Hello everyone,
Happy Monday to you! This month we celebrate and remember Black History Month. Let us reflect and remember those that have pave the way for others to thrive and grow in a world ever learning that Black people have more talents and abilities that have yet to be seen. John Lewis Waller was one that blazed the trails for the true American goal of rising above it all.
Think and reflect on these two points as you focus on what Black History Month means to you
Take A Moment To Reflect:
- The willingness and strength of the past inspired the success of the present and future to come
- Turning the hardships and circumstances into accomplishments and strength of will to thrive in spite of all faced
Reflect on This Thought:
Remember and reflect on this John Lewis Waller was born 1851 to slaved parents in New Madrid County, Missouri, who were freed by Union infantry regiment in 1862. Moving to Iowa where he was hired by an Iowa farmer in 1863 and paid for his four year of school. Waller graduated from Toledo, Iowa in which he work as an apprentice to a barber to pay for high school. College had to be put on hold due to his father’s passing and he had to help on the family farmer.
- John Lewis later moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1874 while being an activist he met N.M. Hubbard who like Waller’s passion and open his law office to Waller to learn the law and offered him an apprenticeship for three years with his legal book being available. After the three year law firm validated and qualified Waller as a reputable law before the Iowa bar in 1877.
- John Waller moved to Leavenworth, Kansas where he opened his law practice, success came slowly, his skills as a lawyer won over both whites and blacks. He turned to politics, recognized for speaking ability in 1884 Waller was recruited by Leavenworth Republicans to tour eastern Kansas in Support of the Republican ticket.
- Three years later received his appointed his first appointment in June 28,1887 as Deputy City Attorney of Topeka, Kansas. Waller Opened a second business as a barber shop as a place where people could talk politics freely. He also opened a third business which was a Newspaper where he wrote editorials and later sold. In 1888 Waller was the only black man in the United States to be selected for Electoral College.
- Later Waller was named U.S. Consul to Madagascar and worked to build relations for overseas expansion with Madagascar to benefit American economy and black Americans. His term for U.S. Consul ended in 1894 when Democrat President took office ending any trade between Madagascar and the United States.
Accused of being a spy by the French giving military information to the indigenous people to maintain their attempt to colonization and the new U.S. Democrat Consul did not help Waller avoid the accusation. Waller was tried with no aid from the United States and was sentenced to 20years in a French prison. With his wife championing for the U.S. President to help her husband John Lewis Waller, he was finally released and sentenced avoided with him only serving ten months in the French prison. The political storm surrounding the French arrest, trail, and imprisonment of a former American Diplomatic official came to be known as The Waller Affair.
Waller returned to the United States in 1895 where his family was awaiting his return. In 1898 during the Waller served as an officer with the twenty-third Kansas Volunteers, and in 1900 he retired from public life and settled in New York City with his family. Waller died in October 1907 from pneumonia in Yonkers, New York, it is roomer that his health declined from his time spent in French prison.
Focus On This:
Stay focused on this John Lewis Waller started off as a Slave was freed, went from employed on a farm. John L. Waller soared to keep making himself better, he was an apprentice at a barber, law apprentice, lawyer, entrepreneur, politician, U.S. Consul to Madagascar, and Officer. Through all he faced he was a black man that accomplished great things, and he did not get swayed by his setbacks. Rising to the occasion of excellence, Waller showed sublime integrity for Black American to be proud of.
Once again thank you for being a part of the Books by Fran Community everyone. A month to remember that Black History is not just a day, but it is the skills and abilities black people have given in spite of other people’s opinion of what black people should represent. Write your comments below and let me hear from you on how this information of black history has inspired you. Remember when we see the people that have gone before us, they laid a foundation for generations to come be and do greater than these. What will history say about you?