Important But Unfamiliar Names In Black History : Kids Podcast with Educator Resources
Students can listen to the episode on any platform. See below for classroom ideas and discussion prompts related to this podcast episode
I think James Forten and Frank Johnson deserve attention all year round, but if they get more attention during Black History Month, that’s great too. One man was a Revolutionary War Veteran and business leader, the other was a culture-changing musician at the same place and same time. Both men are featured in this episode of The Past and The Curious, a podcast I create for Kids and Families (and, of course, teachers and adults and anyone else).
Educators, I hope this resource is helpful in building out the stories of James Forten or Frank Johnson, both people worthy of deeper thought and investigation.
James Forten is an interesting figure. He was born free in Philadelphia In 1766. His father had also been born free, thanks to his grandfather freeing himself from enslavement. As a young sailor James was imprisoned by the British Army on a prison ship in New York during the Revolutionary War. He later learned the art of sailmaking and owned a successful shop, employing white and black workers. He was also a vocal abolitionist, despite the impact his views may have had on his business.
First and foremost, I recommend anyone explore the virtual tour from the exhibit Black Founders: The Forten Family in Philadelphia from the Museum of The American Revolution:
Here are some ideas to expand the story for young minds:
Compare Forten’s timeline and life experiences to those of a well-known founder, such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, or George Washington.
In what ways were they similar? How did their lives differ? What obstacles did each overcome?
James Forten escaped tragedy on the prison ship, Jersey. More Americans died on these prison ships than in all of the battles of the Revolutionary War combined. Read this Smithsonian Magazine Article, about Brooklyn’s Revolutionary War Martyrs Monument and efforts to make it a National Park.
Discuss: How should we memorialize these thousands who died just off the shore of America? Why do you think most people not realize that more died here than in battles? How was it fortunate for James to wind up on board the ship?
Forten made many design changes to make ship sails more efficient. This was through trial and error.
Design a simple floating watercraft and in a small body of water (like a tub) test a few different materials and designs of a sail you can attach to it. Make predictions, and then test with the wind power in your own lungs.
Francis “Frank” Johnson was a virtuoso musician and the first Black American to publish original music. His performances were remembered for their energy, his astounding technical ability, and his freedom to play more than what was written on the page — a trait not common with “classical” musicians.
Here are some ideas to expand the story for young minds:
Listen to music composed by Frank Johnson and recorded recently for the exhibit Black Founders: The Forten Family in Philadelphia from the Museum of The American Revolution
Describe the music to the best of your ability. Name the instruments you hear.
Consider and discuss whether we have a true sense of what Johnson sounded like. He lived long before recorded music, and many sources from the day discuss the liberties he too with the music he was playing.
Compare the above recordings with one made by another group of musicians recorded years before called The Music of Francis Johnson. (available on Youtube, Spotify, and Archive.org)
Which recording do you think sounds more like James and his group might have sounded? Why? Which do you prefer? Why?
Frank and his band toured Europe, breaking ground as the first Black professional musicians to do so. They later toured much of America.
Design a concert poster for the tour, using inspiration from parts of his life shared in the episode of The Past And The Curious.
More on Francis Johnson from University of Pennsylvania
And last but not least: Explore other Black Americans from this time period.
There are lots of pivotal Black Americans from late 1700s and early 1800s for students to explore. One of the most famous is Phyllis Wheatley, an enslaved woman who was a well-known, published poet. Another fascinating figure was Benjamin Banneker. The 18th century man was a true polymath, excelling at astronomy, farming, mathematics, surveying and more. He also published an annual almanac, helped survey Washington DC, and directly challenged Thomas Jefferson’s views on slavery.
The name Yarrow Mamout certainly seems less familiar to most, but this man, a practicing Muslim, was a fixture around Washington DC at the turn of the century. He invested his income, helping to finance the Columbia Bank of Georgetown. Presidential portraitist Charles Wilson Peale travelled to Mamout’s home in order to paint him — truly a remarkable occurrence (and a beautiful portrait). We covered him in this Episode:
