Archive for February, 2009

WKRN-TV Black Heritage Special-Video

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Please take a look at the Black Heritage video with Anne Holt at Wessyngton.  It aired on February 22nd and 24th.

http://www.wkrn.com/global/Category.asp?c=160607

I’m on Facebook

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

I invite you to join my Facebook page.  Please let your friends know about it as well.

The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation – John Baker’s look into history

Wessyngton Discoveries Continue

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

While in Evansville, IN a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting a new cousin, Mildred Moore Robinson.  When she saw my book cover she was very surprised and told me that she had the same picture in an old album.  It turned out that the photograph she had was an original and had my great-great-grandfather’s name (Emanuel Washington) written on the back of it.  He he had paid forty cents for the photograph which was nearly a day’s pay.  The photo had been passed to his daughter Martha Washington White, who was Ms. Robinson’s maternal grandmother.  I was honored when Cousin Mildred gave me the photograph.

Original 1891 Wessyngton Photo

Original 1891 Wessyngton Photo

Book Tour in Evansville, IN

Friday, February 13th, 2009

I just returned from Evansville, IN after a very busy two days. I gave a presentation at Willard Library, Evansville African American Museum and a book signing, gave television and radio interviews, and spoke to nearly 100 elementary, junior high, and high school students at three schools.  One television interview will air on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:00 P.M. on WNIN-NPR.

Presentation at McGary Middle School

Presentation at McGary Middle School

Book signing at Barnes and Noble

Book signing at Barnes and Noble

Book signing at Barnes and Noble, Evansville, IN

Book signing at Barnes and Noble, Evansville, IN

Book Tour- First Stop

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

I’m starting on my Book Tour. I’ll be going to Evansville, IN to speak at a museum, to school, and other venues. I will also be on television and radio. My dates there will be Friday Feb. 6 to Saturday. These events were set up by my Washington cousins. For years at every program some would ask “When is your book coming out?” Now I can answer, “Here it is!” You can see all the events: http://wessyngton.com/Index/Appearances

I’m on MySpace

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

I now have a MySpace page. Hope you will check it out.
www.myspace.com/johnbakerbooks

Wessyngton Research-Video

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

I invite you to watch a short video in which I describe my research:

Wessyngton Plantation Research

President Barack Obama’s Historic Election- Video

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009
I invite to watch a short video in which I discuss the historic election of our first African American president:
President Obama’s Historic Election

Wessyngton DNA Project-Video

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

I invite you to watch a short video about the DNA research I conducted:

Wessyngton DNA Project

The Meaning of the Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

As Oprah Winfrey and other African Americans have often stated, with the election of Barack Obama, it is finally time for African Americans to embrace their past, and to learn who they are. My research and my book can give the history that would be a building block for a strong today and tomorrow. I tell the stories of my ancestors and 274 African Americans who were enslaved on a tobacco plantation near Nashville. And the stories are the stories of real people based on documents and interviews with descendants. What comes through are stories of survival, of family, and of community. President Obama stated that one of the themes of his inauguration would be “coming together.” My research is an example of that phenomenon. Descendants of the plantation owners shared their photographs and remembrances with me; one of them sponsored some of the many DNA tests I conducted.