07BHM

The IAMAW Women's Committee and Pratt & Whitney presented their 5th Annual Black History Event in two parts. The first shift’s celebration was February 29th and the second on March 14, 2008.

On both days those in attendance enjoyed the extraordinary dramatic talent of Kevin Johnson who presented a re-enactment of the life of Private William Riley Salisbury Webb, an African American Civil War Soldier. Private Webb, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, was a member of the 29^th Colored Regiment and like his fellow soldiers was passionate about freedom for all captives. Anyone in earshot grew to recognize the chant, "FREEDOM! IT SOUNDS GOOD AND IT SOUNDS NICE. GOT TO BE FREE!” which the 29^th created. Pvt. Webb, born in 1834, died in 1868.

Pvt. W.R.S. Webb was a free man and was recruited to Connecticut’s Volunteer Infantry in 1863. He proudly wore the uniform of light blue trousers, a wool bleed shirt, navy blue blouse, and boots. Soldiers kept their personal effects in a havar sack. They also carried a knap sack and canteen, with food rations which weighed all together about 52 pounds.

Mr. Kevin Johnson, an employee of the Connecticut State Library History and Genealogy Unit, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and at the age of seven, moved to Connecticut. If you would like more information about the 29^th Regiment, the library is located at 231 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT. The descendents of the 29^th Regiment are quite active as a group in Connecticut today. Kevin Johnson has portrayed Private William Riley Salisbury Webb for more than 9 years, and as of March 14, 2008 completed his 339th performance.

In a moving moment, Kevin Johnson portraying Pvt. Webb paid homage to the Soldiers that had gone on before him with a moment of silence. It was breath taking. We were all educated and inspired by this performance.

Mutual understanding and respect in a diverse world will do so much to correct many of society’s ills. As a little aside, you might like to know that there is an African Burial Ground near the Federal Court in lower Manhattan, which is now a historic site. There are also old cemeteries in Connecticut holding the remains of Africans and former slaves. We have much to learn.