Enlightened Free Thinking Nubian Kings And Queens

An interview with HAPPY PAYNE a descendant of slaves, talked about his family's history and his own long life. The interview with Harry Payne took place at his home on 10/23/99.   ----------------------------------------------- Harry Payne is a ninety one year old descendant of slaves. His paternal grandfather, John, came from Barbados, where he was not a slave, as a twelve-year-old child, in about 1820. Here he was bound as a slave in South Carolina. The wife of the slave holder gave him his freedom papers prior to the Civil War when her husband was killed in a duel. She then sold the farm and freed her slaves. Less is known about his mother's (Minnie Watson) side of the family except that her father, Kayto Watson, was born into an African/Asian American slave family. Kato's father "Yellow Toby," was brought to America as a slave from Mongolia. As a slave he was used as a "breeder." It took John Payne about four years to get from South Carolina t...

During the period that Los Angeles was part of Mexico (1821-1840), blacks were fairly integrated into society at all levels. Mexico abolished slavery much earlier than the US, in 1820. In 1831, Emanuel Victoria served as California's first black governor. Alta, California's last governor, Pío de Jesus Pico, was also of mixed black ancestry. The US won the Mexican-American War and in 1850 California was admitted to the United States. Although one of America's so-called "free states," discriminatory legislation was quickly enacted to restrict and remove the civil rights of blacks, Chinese, and Native Americans. For example, blacks (and other minorities) couldn't testify in court against white people. Pío de Jesus Pico is one of California’s most remarkable historical figures. He witnessed, shaped and influenced nearly a century of California history in the 1800’s. Pío Pico was the governor of California in 1832 and again in 1846 before and during the ...