Beautiful Black History Postcards (2 sets of eleven cards) The images on the cards are all from The Freeman Institute's Black History Collection. Some people use the cards to create a wall montage with black 4′′ x 6′′ frames.

Descriptions:

1. Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1644), diplomat, linguist, and scholar, was a much sought-after painter during the 17th Century. The original Study of Negroes (Etude de Negres) is in the Royal Fine Arts Museum of Belgium, Brussels. This etching (1883) was produced in very small numbers by J. Rouam and the Remington Company. Etching done by Edm. Ramus
2. Vivant Denon etched the image of the Sphinx of Giza around 1798, prior to its defacement. In his written account, Denon stated, “Though its proportions are colossal, the outline is pure and graceful; the expression of the head is mild, gracious, and tranquil; the character is African, but the mouth and lips, which are thick, have a softness and delicacy of execution truly admirable; it seems real life and flesh. Art must have been at a high pitch when this monument was executed.” Universal Magazine, 1803
3. Phillis Wheatley (c. 1754–1784), born in Africa, was enslaved and brought to America in 1761. Tutored by the Wheatley family (Boston), Phillis was soon able to read the Bible and Latin, Greek, and English classics. Against all odds, her first poem was published in 1767, and her book, Poems On Various Subjects, was released in 1773. Wheatley achieved international renown, traveling to London and being called upon by noted social and political figures of the day, including George Washington. A hero in her own right. The image on the front is from the rare 1838 edition of her book, which includes poems by North Carolina slave George Moses Horton.
4. Peter Jackson (1861–1901), the “Black Prince,” a Heavyweight (one of the finest boxers who ever fought in the ring), was from the Virgin Islands. As a youngster, he moved to Australia. In 1886, Jackson won the Australian heavyweight title by knocking out Tom Leeds in the 30th round. Finding it difficult to get opponents in Australia, he moved to the USA in 1888 and fought his way across the country. John L. Sullivan (then US Heavyweight Champion) would not fight Jackson, saying he would not box against Negroes. Traveling to England in 1892, Jackson won the British Empire championship with a 2nd-round knockout of Jem Smith and then defended the title with a 10th-round knockout of Frank Slavin (pictured). In that bout, however, Jackson suffered two broken ribs that punctured a lung. He ultimately died of tuberculosis. image from cover of June 12, 1892 issue of Le Petit Parisien
5. Toussaint L’Overture (1743–1803), Black revolutionary and Liberator of the Haitian slaves The struggle that Toussaint waged for freedom lasted 12 years. He defeated the local whites, the soldiers of France, a Spanish invasion, a British force of 60,000 men, and a force of similar size sent once again by the French. The revolt led by L’Ouverture is the only successful slave revolt in history. Between the years 1789 and 1815, there was no other singular figure who appeared on the historical stage with such talent as the man who was a slave until he was 45 years old. Toussaint died on April 6, 1803. His body might have been destroyed, but his work lived on.
6. Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia An engraving by F. Dielman, from the May 12, 1866 edition of Harper’s Weekly. On April 19, 1866, the African-American citizens of Washington, D.C., celebrated the abolition of slavery. A procession of 4,000 to 5,000 people assembled at the White House, where they were addressed by President Andrew Johnson (1808–1875). Marching past 10,000 cheering spectators, the procession, led by two black regiments, proceeded up Pennsylvania Avenue to Franklin Square for religious services and speeches by prominent politicians. A sign on top of the speaker’s platform read: “We have received our civil rights. Give us the right to suffrage, and the work is done.”
7. Alexander Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers, was born in Villes-Cotterêts. His grandfather was a French nobleman who had settled in Santo Domingo (now part of Haiti); his paternal grandmother, Marie-Cessette, was an Afro-Caribbean who had been a black slave in the French colony (now part of Haiti). Dumas did not generally define himself as a black man, and there is not much evidence that he encountered overt racism during his life. However, his works were popular among 19th-century African-Americans, partly because in The Count of Monte Cristo, the falsely imprisoned Edmond Dantès may be read as a parable of emancipation.
8. Jesse Owens (1913–1988), the son of sharecroppers and the grandson of slaves, assured himself a place in sports history. Adolph Hitler and the Nazis had hoped that the 1936 Olympics would prove their theory of racial superiority. Against all odds, Owens made Hitler eat his words with four gold medals: 1st Gold = Aug. 3rd (100m). 2nd Gold = Aug. 4th (long jump). 3rd Gold = Aug. 5th (200m). 4th Gold = Aug. 9th (4x100m). One of these world records (26′ 5 1/4′′ in the long jump) would last for 25 years. The person holding the August 4th ticket actually saw Jesse win the Long Jump competition and was present at this ceremony.
9. Frederick Douglass (1818–1895), engraving from the scarce First Edition 1855 copy of “My Bondage And My Freedom”, which chronicled his life as a slave and then as a freeman. With his freedom purchased from Thomas Auld in 1846, Frederick was an American abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman, and reformer. In 1852, three years prior to getting this image engraved, Frederick had made the famous speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Called “The Sage of Anacostia” and “The Lion of Anacostia,” Douglass was among the most prominent African-Americans of his time and one of the most influential lecturers and authors in American history.
10. Jubilee Singers of Fisk University—an engraving from the January 1873 issue of The Illustrated London News after the singers had performed at Willis’s Rooms in London. The abolition of slavery in 1863 was commemorated by the founding of the college in Nashville (1867), under the supervision of the American Missionary Association, named after General Clinton B. Fisk. Choirmaster George L. White selected and trained the musicians who would become the first internationally acclaimed group of African-American musicians who attained recognition, then fame, and along the way, financed their school, helping to build the beautiful Jubilee Hall. The talented vocal artists introduced “slave songs” to the world and, in many opinions, preserved this music from extinction. Pictured is the expanded group of singers on their second European tour: Minnie Tate, Greene Evans (bass), Isaac P. Dickerson (bass), Jennie Jackson, Maggie Porter, Ella Shepard (pianist), Thomas Rutling (tenor), Benjamin M. Holmes (tenor), and Eliza Walker. Only two, Jennie Jackson and Minnie Tate, were born free; the rest were brought up in slavery until the decree of emancipation was issued.
11. Annie Malone (1869–1957) was recorded as America’s first Black female millionaire based upon reports of $14 million held in assets in 1920 from her beauty and cosmetic enterprises, headquartered in St. Louis and Chicago. An entrepreneurial inspiration for the 21st century:

• Annie was one of the first in Missouri to own a Rolls Royce
• Annie paid over $40,000 in taxes alone in 1926
• Annie owned a whole city block in Chicago
• Annie’s philanthropy was legendary
• Annie gave diamond rings for five years of service
• Annie gave cash awards for savings accounts and home purchases
• Annie trained well over 75,000 women entrepreneurs
• Annie trained Madam C.J. Walker to be a “Poro Agent.”

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Isn’t it more meaningful to send or receive a handwritten note (encouragement or thanks) through the regular mail instead of through email? Below is an ever-expanding series of unique Black History postcards that we are offering — an education and inspirational resource. Enjoy!

Item #: BHPC

Manufacturer: Free*Man Publishing