(*minor repair to this page added on 01•20•2012—South was missing some of her jewelry*)
Welcome aboard!
Hooray: a new guest blog entry from Salty Aire—and the portrait of a fascinating and overlooked 19th century New York figure.
Who was Elizabeth Jennings?
by Jerry Mikorenda
On Sunday, July 16, 1854, Elizabeth Jennings attempted to board an omnibus on Chatham Street in lower Manhattan and changed history.
Lizzie Jennings, 1855
Late for church where she played the organ, Lizzie Jennings and her friend Sarah Adams hailed the first horse-drawn Omnibus they saw. Repelled by the conductor, the African American schoolteacher insisted she had the right to ride. A fight ensued that ended with both women tossed from the bus. In an act of defiance, Lizzie jumped back on the car and was brutally beaten by the conductor, driver and a policeman.
Born to wealthy parents, Lizzie Jennings could have easily led an extravagant lifestyle. Yet she chose a path that smacked against the socioeconomic norms of the day. Lizzie learned to play the organ not to entertain marriage suitors, but to use her skill to raise funds for antislavery causes and to lead a choir — male dominated professions.
Likewise, she became a teacher at a time when the white ruling class didn’t believe black women could even be serious students. At nearly every step of her life, she was bucking a system that said African American women were invisible and meant to stay that way. With each challenge, Lizzie chose freedom over accepting a life with oppression. She reached beyond that invisibility and proved that she and her sisters had a voice that needed to be heard.
Led by her abolitionist father, NYC blacks formed the Legal Rights Association to battle discrimination and Lizzie’s case was a test. The trial took place in Brooklyn on Washington’s Birthday in 1855. Against all odds, Chester A. Arthur, the future 21st President of the United States, won his very first court case. An all-white male jury awarded Jennings $250 in damages. After her victory, several more lawsuits followed ending segregation on NYC public transportation.
Jennings activism didn’t end there. She was a member of the Female Literary Society of New York that raised money to free slaves and established the first kindergarten for black New Yorkers. In her honor, the corner of Park Row and Spruce Street (originally Chatham) was renamed Elizabeth Jennings Place.
In the words of historian John Hewitt, “If only because she started something far larger than herself she deserves a place of honor in the history of civil rights in New York.”
* Some of this material appears in the 2010 edition of The Encyclopedia of New York City.
Jennings was clearly an amazing woman…
And the third panel, South looks so sweet. Liar or no… I do get the feeling South genuinely cares for Twain on some level. And though her using him is awful… I kind of have to wonder how having your heart separated from you would feel. It might silence thoughts like “Maybe it’s not so nice to lead this fellow on…”
OK, it’s time to get to the heart of the matter.
I thought all along that the heart was in a box, or chest; this looks more like an Aztec scarificing table. The fish seem too interested, do they have a stake in this as well? While I want the heart to mean South’s redemption, I can’t shake the feeling that Twain may be releasing profound evil(s) ala Pandora’s box. Those beautiful eyes have no soul to be a window for. If Twain does indeed share his soul with South, he should keep constant eye contact,with her, so that she can see what sincerity exists in his soul, and share that as well.. This may redeem her, I hope..
* Salty – When did the first police and fire departments become integrated?
Great job, Salty! Born to wealthy parents, Lizzie Jennings could have easily led an extravagant lifestyle. With all the limitations of the society then, how did they make their money, and what lifestyle would she have enjoyed? Staying in the neighborhood or living in Paris?
I know that there was a parallel to the white society, including summertime hotels and beach houses at Martha’s Vineyard, but I’ve read so many times of whites cheating the blacks out of their patents, labors, etc. that it seems unreal that some were not only able to keep their fortunes but used them as they saw fit.
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Ookay….looks like he should start with the seven curses, and work his way to the twenty-one sacred images… http://sailortwain.com/sailortwain165/
Oh, look–South has a dimple!
I have a nagging suspicion it’s “put one human heart, still fresh and given out from free will, in the niche to open” kind of thing. It really looks like some kind of altar.
That kelp forest is stunning, and I agree with the sacrificial altar look the chest has, it doesn’t seem like this is going to be a simple key-in-lock mechanism, although I’m hoping it is.
Also, Salty I love the blog! The little insights into New York life back then (especially for a Canuck like myself) are really interesting and informative!
