Native American History: The Early Rainbow Coalition (Hidden Fron the American History Books?)

Born and raised in Florida and the Seminoles were the first real American Indians that I had ever seen in my life. Happy to recycle this information a friend on a now-defunct social network shared with me as part of the November celebration for Native American Heritage Month. 

“On Christmas day 1837, 176 years ago, the Africans and Native Americans who formed Florida’s Seminole Nation defeated a vastly superior U.S. invading army bent on cracking this early rainbow coalition and returning the Africans to slavery. …”

The uprising was a pivotal moment where enslaved people, free Blacks, and Seminoles united in armed resistance, reshaping the trajectory of the Second Seminole War and devastating Florida’s plantation economy.

• Black Seminoles and enslaved people allied: Leaders like John Caesar and Yaha Hajo recruited enslaved people from plantations to join the Seminole resistance against removal.
• Coordinated uprising on Dec. 26, 1835: Seminoles, Black Seminoles, and rebel slaves launched one of the largest slave insurrections in U.S. history, burning plantations and freeing hundreds.
• Mass flight of enslaved people: Nearly 400 enslaved individuals fled to Seminole ranks, armed and painted for war, symbolizing their new allegiance.
• Destruction of Florida’s sugar economy: Within weeks, 21 sugar plantations were obliterated, causing losses estimated at $2 million and driving hundreds of wealthy families into poverty.

🌟 Who was John Caesar?

John Caesar was a pivotal Black Seminole leader during the Second Seminole War, remembered for his role in organizing raids on Florida plantations, freeing enslaved people, and strengthening the alliance between Seminoles and African Americans.

• Interpreter and lieutenant: Caesar served as interpreter and lieutenant to Ee-mat-la (King Phillip), a Seminole chief. His bilingual skills and cultural fluency made him essential in coordinating between Seminole leaders and Black allies.
• Recruiter of enslaved people: Alongside Yaha Hajo, Caesar was tasked with covertly recruiting enslaved people from plantations near St. Augustine. His efforts brought hundreds into the Seminole resistance.
• Military strategist: Caesar led raids on plantations, securing supplies and freeing enslaved workers. These actions devastated Florida’s sugar economy and fueled the broader insurrection.
• Symbol of Black-Seminole unity: His leadership embodied the merging of African American and Seminole communities into a political and military alliance against U.S. forces.
• Influence among Black Seminoles: Contemporary accounts described him as “next to the negro Abraham in influence & importance,” underscoring his stature among both Seminoles and African Americans.

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📌 Historical Significance

• War recognized as a “Negro War”: General Thomas Jesup declared the conflict was primarily a slave revolt, not just an Indian war, underscoring the scale of Black participation.

• Caesar’s raids and recruitment drives helped transform the Second Seminole War into what General Thomas Jesup later called a “Negro War”, recognizing the scale of Black participation.
• His actions validated the view that the Seminole Wars were not only Indigenous resistance but also slave rebellions, reshaping how historians interpret the conflict.
• Though his leadership lasted only about a year (1835–1837), Caesar’s impact was decisive in destabilizing plantation society and inspiring enslaved people to fight for freedom.

REFERENCE:  “Christmas Day Freedom Fighters: Hidden History of the Seminole Anticolonial Struggle” by William Loren Katz

(Image: Attack of the Seminoles on the blockhouse. Image: WikiCommons.)

An abandoned British fort from the War of 1812 was once occupied by a group of escaped slaves who found refuge and acceptance among the local tribes. The fort and the Spanish control of Florida offered some defense, but the U.S. government sent an expeditionary military raid to terminate the outlaw colony. In the summer of 1816, the fort on the Apalachicola River was destroyed and nearly all its inhabitants.

WARRIORS FROM BONDAGE

30″ X 48″ Oil Painting by Jackson Walker of the attack of Negro Fort on the Apalachicola River, 1816. Jackson Walker Florida Artist, Florida History Paintings, Military History Paintings, Legandary Florida, US History, Florida Landscape Paintings

It is Written … (Celebrate Reading, Writing, Books and Anything Related!)

Quote From Classic Movies That Make You Think

If you have ever watched the movie “Lawrence of Arabia”, you will likely remember the scene where Lawrence (played by Peter O' Toole) uttered the words: “Nothing! … is written.”  Evidently, it was a memorable scene.  If you do an organic search, you will find several movie clips. 

