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Freedom's Child: The Life of a Confederate General's Black Daughter
When Carrie Allen McCray was a child, she was afraid to ask about the framed photograph of a white man on her mother's dresser. Years later she learned that he was her grandfather, a Confederate general, and that her grandmother was a former slave. In her late seventies, Carrie McCray went searching for her history and found the remarkable story of her mother, Mary, the illegitimate daughter of General J. R. Jones, of Lynchburg, Virginia. Jones would later be cast out of Lynchburg society for publicly recognizing his daughter. FREEDOM'S CHILD is a loving remembrance of how Mary spent her life beating down the kind of thinking that ostracized her father. She was a leader in the founding of the NAACP and hosted the likes of Langston Hughes and W.E.B. Du Bois as they plotted the war against discrimination at her kitchen table. Carrie McCray's memories reward us with an extraordinarily vivid and intimate portrait of a remarkable woman. "Highly recommended for all readers."--Library Journal, hot pick; "I defy anyone to finish FREEDOM'S CHILD without a tear in their eye, a sense of meeting a great spirit, and an inspiration to act with generosity and justice."--Gloria Steinem; A BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB and QUALITY PAPERBACK BOOK CLUB SELECTION.
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First published January 4, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 9, 2020
Just like her siblings, Carrie Allen McCray dared not ask about the photographs on her mother's bedroom bureau. In a place of honor, a place where many women keep their altars and most special of mementos, why did her mother keep these two photographs, one of a black woman and the other of a white man?
McCray and initially her sister Rosemary start on a journey of discovery. Their maternal grandfather was a Civil War general. McCray describes him as being an ordinary man, and perhaps he was also more or less an ordinary general. Even then, those who honor the Glorious Cause honor their dead: momuments, biograghies, county names, boy's names, memorial days in various former CSA states. Yet no biograghy or memory of General John Robert Jones. Why? He not only had an affair and got children from Malinda Rice, he recognized them, supported them, and maintained a special father-daughter relationship with light-skinned Malinda, all the way to sending her to a university.
Social complications can take the form of secrets. In this family, McCray started on a journey of discovery in the archives of various libraries. With the aid of a young historian who had found a new CSA general to study, McCray was given some leads and learned how to do her own research.
Her discovery reveals much to us not in the know. McCray shows us her family tree, tells about a liberal arts edication in Lynchburg, VA, about going north during the Black Exodus, about black activists, about a family who maintained relationships with people from a wide spectrum society. This family also had sheltered Otta Benga, the pygmie who had been displayed at the Bronx Zoo and released to this family's circle and care and to their sons' benefit. (He taught them things about living closer to land, like Boy Scouts, but much better.)
In this biograghy-memior, McCray tells us about growing up with parents not far removed from slavery, with a mother--and to a lesser extent a father-+ho were NAACP activists. In fact, McCray's mother was a field secretary.
And still more. A must-read for those of us who want to have a clue about the Talented Tenth.
McCray and initially her sister Rosemary start on a journey of discovery. Their maternal grandfather was a Civil War general. McCray describes him as being an ordinary man, and perhaps he was also more or less an ordinary general. Even then, those who honor the Glorious Cause honor their dead: momuments, biograghies, county names, boy's names, memorial days in various former CSA states. Yet no biograghy or memory of General John Robert Jones. Why? He not only had an affair and got children from Malinda Rice, he recognized them, supported them, and maintained a special father-daughter relationship with light-skinned Malinda, all the way to sending her to a university.
Social complications can take the form of secrets. In this family, McCray started on a journey of discovery in the archives of various libraries. With the aid of a young historian who had found a new CSA general to study, McCray was given some leads and learned how to do her own research.
Her discovery reveals much to us not in the know. McCray shows us her family tree, tells about a liberal arts edication in Lynchburg, VA, about going north during the Black Exodus, about black activists, about a family who maintained relationships with people from a wide spectrum society. This family also had sheltered Otta Benga, the pygmie who had been displayed at the Bronx Zoo and released to this family's circle and care and to their sons' benefit. (He taught them things about living closer to land, like Boy Scouts, but much better.)
In this biograghy-memior, McCray tells us about growing up with parents not far removed from slavery, with a mother--and to a lesser extent a father-+ho were NAACP activists. In fact, McCray's mother was a field secretary.
