly would have been able to direct the request more effectively. Thanks. I may yet be able to do something along these lines.

[@All5AJz]

It would be a challange to be reenacting such horrible trauma's of the past as suttle tasks that back then were way more grueling on a human. Its so important what your sharing and thank you.

[@SarahBent]

Thank you so much for this. It was not a question I had thought about but of course it makes sense.

[@MaridithSmith]

Your messages are always so powerful. Thank you for making this video

[@EstelleTBarada]

Always so inspirational!

[@naboolio8442]

So much respect for you; the people you portray were real, complex, varied and individual. I understand from your video its not an easy task, but thank you for keeping their individual voices and the value of their lives in the forefront of people’s minds.

[@petranilla14]

I have great respect for you. I live in Trinidad and as a black West Indian person I could not do your job. I am in tears just listening to you.

[@marleahhaberkamp4155]

Thank you. I have been binge watching all your presentations all afternoon

[@leobardoramon]

Thank U for existing ! Thank U for sharing your wealth of knowledge and being so candid and kind all-at-once . U are cherished . Be safe + healthy + well .

[@1zebraphobe]

Am full of admiration and appreciation for what you do!!! Thank you from Copenhagen

[@LotusFlower5312]

🤔 this video was very insightful for me. This is something I would love to do to visually help our children see our ancestors in a more positive light because they can’t truly understand when they only are receiving a minimal part of our history within the school system. American history is only the tip of the iceberg! Our ancestors in Egypt & other parts of the African continent have soooo much that they are crying out to be heard. It is up to us to speak & share their lives on their behalf. It is through us that their legacy will continue to live. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m going to look into this more. Peace and blessings unto you! 😍💪🏽🙏🏽✌🏽

[@SachiNighte]

Thank you for making this video, I think this is something a lot of people need to hear, and thank you for everything you do. I’m new to your channel and I really look forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@stangingkiller]

Thank you for sharing! These are amazing resources for people getting started & great content for us equally interested in history and coming to terms with the joy & horrors of the past 👏

[@NoFaceInTheCrowd]

Thank you so much for this video! As a white person who doesn't live in the USA, I feel like I know so little about its history, let alone from the point of view of people of colour. Your videos really help me learning about this 😊

[@thomasdavidson5826]

Thanks for your thoughtful insights. I’m learning so much on your channel. Please keep up your valuable work.

[@nicolewright5342]

Your intellect and wisdom is so incredibly insightful!

[@playme129]

Straight forward and honest. The P.C. Terms for everything change so often that half of the time I cannot keep up. I only found you earlier this month, that's July 2020. So much enjoy your presentations. Will keep on watching. Virginia in Ohio

[@devonna6171]

Thank you for this video. I clicked on it because the title peaked my interest. I have seen black re-enactors before, in period dress and I assumed they did so because they enjoyed it as a hobby. I had no idea of all the baggage involved with their decision to do so. (I understand you don’t speak for all) I appreciate the insight. I recently attended the re-enactment of a particular battle that took place during the Seminole wars. I was VERY uncomfortable with how Native Americans on the battlefield were portrayed/represented by white men in “Indian garb”. Wouldn’t it be better to give a representative of the Native American tribe involved to speak to their interpretation on the battle? Why do we need to see people “shot dead” in order to “understand” what happened there? And were the crowds that witnessed the re-enactment left with any REAL understanding of what actually took place? Anyway, thank you for sharing your perspective. ❤️

[@sourgummiez]

Seriously my favorite video of yours I’ve seen. Thank you so much for all of this information. I hope you will keep uploading, I love your videos!! I found your videos because I’m a huge history nerd too hehehe ❤️❤️❤️

[@junejunejuniejune]

I love that you've taken the angle that it should be about educating people about the wrongs in history and the strength of the people to persevere. I was really curious when I found your channel about "why" black people would want to reenact at all, not really "why don't black people renact". My first thought was about having to reenact with Confederate types who would not show you the respect you deserve. I'm happy to know it's not all like that. I hope that you continue to educate and enlighten people and that those people who are unkind or disrespectful to you will learn better. I'm mixed race, and being an Asian woman, there really isn't a flattering historical portrayal, or any kind of inclusion for people like me. Asian women were and still are very sexualized throughout history!

[@shannonwold638]

Hi, Cheyney! I'm a new subscriber here from your collaboration with Abby Cox. Really enjoyed that (and this) and look forward to seeing more of you. There is literally nothing you talk about that's in my "wheelhouse," yet I am so enjoying listening, watching, and learning :)

[@michellee1190]

You're great!

[@TaraSillert]

I was introduced to your channel from Abby Cox's video. Thank you so much for being real.

[@desirees5502]

Thanks so much for educating us! I appreciate your perspective on all these issues.