The words of Lawrence instantly called to my mind a contrast between words often uttered by Jesus Christ:
“It is written.”

Jesus spoke these words so confidently, and as a matter of fact, as if being literate was a given.

Of course, among the Jews, there were Scribes, and their job was to write down the scriptures for future posterity. It was clear that many of the Jews could read and write. Although it is possible that some of the Apostles were not literate. In the book of Acts, they were referred to as men who had not “learned letters”.

But beyond the Jewish people, what about the Gentile world?

Many non-Jewish civilizations had a written language, but not all of the inhabitants could read and write.

But Lord!  The gospel message? Isn't it for ALL?

~ Did Jesus already know that in this world there would be many people who could read and write? At least enough people to spread the good news to the world.

~ Did He already know that men would die in order for the Bible – both Old and New Testaments - to be printed in multiple languages and circulated so that people all around the world could read it?

~ Did He know that Google would partner with the Israel Museum to convert the Dead Sea Scrolls into a digital format?

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Being illiterate is not a social matter these days. Right? At least, not in the USA. That may be a problem for underdeveloped countries. Right?

One would think that in a country like America, literacy would not be an issue. Think again.

Both first ladies – Barbara Bush and Laura Bush – chose as their platform to focus on literacy and education.

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Efforts to address the problem of illiteracy?

• World Over - 2016-07-28 – America's Literacy Crisis, Kyle Zimmer with Raymond Arroyo

• Integrating Technology in Early Literacy: A Snapshot of Community Innovation in Family Engagement

• NEA - Read Across America Partners and Supporters (“Reading Buddies”)

NEA's "Reading Buddies" refers to a strategy for its Read Across America program where older or peer students are paired with younger students to read together. Partners and supporters of the program include corporations like Simon & Schuster and National Geographic Kids, as well as numerous non-profit organizations such as the International Literacy Association, Little Free Library, and First Book, with the goal of promoting reading and literacy in children.

• National Coalition for Literacy (“... advancing adult education, family literacy”)

Those 3 words: "It is written."

It's really not a casual statement to be taken lightly, is it?

* * *
This post was inspired by a friend who published a post in a blogging community, Literacy Base, where I used to be an active member.

National Book Lovers Day isn’t the only book holiday. Each year on April 23, the day Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died in 1616, the United Nations holds World Book and Copyright Day. In 2017, Conakry, Guinea, was the World Book Capital.

There is also World Book Day, which is sponsored by the U.K.’s National Book Tokens.

SOURCE: Celebrate National Book Lovers Day

National Book Lovers Day is always celebrated on August 9th.

I SAY: Celebrate Reading, Writing, Books,

and Anything Related!

* Entertainment trivia:

The film “Lawrence of Arabia” won 7 Academy Awards. Peter O'Toole did NOT get the award for Best Actor. (REF: Academy Awards, USA 1963 ) Hey! When he accepted the lead role, maybe he should have got it writing that the Oscar for Best Actor was going to be a given. :) Gregory Peck won that year for his portrayal of the lawyer, Atticus Finch, in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. (REF: The 35th Academy Awards | 1963 ) I say the decision of the Academy was fair. What say you?

Lawrence of Arabia

Do you have a personal video #library?
NO? Start one. Let this be the 1st #movie on your shelf. OR … donate the video to a public library.
(Yeah. We still have public libraries & people still go there.)#giftshopping #holidayshopping #stockingstuffers https://t.co/GSzzSXTnru

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) November 28, 2025

© Photographer: Nadalinna | Agency: Dreamstime.com

US History: Presidential Trivia: Teddy Called Them Muckrakers

The term "muckraker" was used by America's 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. 

In the United States, muckrakers were the name for writers whose aim was to expose corruption: i.e., to search for and expose misconduct in public life.

In chronological order:  

• 1908 - Ray Stannard Baker "Following the Color Line," written to expose racial discrimination.  

• 1906 - David Graham Phillips "The Treason and the Senate, " exposing child labor.  

• 1905 - Ida Tarbell and Thomas Lawson, "Frenzied Finance", a report about stock fraud.  

• 1905 - Charles Edward Russell. He wrote about social dislocation.  

Biographical Facts About each of these four figures.

