Over the course of more than twenty years, James D. Richardson and his wife, Lori, retraced the steps of his ancestor, George Richardson (1824-1911), across nine states, uncovering letters, diaries, and more memoirs hidden away Their journey brought them to the brink of the racial divide in America, revealing how his great-great-grandfather Richardson played a role in the Underground Railroad, served as a chaplain to a Black Union regiment in the Civil War, and founded a college in Texas for the formerly enslaved. In narrating this compelling life, The Abolitionist's Journal explores the weight of the past as well as the pull of one's ancestral history. The author raises questions about why this fervent commitment to the emancipation of African Americans was nearly forgotten by his family, exploring the racial attitudes in the author's upbringing and the ingrained racism that still plagues our nation today. As America confronts a generational reckoning on race, these important perspectives add a layer to our larger national story.
James D. Richardson is a former senior writer with The Sacramento Bee and a retired Episcopal priest. He is the author of Willie Brown: A Biography. His articles on state politics have appeared in numerous publications including The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The San Francisco Chronicle. He lives in Sacramento, California, with his wife, Lori.
Part I Chapter 1. The Journal Chapter 2. Awakenings Chapter 3. Daisy Chapter 4. Dreams Chapter 5. James Crow Chapter 6. Chauncey Hobart Chapter 7. Across That Bridge Chapter 8. Freedom Ride Chapter 9. Dagger Strokes Part II Chapter 10. The Slaughter Pen Chapter 11. The Fort Pillow Boys Chapter 12. Fort Pickering Chapter 13. Snakes Chapter 14. Rebs and Refugees Chapter 15. Licked Chapter 16. War Criminal Park Part III Chapter 17. Owen Chapter 18. Texas Burning Chapter 19. Jeremiah Webster Chapter 20. Glory Bound Chapter 21. The Gillette Mansion Chapter 22. Alleyton Chapter 23. Caroline Part IV Chapter 24. Austin City Limits Chapter 25. Lily Chapter 26. Wild Geese Chapter 27. Emma Chapter 28. Seas and Stars Chapter 29. Charlottesville Chapter 30. Remembering Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index
The Abolitionist's Journal offers readers the opportunity to intimately understand the challenges faced by supporters of African American freedom during and after the Civil War. . . . By way of the journal of George W. Richardson, his great-great-grandson now shares the remarkable journey of this man and his multi-decade dedication to supporting African American religious and educational growth.--Spencer R. Crew, coeditor of Memories of the Enslaved: Voices from the Slave Narratives The Abolitionist's Journal is without question a splendid achievement and a masterful addition to the literature of America's racial past and that past's resonance with the present day.--Neil Henry, author of Pearl's Secret: A Black Man's Search for His White Family A thrilling story of deep faith, courage, and sacrifice, Jim Richardson's memoir of his great-great-grandfather captures the quiet valor of an American hero most of us have never heard of.--Ginger Rutland, author of the play When We Were Colored: A Mother's Story In scripture, the prophets continuously challenged the people to remember the past, and God's part in it, in order to move forward into an unknown future. James Richardson's personal and compelling account of his abolitionist ancestors' experiences confronting slavery helps us to move past our convenient forgetfulness and take up the cause of justice in our own time.--The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church and author of Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times This chronicle persuasively speaks to how the past ripples through generations.--Publishers Weekly
