A few weeks ago, I contacted Dr. David Blight to learn more about his recently published book “A Slave No More”. Since I will be giving a book talk on the book on February 11th, I thought it would be interesting to hear Dr. Blight’s thoughts regarding his journey in researching and writing his book. The next thing I knew, however, I was in the car and headed to Mobile, Alabama!
The reason for the trip was to witness the unveiling of an historic marker in downtown Mobile for the escaped slave Wallace Turnage (1846-1916), whose memoir is included in Dr. Blight’s book.
Other makers also dedicated that weekend included one on the Mobile slave trade and the other to honor Michael Donald. Donald (1962-1981) was the last African American man to be lynched by the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). His murder and the subsequent wrongful death suit by the Southern Poverty Law Center (founded by attorneys Morris Dees and Joseph J. Levin, Jr. in 1971) on behalf of his mother Beulah Mae Donald ultimately bankrupted the United Klans of America, the largest KKK organization in America (www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAdonaldD).
I reached Mobile around 5pm and was instantly greeted by a wonderfully warm woman by the name of Dora Finley. I would soon learn that Dora is a walking talking history book on the city of Mobile! If you need to know, ask Dora. Dora and I drove to the Mobile Regional Airport and picked up Dr. David Blight. From there, we went to eat at a new restaurant in Mobile called The Bull.
Over dinner, I was fascinated to learn about Dr. Blight’s research into writing his latest book. He talked about how he toured the city of Mobile to learn about all the people and places that Wallace Turnage mentioned in his memoirs including Collier Harrison Minge (Turnage’s owner while in Mobile); Minge’s house, now the site of the Mobile Saenger Theatre (www.mobilesaenger.com); the largest slave market in Mobile, now the site of the downtown headquarters of the Alabama Power Company; Fort Powell, which no longer exists; and Fort Gaines, still standing on Dauphin Island (www.dauphinisland.org/fort).
At the same time, I learned a great deal from Dora about the African American legacy in Mobile County. I highly recommend taking a trip there and visiting the over 25 historic markers now in place highlighting numerous African American people and events.
The next day at 2pm, the historic marker unveilings took place near the Saenger Theatre and there were well over 200 people in attendance. Near the front of the room a slideshow scrolled through the numerous historic markers that have already been installed as part of the trail. To start things off, the Bishop State Community College Choir (www.bscc.cc.al.us) sang several African American spirituals.
Then, both Morris Dees with the Southern Poverty Law Center and Dr. David Blight spoke about two of the individuals being honored with historic markers, Michael Donald and Wallace Turnage. Soon thereafter, Dr. Blight and Dora Finley physically unveiled the Turnage marker as attendees looked on from a balcony one block away.
Afterwards, I had Dr. Blight sign the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library’s copy of “A Slave No More”. 
All in all, it was a fantastic weekend filled with notable cultural events for the city of Mobile. I am thrilled to have attended and pleased to have met such wonderful and dedicated individuals.
Thank you to Dr. David Blight, Dora Finley, and the rest of those involved with the African American Heritage Trail throughout Mobile.
A video clip of the events produced by WKRG News 5 can be seen at www.wkrg.com/education/article/african-american_heritage_trail_growing/22953
Photographs of other historic markers dedicated as part of the African American Heritage Trail can be viewed at www.cityofmobile.org/news.php?view=full&news=1065.