(1) Ray Stannard Baker (1870–1946) — Following the Color Line (1908)

1. Pen name / alternative persona: Baker published essays and rural life sketches under the pseudonym David Grayson. (Encyclopedia.com)

2. Origins & early life: Although born in Lansing, Michigan, his family moved when he was young to Wisconsin (St. Croix Falls), where his boyhood experiences shaped much of his later pastoral writing. (Wisconsin Historical Society)

3. Career shift from law to journalism: Baker briefly attended law school at the University of Michigan but left after a semester to begin work in journalism (starting in Chicago). (EBSCO)

4. Muckraker / Progressive journalist: He joined McClure’s Magazine in 1898 and contributed to muckraking investigations (e.g., railroads, corporate abuses) before cofounding The American Magazine in 1906. (Encyclopedia.com)

5. Wilson biographer & award: Later in life, Baker became the authorized biographer of President Woodrow Wilson; his eight-volume Woodrow Wilson: Life and Letters (1927–1939) earned the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 (for its final volumes). (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Context of Following the Color Line (1908): In 1908, Baker published Following the Color Line: An Account of Negro Citizenship in the American Democracy, one of the first major journalistic probes into racial conditions in the United States, exploring segregation, disenfranchisement, and social obstacles faced by African Americans. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

(2) David Graham Phillips (1867–1911) — The Treason of the Senate (1906)

1. Early life & education: Phillips was born in Madison, Indiana, and graduated from Princeton University in 1887. (archives-manuscripts.dartmouth.edu)

2. Journalistic beginnings: He worked as a reporter in Cincinnati and then in New York (for The Sun and New York World) before turning to independent journalism and fiction. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

3. Novelist & journalist hybrid: Phillips published The Great God Success (1901), which enabled him to fund his investigative journalism full-time; he blended narrative techniques with reportage in many of his works. (Wikipedia)

4. “Treason of the Senate” series and impact: Beginning in March 1906, Phillips published a nine-part series,  “The Treason of the Senate” in Cosmopolitan, charging that many U.S. Senators were beholden to corporate interests rather than the people. This series helped fuel public pressure that contributed to the eventual adoption of the 17th Amendment (popular election of senators). (Encyclopedia Britannica)

5. Tragic death: On January 23, 1911, Phillips was walking in Gramercy Park, New York, when he was shot six times by a man (Fitzhugh Coyle Goldsborough) who claimed Phillips had libeled his family in a novel. He died the next day. (Wikipedia)

(3) Ida Tarbell (1857–1944) & Thomas W. Lawson — Frenzied Finance (1904/1905)

Since this entry involves two collaborators (Tarbell and Lawson), I’ll offer a few facts about each (combined enough to total ~5), but with emphasis on their collaborative or contemporaneous roles.

1. Scientific training & method: As a young woman, Tarbell was drawn to the sciences (especially geology and botany); she applied scientific rigor and method to her investigative journalism. (PBS)

2. Pioneer of investigative journalism: Her History of the Standard Oil Company (1904) is considered a landmark in the muckraking tradition, exposing John D. Rockefeller’s business methods and influencing antitrust litigation. (PBS)

3. Constraints as a woman journalist: In a time when women had limited professional outlets, Tarbell’s success in magazine journalism (e.g., McClure’s) was especially notable and paved the way for female investigative writers. (PBS)

4. Long career in writing and biography: Beyond Standard Oil, Tarbell wrote biographies (e.g. of Abraham Lincoln) and continued in journalism and lecturing. (PBS)

(3a) Thomas W. Lawson

5. Insider turned exposer: Lawson was a Boston financier and stock speculator who used his knowledge of the markets to publish a sensational series titled “Frenzied Finance” (in Everybody’s Magazine, 1904–05) that revealed manipulation, speculation abuses, and corrupt financial practices. (Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias)

6. (Bonus) Role in muckraking movement: His financial exposés complemented those of journalistic muckrakers by revealing fraud from within finance, lending insider credibility to critiques of Wall Street. (Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias)

Context of Frenzied Finance: In Frenzied Finance, Lawson exposed shady practices in the stock and insurance markets, speculative bubbles, stock manipulations, and conflicts of interest in financial houses—thus helping to popularize public skepticism of unregulated markets. (AcademicDictionaries and Encyclopedias)

(4)  Charles Edward Russell (1860–1941) — social dislocation/exposures (circa 1905)

1. Editorial lineage & early work: Russell was born in Davenport, Iowa (Sept. 25, 1860), son of the editor of the Davenport Gazette; he learned newspaper work under his father. (Encyclopedia.com)

