On 11 October 1896, a hurricane slammed the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and a schooner carrying nine people was forced aground in the perilous seas. In the howling winds, the captain sent out a distress flare, praying for rescue. His wife and three year old son were among those on board. As the storm…
Tag: Black history
How Whaling Empowered African Americans Before the Civil War
Before the Civil War, whaling was one of the few ways for African Americans to get ahead in a system stacked against them. Whaling fueled candles, lamps, machine lubricants, and even perfumes, making it one of the richest industries in America. However, it was also a brutal industry that sent men to sea for years,…
