Echoes of Courage

We often overlook how interconnected and interdependent we are as human beings. Yet, no significant achievement is possible without the support of others – be it friends, family, loved ones, or colleagues. Our success, both personally and professionally, stems from the communities we are part of and the legacy of those who preceded us. With a heart full of gratitude, I often ponder over the rich heritage of my family, a lineage stitched together with resilience and hope.

In September, I took a poignant journey to Mercer County, PA. This was where my 6th great-grandfather, Richard Travis, once stood – a man born into slavery in 1745 in Southampton, Virginia. At 50, Richard performed an extraordinary act; he broke free from the shackles of slavery. His audacious escape to freedom forever altered our family's trajectory. Facing dangers and driven by a dream of liberty, he made his way to Mercer County, Pennsylvania. There, he didn't just buy 360 acres of land; he laid the foundations of a new legacy, nurturing hope and opportunity for future generations. His legacy, on the banks of Sandy Lake and a stop on Pennsylvania’s Underground Railroad, extended beyond our family, offering a path to freedom for many others.

Richard's journey on this earth concluded in 1843, as he was laid to rest on his own land. Following the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, in 1853, my family had to flee to Canada for safety, selling the land, but leaving Richard's grave behind. Today, it lies unmarked, but it is far from forgotten. Drawn by an unseen bond to my ancestor, I visited Mercer County, standing on the land Richard once owned. Amidst the misty rain and the profound silence, I felt the presence of generations past.

At his eternal resting place, I experienced an overwhelming sense of gratitude and connection. I whispered into the wind, my voice a blend of gratitude and unshed tears, thanking Richard for his bravery and vision. “Thank you, Richard, for your courage and desire to make a difference for your descendants. Even though you are buried in an unmarked grave, your dream was not buried with you, because here I stand.”

Those words created a bridge between past and present, fostering a deep kinship with Richard – a man I never met, but whose legacy endures within me. His dream of freedom didn’t just endure; it flourished in the hearts of his descendants. His story, woven into the broader narrative of America's quest for freedom, is now mine to uphold. Richard's spirit continues to guide us, his descendants, towards the future he envisioned.

As I left the cemetery, a part of me lingered, forever intertwined with Richard Travis’s spirit. His unmarked grave symbolizes a journey from darkness to light, from enslavement to freedom. His courage and dreams transcend time, living on in each of us as we walk the path he bravely charted. He left us with echoes of courage.