[@BeverleyButterfly]

Hi I’m Beverley just found you from your video with Rachel that just came out I’m so excited to binge your content so interesting I don’t know a lot about American history as I’m English but you are so knowledgeable and I’m so looking forward to watching everything! I’ve heard of civil war re-enactments but didn’t know this was a thing that happened what a wonderful hobby! I love hearing from people who speak with passion like you do so yay lots of videos to watch I’m off to grab some snacks prepare for me commenting lots xx

[@carolbulmer8253]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinions🙏

[@SpeechTammy]

You are fantastic! Thank you for sharing

[@lelanixon3248]

Thanks so much for your insite!

[@gingerredshoes]

Thank you, your two cents is worth gold.

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

Thank you for sharing. It was very informative.

[@segbaillie2824]

Hi Cheyney, thank you for being straight forward about this subject and not too harsh in the least. The way you presented the information was very accessible and allowed me to understand your points by looking at a similar situation that I face as a white female reenactor in Britain. This situation is not in any way equal to the situations that a black reenactor in the States is likely to face but I will mention it here in the hope that this will help the cause of understanding and empathy. I am a hobby reenactor and my periods are C15th (Wars of the Roses) and now C18th (Jacobite Rebellion). I usually present my character in third person because, apart from any other reason, I'm no-one's Wench or Camp Follower. At any reenactment there will be people who seem to really believe that because they are wearing full armour or a beautiful gown, other reenactors should be bowing and scraping and calling them my Lord/Lady. Sorry mate, not happening. And while we're on the subject, I did not set up a living history encampment with several thousand pounds worth of my own kit just so that you could ride a horse through it! So I totally get what you mean by being a prop or a backdrop for someone else's fantasy. I am only too aware that I know diddly-squat about any other than English history (and not as much as I'd like about that). I'm learning more about Scottish history because I identify as Scottish and about Belgian history because we sometimes join Belgian friends at their events. I would love to be able to go to mediaeval or C18th events where Black and Asian reenactors are telling their own history. As any reenactors knows, our task is to make the history we've researched visible to the audience and to combat misinformation. The history of any marginalised group has been nearly invisible up to now and everything we can do to increase visibility is a positive step. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

[@irenefavela9775]

I appreciate your Chanel and you💜

[@wynnew.h5245]

Thank you for this! I'm not a reenactor or anything like that but I appreciate your perspective and the teaching you've offered to us.

[@carterfrvr]

I found your video moving and very informative. But can I say.... I went to Simmons, too! I saw the sweatshirt logo and shouted at my computer! I got my MLS there!

[@HikiibatoHada]

Glad to know more about your perspective and the nuanced realities of Black history and Black reenactment specifically. It is great to find you and happy to see a different side of reenactment and costuming! Love your honest answers! No need to put sugar on a dung heap of history.

[@puggirl415]

Thank you for this even handed and detailed talk. As a person from a trauma background I am sensitive to shaming and assumptions. As a woman I'm pretty experienced with specific types of oppression. However, it is important to me to understand how everyone with different experiences in these issues feel about them. I really enjoy your channel as well as your words and ideas.

[@SassyMa_]

Your amazing I just found this channel and love it!!! Please keep making more of them! I'm sharing, liked in subbed good luck chica!!!

[@susanpolastaples9688]

I subscribed to your channel on a recommendation from Abby Cox. I am so glad I did. Not only from the emotions your blog on reenactment by black reenactors (argh autocorrect is an evil monster). But I'm hoping to learn more about it. There were a few 'reenactor' bits from Mount Vernon that I found disturbing bc I could imagine what having to guard what you said about your enslavers- and these were George and Martha Washington- could physically and psychologically do to you. But all wished for freedom for their children and selves.

[@sarahmwalsh]

Terrific video! Thank you for talking about the "hard truths" and giving white re-enactors/interpreters such as myself some deep digging to do. I will keep listening and learning.

[@Lily_and_River]

I am a new subscriber to your channel and want to thank you for your honesty and how you are able to address certain things about racism or slavery. As a European I don't have a lot of experience with reenactment, let alone black reenactors, but I find sometimes conversations about racism aren't really constructive for either side. But you talk about it in a really educational and constructive way. I appreciate and respect your tone and how you choose your wording a lot, considering how rude and ignorant some people are. I think this can be really valueble in educating all people who watch these videos. I thought it really interesting how you talked about getting in reenactment for a black person is not an easy decision because he/she will always feel the weight of the role of being a slave in that time period. And that for a white person it can feel 'fun' to choose to be a farmer or a rider. But this made me think: shouldn't it feel just as heavy for a white person when they truely educate themselves about the time period, that slavery was even there. I think they should consider that as a white person they would've been envolved in slavery one way or the other. Portraying a farmer in the South would be a very heavy decision even, because it would mean there is a large chance you would have held slaves?

[@rodentary]

Why would anyone say Black ppl are afraid or dont know their past?! The Black and BIPOC i have met know more about their personal history then i know of mine.