For their annual membership meeting on Thursday, November 12th at 7pm at the Fox Community Center, 306 Main Street, West Chicago, the West Chicago Historical Society and the Friends of the West Chicago City Museum will host Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, Caroline Kisiel to present
Lives in Code: Stories of African American Resilience Under the Illinois Black Codes, 1819-1865
As the home of celebrated champion of freedom, Abraham Lincoln, it may be surprising to learn that Illinois has a long history of slavery, racial segregation and exclusionary laws. Although Illinois entered the union as a free state in 1818, residents prior to statehood had practiced slavery and indentured servitude since the 1700s. This laid the groundwork for the Illinois Black Codes, laws which regulated the lives of enslaved people, indentured servants, and free Blacks in Illinois for 46 years (1819-1865).
Among the restrictions, free Blacks in Illinois were required to possess certificates of freedom and register themselves and family members with the court, and hiring of free Blacks who did not possess certificates of freedom was a crime. Enslaved people or servants were barred from selling goods, gathering in groups of three or more, or traveling more than ten miles from their master’s home. But African Americans persevered. They forged livelihoods, established communities, purchased land, and abided by the draconian laws in acts of resilience. And they sheltered, protected and defended freedom seekers.
Stories of resilience that will be shared include that of a free Black resident of Albion in Edwards County, Gilbert Burres, who first registered with the county clerk as a free person of color in 1824 and returned seven times over 36 years to register himself, his wife and his children, and the story of formerly enslaved “Uncle Joe” Higginbotham, who arrived in Clay County around 1835 and reportedly acquired 800 acres of land during his lifetime, raised a family and attracted other free Black settlers. Free Black settlements such as Brooklyn and Africa, and the biracial community of New Philadelphia were safe harbors for freedom seekers. These and other stories of African American resilience from this period will be illuminated, celebrating our Illinois forbears who persevered despite the Codes.
This presentation aligns with the Illinois America 250 Commission's theme “We the People.” This theme invites us to explore ideas of who has been included and who has been left out of the nation’s promise, as well as how people from all backgrounds have shaped and reshaped what it means to be part of “the people.” The Illinois America 250 Commission's goals are to uplift local stories, places, and programs; build pride; and showcase how Illinois brings the ideals of the Declaration of Independence to life.
