Black Lives Matter Art Gullah Culture Collection Teacher Charlotte Forten

Description

A Black History Month art, book and video collection featuring Charlotte Forten, a woman who should never be forgotten by anyone.
For your consideration, a truly wonderful collection of items I found, sought and gathered through recent years about the amazing and historical life of  Charlotte Forten (Grimke).
This grouping of items came about by fate as I do not believe in chance. I do believe this collection was meant to be and to be presented here now so that someone with both appreciation and foresight will both treasure and further share Charlotte Forten's gift to humanity and most especially her contributions to the African American culture...she courageously chose to follow her own path buoyed by a higher integrity within and opened new trails for others to follow.
I knew nothing of this woman when first we met...the day I discovered her portrait while treasure hunting in a northeast Ohio shop....nor did I know the listed artist who rendered her beautiful portrait and why it was created.
Please take the time to view the items and read the full description of each. The portrait is a rare, if not only, copy of the original commissioned cover art to a 1993 published book about Charlotte Forten's life and diary. More on that connection within the descriptions. Most importantly,whether you are interested in purchasing /preserving this collection or not,read the information included about Charlotte Forten so that you know who she was and what she did...tell others so they can share her story to others as well....her place in the history of the African American culture has, until recently, been in the shadows of importance. Charlotte Forten's personal and professional choices of courage over fear towards equality is finally in the light. Her diary is amazing to read. She teaches...still, as we are life students yet to learn in full that we are indeed one humanity.
The Portrait of Charlotte Forten and A Tribute To Charlotte Forten
The Portrait of Charlotte Forten, Rare Signed Copy and Dedicated in his own hand by African American artist Joe Pinckney
Joe Pinckney was an artist nationally known for his paintings of the Gullah culture on the eastern U.S.coastal islands.  Pinckney began painting the Gullah in the 1970s when he became fascinated with their history of relative isolation and independence as island farmers. The Gullah (the word derives from Gola, a West African tribe) descended from African slaves who settled on the isolated Sea Islands off South Carolina and Georgia and in neighboring marshy areas in the 19th century. Born in New York City, Pinckney moved to South Carolina’s coastal Lowcountry region with his family when he was 10. He later studied at the New York School of Industrial Art and the Manhattan School of Printing on scholarships. After painting for several years in New York, he returned to the Lowcountry in 1970 and established a studio. He also taught art on Hilton Head Island.
The original portrait (of which this is a very rare full sized lithographic copy, signed and dedicated in the hand of Joe Pinckney...I believe this artist was commissioned / chosen for his dedication to the Gullah and the Sea Islands/Lowcountry culture by Roberta Wright) was owned by her/ and now her heirs or still housed/ displayed in the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History in Detroit, Michigan...this museum was the first of its kind and has evolved into the largest museum of its kind in the world, and was founded in 1965 by Charles H. Wright (1918-2002), a noted physician and civil rights activist. An abundance of information can be found through an internet search on the museum and its founder. Great story on all.
Roberta Hughes Wright (1922-2019) activist, philanthropist and so much more...and partner / wife to Charles, wrote her own book about Charlotte Forten after both she and her husband visited the Sea Islands off the Coast of South Carolina and discovered the Gullah culture and its rich history, including the contributions made by Charlotte Forten and others after the Civil war when she participated in the Port Royal Experiment, a government sponsored program to teach the children of ex-slaves ( see all the detailed information on this through searches on the internet...rich historical information of the Gullah and the teachers involved) This was the seed from which the book A tribute To Charlotte Forten (1837-1914) was grown. It was published by Charro Book Company, January 1, 1993. The original portrait is the cover art to the published book...
I was able to find the original press photo used in a published  article written in the Detroit Free Press from February 1993 showing Roberta Hughes Wright holding the original artwork created by Joe Pinckney that was the cover art for her book . I then found through research the full published story and made a copy.
THUS FAR THE COLLECTION INCLUDES:
*the gorgeous framed portrait of Charlotte Forten which measures framed 24"W x 29" H with the opening to the art measuring 16" W x 21" H.The frame is gold wood and comes out from the wall appx 1"...with minimal wear and ready to hang. The artwork is hand signed by Joe Pinckney as shown and has a dedication "To Kathy from Joe Pinckney 3-11-99" As mentioned, I found this beautiful and rare piece while treasure hunting in Ohio...was awestruck by it and puzzled as to how it ever came to be in a thrift store in the first place.. still not knowing who Charlotte Forten was. From there, I researched and was hooked on knowing more of Charlotte Forten's journey.
** two copies of A Tribute To Charlotte Forten (1837-1914). One copy found recently is signed with a dedication by Rebecca Hughes Wright as shown " Dear Sorenia, your contribution to the Charlotte Forten Development Fund helps to salvage and restore Penn Center of the Sea Islands...With Best Wishes, Roberta Jan1993"... the other is unsigned. Both have the cover art and both are in very good condition. Book covers slightly different in color but same book.
***the original press photo in color showing Roberta Hughes Wright holding the original Joe Pinckney portrait of Charlotte Forten and includes a copy I made of the Detroit Free Press story/article about her book "A Tribute to Charlotte Forten"...the story is titled "Teacher Helped Former Slaves" The photograph measures 8" x 10" and have seen no other copies offered anywhere through my on-line research.
