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Showing posts with the label Barbados

A LIVING HISTORY

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...

Rabbi Arnold Josiah Ford

Born 1877 died 1935 Wrote the musical anthems for the UNIA.  33 degree Past Master, Memmon Lodge, no. 51 Scottish Rite mason From Barbados moved to Harlem in 1911 Leaves the UNIA after trying to get Garvey to change the platform of the UNIA to Judaism while he was in exile. Garvey said "no" and Ford left and joined the Moorish Zionist Temple. 1924 he leaves the temple after disagreements with Mordeci Herrmenz the founder. Next in 1924 he is assisted by white Jews to start his own temple Beth B'Nai Abraham. Ford plays at Hailie Selassie coronation Ford leaves his congregation to Rabbi Wentworth Arthur Matthew and moves to Ethiopia where he died five years later. Tries to sue Marcus Garvey of music royalties.