Where we once thought South was bored/surprised… I am beginning to think the “amour” needs to occur in the presence of the chest…?
I went back and read the curse last week… Twain needs to be extra careful.
AAAAAAAAAH
^ my reaction to this page
The moment we’ve been waiting for.
The keyhole to the chest is in the shape of a heart. So would Twain actually have to put his actual whole heart through it to open it? This reminds me of that Once Upon a Time episode where the evil queen can rip out people’s hearts and keep them in boxes. I’m so curious about how this goes!
As usual, I can scarcely imagine what’s next–which is of course one of the many reasons I’m hooked like a fish on this story.
I keep going back to the very first pages, trying to tease out a clue of what’s to come!
Mermaidan…according to city records, Wiley Overton was African American male to join Brooklyn’s Police Department on March 6, 1891 – when Brooklyn was still a separate city. Samuel “Big Sam” Battle was the first black police officer hired in Brooklyn at the time of incorporation (1898). The first Manhattan black firefighters were on the scene around 1817. Slaves were also used to fight fires. Deschutes River… a good question that I’m planning to answer in a future blog. Salty says Twainy gets cold wet feet before opening der book.
Been silent for awhile, but this is so exciting! And love the last panel it’s gorgeous!
Ditto to Socratys!
But I think the chest looks more like a fountain or geyser than an alter, although I doubt we could call it old faithful.
THIS CAN’T UPDATE FAST ENOUGH.
I’ve got a pretty strong sense of dread about how things are going to turn out here.
1855. Before the Emaciation Proclamation, which is really rather amazing (even before Dred Scott, which was a travesty – 3/5 indeed). TTBOMK before there was much of a women’s suffrage movement either. And then, a century later, Rosa Parks had to go through it all again.
You’d think after a while we’d learn. As Voltaire had it, ‘The only way to comprehend what mathematicians mean by Infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity.’
Also:
‘After her victory, several more lawsuits followed ending desegregation on NYC public transportation.’
I think you mean ‘segregation’ there.
“I’ve waited so long.” That phrase triggered a lot of questions in my mind. What are South’s options as to redemptiom? What were her father’s intentions? … her father’s options?
I’m either going have to go back and re-read or take a tylenol? I know! A nap!
Oh please, please, please, don’t be required to sacrifice the Pear for the Heart ….
Salty, once again, thank you for these treasures. This is a fascinating accompaniment!
I don’t trust South.
As always, a wonderful post, Salty!
That last panel is absolutely gorgeous. I could see that being a lovely print.
You keep enticing that man. I do not think he is who you think he is.
Good catch Warren, maybe Mark can fix it on the rebound. Never blog before 5am. More to come on the women’s movement back then as well. More was happening than you think.
Salty, I never responded to your blog post. Well-written as always…and thank you for perpetuating the stories of civil rights activists. It can be difficult to comprehend such brutality and oppression back then, until we remember it was really not so long ago in the scheme of things.
Salty – my rule is that it’s fine to blog before 5 AM, provided one is not under the influence of sobriety.
Wait, hold on – where did South’s necklace go? Has Twain checked his pockets?
That’s me problem. I don’t hit the blind pig til I has a burled egg with a nice sprig of parsley on the side. What exactly are ya deliverin in that package Warren?
@ Lauren and Mere: I want to apologize to both of you (publically) about my rather curt “Yes” responses on last Friday’s page.. You may have taken them to mean that I was happy you both chose to stop talking after figuring out certain plot elements. That was not my intention; I was celebrating your success, not your silence, but I can see how it might have sounded the other way around. The privelege of age is being able to blame mistakes on feeblemindedness. I’m practicing dementia, now, on this webpage, so I’ll know that I have it right later (in the near future). Please accept my apologies; I’m going to go take my nap now.
Might be my imagination, but the fish next to South’s left hand seems to be looking up at her with an “uh oh” frown on its face…
@Warren, I was gonna tease you about “Emaciation,” but then I just couldn’t.
(Ain’t predictive text fun?)
OK, I’m awake now.
@ Salty – It can’t hurt to hear it again; your time capsuled – tidbits are tasty treats for the intellect. It just goes to show how much is left out, or skimmed over in the history books.
I’m not long returned from a dizzying day at Disneyland. I still have Disney music channeling through my brain, so if I sound even more odd than usual, that’s why.