A Rare Tintype of Charlotte Forten Included In This Collection
****I was fortunate to find an original antique tintype of Charlotte Forten! Extremely rare to find any photograph of her...a super historical find. From my research, this image has not been published anywhere ( and guarantee it is indeed Charlotte Forten) She looks  to be 20-30...but guessing...and is pictured with another woman...possibly Laura Towne or Ellen Murray (founders of Penn School), research would be needed for the identification though. Charlotte Forten knew so many notable women of her time...suffragists, abolitionist, writers, teachers and would be superb to identify this woman... The tintype is in good condition but is worn from age...not sure how to rate the condition of tintypes...see images...one of the images is taken with more light to show wear better...darker is actual color...very much worth conserving (if desired and should be done professionally) as not that expensive and any photographic image of Charlotte Forten is a true treasure to covet,protect and share. Measures appx 3.25" x just over 2".
***** PBS Special American Playhouse VHS Tape from1985
"Charlotte Forten's Mission: An Experiment in Freedom"
and a Press Photo Release announcing its airing
The video is still available, though limited as this one as new and unopened...and the press image, which is 8" x 10" ( black and white) is presently available through Historic Images. Acquired them as great additions to this grouping in general.
****** A 2011 Leaders and Legends Collector Series Card
of Charlotte Forten#272
Small hard to find card, so bought it recently to add to this collection. In nice condition and measures appx. 2.5" x 1.5"
This Rare Collection will be sold only within the Continental US and Shipped Free via Fed Ex....the Portrait will be shipped separately from the other items...thus the entire collection will be sent in two packages, well packaged and insured...signature required at delivery. You may locally pick up if desired...located just west of Cleveland, Ohio.
Fully guaranteed as shown and described. If buyer disagrees that items are not as described and shown, must contact seller within 3 days of delivery with reason/ discrepancy for seller to consider return request.
Seller listing on other venues, same offer....sold to first buyer by date and time.
Charlotte Forten....
This is a very general article I copied on Charlotte Forten's life, please research all the vast information available about this wonderful woman and all she accomplished along her chosen path, and be inspired.
Charlotte Forten was the first northern African-American schoolteacher to go south to teach former slaves. A sensitive and genteel young woman, she brought intense idealism and fierce abolitionist zeal to her work. As a black woman, she hoped to find kinship with the freedmen, though her own education set her apart from the former slaves. She stayed on St. Helena Island for two years, then succumbed to ill health and had to return north. In 1864, she published "Life on the Sea Islands" in The Atlantic Monthly,which brought the work of the Port Royal Experiment to the attention of Northern readers.
Charlotte Forten was born in Philadelphia in 1837 into an influential and affluent family. Her grandfather had been an enormously successful businessman and significant voice in the abolitionist movement. The family moved in the same circles as William Lloyd Garrison and John Greenleaf Whittier:intellectual and political activity were part of the air Charlotte Forten breathed.
She attended Normal School in Salem, Massachusetts and began her teaching career in the Salem schools, the first African-American ever hired. But she longed to be part of a larger cause, and with the coming of the Civil War Forten found a way to act on her deepest beliefs.In 1862, she arrived on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, where she worked with Laura Towne. As she began teaching, she found that many of her pupils spoke only Gullah and were unfamiliar with the routines of school. Though she yearned to feel a bond with the islanders, her temperament, upbringing and education set her apart, and she found she had more in common with the white abolitionists there. Under physical and emotional stress, Forten, who was always frail, grew ill and left St. Helena after two years.
Today, Forten is best remembered for her diaries. From 1854-64 and 1885-92, she recorded the life of an intelligent, cultured, romantic woman who read and wrote poetry, attended lectures, worked, and took part in the largest social movement of her time. She was determined to embody the intellectual potential of all black people. She set a course of philosophical exploration, social sophistication, cultural achievement and spiritual improvement. She was, above all, dedicated to social justice.
In her later life, she lived in Washington D.C. and continued to support equal rights for African-Americans. She married the minister Francis Grimke, nephew of the crusading Grimke sisters. After many years as an invalid, she died in1914, having been a voice for equality throughout her life.
In Her Own Words
"Monday, October 23, 1854: I will spare no effort to prepare myself well for the responsible duties of a teacher, and to live for the good I can do my oppressed and suffering fellow creatures." -- Diary entry
"Sunday, January 18, 1856: But oh, how inexpressibly bitter and agonizing it is to feel oneself an outcast from the rest of mankind, as we are in this country! To me it is dreadful, dreadful. Oh, that I could de much towards bettering our condition. I will do all, all the very little that lies in my power, while life and strength last!" -- Diary entry
"Wednesday, November 5, 1862: Had my first regular teaching experience, and to you and you only friend beloved, will I acknowledge that it was not a very pleasant one." -- Diary entry
"Thursday, November 13, 1862: Talked to the children a little while to-day about the noble Toussaint [L'Ouverture]. They listened very attentively. It is well that they should know what one of their own color could do for his race. I long to inspire them with courage and ambition (of a noble sort), and high purpose." -- Diary entry
"The first day of school was rather trying. Most of my children are very small, and consequently restless. But after some days of positive, though not severe, treatment, order was brought out of chaos. I never before saw children so eager to learn." -- Life on the Sea Islands
"The long, dark night of the Past, with all its sorrows and its fears, was forgotten; and for the Future -- the eyes of these freed children see no clouds in it. It is full of sunlight, they think, and they trust in it,perfectly." -- Life on the Sea Islands
"I shall dwell again among 'mine own people.'" I shall gather my scholars about me, and see smiles of greeting break over their dusky faces. My heart sings a song of thanksgiving, at the thought that even I am permitted to do something for a long-abused race, and aid in promoting a higher, holier, and happier life on the Sea Islands." -- Life on the Sea Islands