And still more. A must-read for those of us who want to have a clue about the Talented Tenth.
January 3, 2008
Our library book discussion group has been meeting at the Legacy Museum of African American history for the past few Februarys as part of Black History Month. This year the museum's director suggested that we read and discuss Freedom's Child. I was amazed at how very much I liked this book.
The book is about Mary Rice Hayes Allen, the daughter of a freed slave and a white Confederate General. Mary's father encouraged her to become educated, and Mary used her education to make lives better for African Americans in many ways.
When Mary married her first husband she came to Lynchburg, VA to live. One of her best friends was the poet Anne Spencer. Her first husband was president of Virginia Seminary in Lynchburg in the early part of the 20th century. Mary herself became the seminary's interim president when her husband died.
After marrying her second husband, Mary and her family moved to Montclair, NJ. Through the eyes of her daughter, Carrie, we can see the differences of life in the south and the north. Mary was an important member of the NAACP and fought hard for rights of African Americans.
By coincidence, I now live in Lynchburg, but spent my early childhood in Clifton, NJ, the next town over from Montclair. There is much in the book that is familiar, and much that I, as a small white child, never saw. Mrs. McCray's love for and pride in her mother shines through this book. It is an absorbing and well-written account of a woman to be admired by people of all races.
The book is about Mary Rice Hayes Allen, the daughter of a freed slave and a white Confederate General. Mary's father encouraged her to become educated, and Mary used her education to make lives better for African Americans in many ways.
When Mary married her first husband she came to Lynchburg, VA to live. One of her best friends was the poet Anne Spencer. Her first husband was president of Virginia Seminary in Lynchburg in the early part of the 20th century. Mary herself became the seminary's interim president when her husband died.
After marrying her second husband, Mary and her family moved to Montclair, NJ. Through the eyes of her daughter, Carrie, we can see the differences of life in the south and the north. Mary was an important member of the NAACP and fought hard for rights of African Americans.
By coincidence, I now live in Lynchburg, but spent my early childhood in Clifton, NJ, the next town over from Montclair. There is much in the book that is familiar, and much that I, as a small white child, never saw. Mrs. McCray's love for and pride in her mother shines through this book. It is an absorbing and well-written account of a woman to be admired by people of all races.
November 27, 2018
A strange portrait sat in a place of honor on the mantelpiece of the African American home where the author grew up. It was a picture of a white man, which itself would have been remarkable. But the man was in the uniform of a civil war confederate officer! Her mother would never comment on the man, only insisting that he be respected.
After retiring from her academic career, Ms McCray decided to see if she could see if she could discover more about this mysterious man on the mantel. And this launches a family history which turns out to be much more remarkable than the author ever would have guessed.
A nice book to pair with "Slaves in the Family", by Andrew Ball, also with the theme of African American genealogy.
After retiring from her academic career, Ms McCray decided to see if she could see if she could discover more about this mysterious man on the mantel. And this launches a family history which turns out to be much more remarkable than the author ever would have guessed.
A nice book to pair with "Slaves in the Family", by Andrew Ball, also with the theme of African American genealogy.
October 31, 2022
The author wrote about her mother, and had the uncommon good sense and extreme diligence to look up official documents pertaining to her. In addition to putting her memories to paper with factual good humor and honest fairness, Ms McCray gave her mother's life the full picture it deserves. Furthermore, this was a person I had not heard abotu until now, and yet she facilitated many important connections and much-needed changes.
October 20, 2017
A very good telling of a woman’s life - as told by her daughter. The child of a union of a confederate general and his black mistress-one with pale skin. It was interesting to hear of her fight for ‘full freedom’ as an adult, until her death
September 22, 2019
Splendid.
February 21, 2020
An incredible book!
February 14, 2017
If you’re looking for a book to read in observance of Black History Month, Freedom’s Child would certainly be a good choice.
Carrie Allen McCray tells the story of her mother, Mary Rice Hayes Allen, and in the process, she gives us many of her own memories of growing up as well.
Mary Rice was the daughter of Malinda Rice, a freed slave, and John R. Jones, who had earlier been a Brigadier General in the Confederate army. Malinda was hired as a housekeeper in General Jones’ household to care for his wife, who was sick. She had two children by him, Mary and her brother, Willie. Although General Jones could not marry Malinda, it is possible that he loved her. Certainly, he acknowledged the children and even took Mary, who was light-skinned, around in public with him and paid for her education.