I had thought all along that Twain’s contribution to solving South’s dilemma would be figurative, not literal. But with souls splitting left and right, Twain may be playing on a newer, more deadly field, almost like Mayan basketball where the loser can’t schedule a rematch.
South’s intrinsic character will certainly become clearer, based on how much risk she will allow Twain to be exposed to. None of the other numbers matter much if Twain is dispatched at stage one. Hopefully, she will level with him, and let him decide what he wants to do; that would show some consideration. The least she can do is hold his hand. If a virtuous heart is required, it seems universally unfair that Twain dies doing the right thing. He should at least be resurrected ala Aselin. Please , Mark, pull out your magical Narnia charcoal eraser just in case; I don’t want to see South become the White Witch.
I’m beginning to think it is “Daddy” who has the problem! His apparent “roid rage” has not deterred all of the questions about South’s mental makeup, or intentions. This will all become hopefully much clearer, when the mysterious tresspass is less mysterious.
Can one be Freudian with a heart; this would certainly be a “more romantic” love connection with a mermaid. If Twain does indeed lose his heart and lives to tell (Camamille) about it, this would explain why he is such a “piss-pot” at the beginning of the story.
Salty, great bio on Ms. Jennings. Thank you!
I’m more confused coming in so late after reading all these comments. But what is the big chain for?? And is that seaweed or anemone tentacles, the kind that stick & sting. Is Twain like Nemo the clownfish, immune to the sting?
Pearl may already have Twain’s heart and is on her way back to the sea of her choosing. Her marriage to Twain might have played out her necessary time served. South should recognize her own sister, unless Pearl is an avatar, and the legs fooled her.
@ mermaiden – No worries! I never interpreted that “yes” as anything but agreement!
I really want Pearl and Ella to get their own spin off comic where they solve mysteries and fight patriarchy.
As always, good reading and good looking…Thank you all.
m
Oh, this can’t end well…
Given that Twain is telling this story in order to earn that coin that lets him go into the river and below without harm coming to him, would it be safe to assume that he makes it out of this alive?
I’m rather clinging to that notion at the moment.
Arabia – HA! Nice one. I don’t know what an Emaciation Proclamation is, but I rather expect it would be in violation of the Geneva Convention.
Salty – word is that it’s caviar, though a nod’s as good as a wink to a blind bat, eh? Nudge nudge wink wink.
Wow… South look less than innocent in the first panel.. Think Twain is in trouble. Unless, someone saves him……
@mermaidan: Apologies are always appreciated, but, in this case, entirely unnecessary. I never took your response in a derogatory manner…I saw it only as enthusiastic. I covet your insight, but the bottom line is that I am (and I believe I can speak for others onboard) enjoying the ride. Speculation is amusing, but it cannot ruin this beautifully drawn story.
Also – apparently I am the one who needs to remember when I’ve already posted something, hah!
@Anne EEK you caught a glaring mistake, which I’ll have to fix as soon as I am able! Thank you!
While South is obviously anxious, I read her expression as calm in panel three. The slight smile suggests to me, relief, hope, and maybe appreciation. I think back to the brief respite (from the curse) she enjoyed while recovering in Twain’s cabin. I want to believe that she learned someting about compassion from Twain’s kindness (cue Pirates 4) and is not treacherously leading him to his death.
@ Isobel – good call about the summoner token. Twain’s wanting to have it back could mean that he wants to call South back to him.
You know, it’s also kind of hard to tell what Twain is expecting out of any intense physical relationship with South. I mean, she’s cute and all, apparently a hell of a kisser and with obvious other charms, but it’s never been clear how merpeople make more merpeople. Theodore Sturgeon talks about in his short story “A Touch Of Strange”, and it’s not something most humans would find particularly satisfying. Susan Shwartz’s “Siren Song” has a mermaid with a more human friendly system, but there’s no hint of that with South, as far as we’ve seen.
Come think of it, South said she swims with sturgeon. I wonder what Theodore Sturgeon would have thought? One seriously strange dude, but a wondrous writer.
Rats, Mark, I thought I’d been sharp enough to catch a clue!
Will now retreat to spellbound reader status.
A few days late, but I just want to say that these pieces of New York City history that you post are always wonderful. I’ve lived there all my life and I’ll never uncover all the stories it has to tell.