They Smile in Your Face . . .

 . . . The Backstabbers--Independence, KS--Few whites, if any, in Independence knew the name Gabriel Prosser. In fact, few blacks knew of him. Nevertheless, many knew of circumstances just like those that ended Prosser's life and some in Independence actually experienced them.

Prosser was a slave born in 1776, the year the United States won its Independence from Great Britain. Unlike other slaves during that time, he was educated and had a deep seated thirst for freedom. Long story short, he planned a revolt, but before the revolt could get off the ground two other slave sold him out, which resulted in Prosser's death, as well as, the execution of  30 slaves that helped set the plan in motion.

What does this have to do with Independence? Absolutely nothing and absolutely everything. I lived in the Independence when there were "colored sections" at the movies, side windows for food service and a ban on Negroes in the public swimming pool. However, times were changing--fast. In 1954, the Supreme Court's decision in Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education effectively put an end to segregation.

Things didn't change immediately, but suddenly black voices began to speak out. Why even mention this, as we all know Independence integrated early and with relatively few problems or that's what most like to believe, but pressure came from a variety of factions. Interestingly, like in the Gabriel Prosser revolt, there were Negroes in Independence that tattled about the plans of local blacks and their attempts to push for a better life.

My father told me about it and said that whenever plans were being made there were always two meetings; one scheduled just for the tattletales and a second one where the real information was on display. It was like that until 1965, when blacks had achieved a measure of respect and didn't care who told what or who they told.

Special favors including money, power and even sex marks today's sellouts. If you don't know who they are, here are a few labels others apply to them: Oreos, Bananas and Coconuts. If you haven't heard those terms, they are derogatory names meaning traitor.

Note: I'm getting back after finishing another book. Although it will eventually draw me away, I am in the research phases; so, I'll be able to maintain this more regularly.

That's all from my neighborhood today.