As she was growing up, Mary came to feel troubled that there were places she could go where her brother and her darker-skinned friends were not welcome. Later in life she became involved in the early struggles for Black Rights, becoming an early member of the NAACP and leading numerous campaigns, large and small, for what she called ‘full freedom’ wherever she was. She was a friend and confidant of many leading black figures of her day.
Throughout her many struggles, Mary remained firm and courageous, but also soft-spoken and ladylike. She seems to have been successful in most of her endeavors, from winning the friendship of her white neighbor to minimizing discrimination in the schools of Montclair, New Jersey where she wound up living at the end of her life. Even the people she disagreed with came to respect her.
Carrie Allen McCray tells the story of her mother, Mary Rice Hayes Allen, and in the process, she gives us many of her own memories of growing up as well.
Mary Rice was the daughter of Malinda Rice, a freed slave, and John R. Jones, who had earlier been a Brigadier General in the Confederate army. Malinda was hired as a housekeeper in General Jones’ household to care for his wife, who was sick. She had two children by him, Mary and her brother, Willie. Although General Jones could not marry Malinda, it is possible that he loved her. Certainly, he acknowledged the children and even took Mary, who was light-skinned, around in public with him and paid for her education.
As she was growing up, Mary came to feel troubled that there were places she could go where her brother and her darker-skinned friends were not welcome. Later in life she became involved in the early struggles for Black Rights, becoming an early member of the NAACP and leading numerous campaigns, large and small, for what she called ‘full freedom’ wherever she was. She was a friend and confidant of many leading black figures of her day.
Throughout her many struggles, Mary remained firm and courageous, but also soft-spoken and ladylike. She seems to have been successful in most of her endeavors, from winning the friendship of her white neighbor to minimizing discrimination in the schools of Montclair, New Jersey where she wound up living at the end of her life. Even the people she disagreed with came to respect her.
January 24, 2008
Truly this story deserves a higher rating than a few stars because of its promise and to honor the many accomplishments of the subject (and the author), yet it reads so slowly and painfully and with so many misconceptions about the South that I struggled to finish it. Perhaps this is another example of how far we’ve come in racial understanding and yet how far we have to go. There were many historical and factual questions that went unanswered in this book for me. And that is the way family history often is, by the time we realize how important the stories and ways of our elders are they have passed and it is too late to ask them in this life.
http://aotw.org/officers.php?officer_...
http://www.usca.edu/aasc/mccray.htm
http://aotw.org/officers.php?officer_...
http://www.usca.edu/aasc/mccray.htm
July 3, 2011
The general could not legally marry Carrie's mother. It is obvious he loved her and in spite of living in the South he publicly recognized their children.
Carrie has to come to terms with her own racism in accepting her grandfather was white. It is a heartwarming story in many ways. I admire the race pioneers. Those who could see beyond the surface and were willing to love each other despite the fact that society wouldn't accept it.
Carrie has to come to terms with her own racism in accepting her grandfather was white. It is a heartwarming story in many ways. I admire the race pioneers. Those who could see beyond the surface and were willing to love each other despite the fact that society wouldn't accept it.
March 5, 2013
Really inspiring true story! Her upbringing in the segregated south, moving north and finding subtle, but pervasive, racism influenced her continual fight for equality. The personal images of famous names (Walter White, James Weldon Johnson, W.E.B DuBois) were interesting contrasts to the staid public image that people are used to seeing. The irony of her funeral brought a tear to my eye (read the book to find out what I mean).
July 22, 2013
This is a good book for anyone interested in the Civil Rights movement in the early 20th century in America. Mrs. McCray chronicles her mother's life as the black child of a white Confederate General, wife of a black college president and later a black lawyer, mother of many children, and civil rights leader in Virginia and New Jersey. It is lovingly- and well-written, interesting and informative.
February 15, 2012
Good historical account of a family's geneaology as well as a potrayal of life during the early part of the 20th century. It was interesting to see the mix of racial struggles but also how the family was able to succeed with their education and community efforts.
June 15, 2015
Both a biography of author's mother and a story about the author herself as the author researched her mother's achievements and genealogy. This is a good book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews