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Determination in JAB II's Ancestors |
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Determination and motivation were what Paris Simkins (1849-1930) was about, as indicated by what his children wrote in the previously presented newspaper article: A Brief Narrative of the Life of Paris Simkins, ESQ., of Edgefield, S. C. at the time of his death.
To elaborate he fathered 16 children with his Creek Indian/African wife Mary Ann Noble (1850-1916); became a barber; taught himself and some slaves to read; became a lawyer, postmaster, landowner, licensed preacher, a South Carolina State legislator, second in command of the State militia; and was very active in Civil Rights. One day, while playing with his infant son in the kitchen of his home, he suddenly became aware of a Ku Klux Klan mob gathering outside his home with the expressed intention of killing him (probably because of his involvement with the Black militia). Calmly, while holding his infant son in his arms, Paris faced down the mob and preached a sermon, directing comments to each of them. Whatever he said caused the KKK members to back off and leave him unharmed. Paris and Lawrence Cain, who sometimes headed rival factions, were the two most powerful Black political leaders. Paris was often visited by South Carolina's leading White Republicans. For example, Paris and Tieless Joe Tolbert sometimes shared a meal and always sat together at a table to discuss politics. Tolbert would ask Simkins his opinion of White men before recommending them for political appointments.
Paris political values were transmitted to other family members. Prominent civil rights activist Modjeska Monteith Simkins (12/5/99-4/9/92) was cofounder and first secretary of the South Carolina Conference of the NAACP as well as active in African American public health reform (to bring under control the alarming increase in deaths among African Americans due to tuberculosis, pellagra, and other illnesses), social reform, and civil rights. In the words of a group of South Carolinians, she "raised more hell in South Carolina" than anyone else. She challenged everyone--the white political leadership of the state to do what was fair and equitable among all people and challenged black citizens to stand up and demand their rightful place in the state and the nation." Paris and Andrew were sons of Charlotte (my great, great grandmother) but by Arthur (Paris) and Arthur's cousin (Andrew). By Andrew Whitfield Simkins being leader of the Baptist Church and becoming school commissioner in 1872 (signaling improvements for Afro-American schools) meant he was a Reconstruction leader.
Thinking about what my Ancestors went through to help fellow Black Americans--and their desires and mine are similar--causes me to wonder if they ever had a "down" time like I do. Moving my Selfhood to get the job done--no matter how far in the future--has never been a problem for me. Similarly, I have always been too busy to get bored or depressed. However, there occasionally comes a time when I simply to do not want to do anything or go anywhere or watch television or whatever. I wonder if this is what a lack of motivation looks like. Or could it be depression? I have never been clear what either of these look like in me. There is a close association between the ideas contained in motivation, depression, flight, and fright and maybe those are at deep levels. What I feel during these times is scattered energy that causes be to "do nothing” out of not knowing what to do. Since I can still laugh at things and enjoy a beautiful day then maybe it is simply a time to do nothing from "focus burn-out." Still, it takes some time for me to realize that the world has not changed to cause me to feel "down" but rather I have simply disconnected my task from my spirit. What pulls me out of it is to focus on my legacy--i.e. helping others. |