2. Muckraker reputation / major exposé: In 1905, he published The Greatest Trust in the World, a scathing exposé of the beef (meatpacking) trust (Chicago) that was influential in Progressive Era reforms. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

3. Diverse reform interests: Russell’s writings spanned a wide range of social concerns—slum housing (including exposing church owned slums in New York), prison conditions in the South, railroad abuses, and inequality. (Encyclopedia.com)

4. Political activism & socialism: He joined the Socialist Party in 1908, saw socialism (despite his limited theoretical grounding) as a challenge to concentrated corporate power. (EBSCO)

5. Later career and public roles: Russell wrote biographies, novels, poetry, and diplomatic commentary. He ran (unsuccessfully) for New York political office (governor, senator, mayor) on the Socialist ticket, and during WWI supported U.S. entry (leading to his expulsion from the Socialist Party). (Encyclopedia.com)

On “social dislocation” themes: Russell’s journalism often focused on the dislocations caused by industrial capitalism—how workers, farmers, and urban dwellers were uprooted, exploited, or marginalized by corporate consolidation and monopolies. His exposition of the Beef Trust and his critiques of institutional corruption speak directly to those social stresses. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

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BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• “Ray Stannard Baker.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

• “Ray Stannard Baker.” PBS — American Experience: Wilson feature. (PBS)

• “Baker, Ray Stannard (1870–1946).” Encyclopedia.com. (Encyclopedia.com)

• “Ray Stannard Baker” entry, Wisconsin Historical Society. (Wisconsin Historical Society)

• “David Graham Phillips.” Wikipedia. (Wikipedia)

• “David Graham Phillips.” Britannica. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

• “Phillips, David Graham (1867–1911).” American National Biography abstract. (anb.org)

• “David Graham Phillips Manuscripts, 1902-1950.” Princeton (finding aid). (Finding Aids)

• “Madame Muckraker: Ida Tarbell.” PBS article. (PBS)

• “Muckrakers.” Universalium. (entry on Thomas W. Lawson & others) (Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias)

• “Muckrakers.” The Free Library (on Frenzied Finance) (The Free Library)

• “Charles Edward Russell.” Wikipedia. (Wikipedia)

• “Charles Edward Russell.” Britannica. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

• “Charles Edward Russell.” Encyclopedia.com. (Encyclopedia.com)

• “Charles Edward Russell papers, 1864–1941.” Library of Congress finding aid. (Finding Aids)

• “The Davenport Writers Project: Charles Edward Russell.” (Augustana College). (Augustana College)

• “Muckrakers: 10 Tales …” HistoryCollection.com (on Russell) (History Collection)

Worthy of honorable mention: 

• Ida Minvera Tarbell (1857 - 1944), U.S. journalist, known for "muckraking" exposés of political and corporate corruption; also a biographer, notably of Abraham Lincoln; and the only lady in the bunch!

Ida M. Tarbell, American "muckraker" author. 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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More Presidential Trivia:

• American presidents, (Thomas) Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt, were Nobel Prize winners. In 1906, Roosevelt received the award for being a mediator and arbitrating an end to the Russo-Japanese conflict; there was a dispute over Manchuria and Korea. Wilson received the prize in 1919 for establishing the League of Nations after World War I (1914 - 1918).

The "teddy bear" is named after Roosevelt's nickname Teddy because he went hunting and didn't want to shoot a baby cub.  Many people think a teddy bear with roses is an irresistible gift for Valentines Day?  

Kindle eBooks - Biographies & Memoirs of Presidents & Heads of State

Related articles

• U.S. History Timeline: After Lincoln / Before Coolidge(cmoneyspinner.blogspot.com)

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• These are America's 5 worst foreign-policy presidents(businessinsider.com)

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• A Brief History of Income Taxes(turbotax.intuit.com)

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In Opinion

Mark Schmitt writes, "When corruption is perceived as universal, those in power can use investigations and allegations of corruption as a weapon. This has been the pattern in Brazil, for example, and Trump has followed the playbook as well."https://t.co/YFUOqYcuQA

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 3, 2019

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What the USA needs right now is some good "#muckrakers". https://t.co/ov3ZjHu3qj

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) September 3, 2019

American English: Everyday Words Not Used Every Day Until the 20th Century

There are many words we now use every day that were not everyday words until the 20th century. I always enjoyed the cartoon "Road Runner". There were no spoken words in the animated episodes. Or so I thought. Come to think of it, there was one word, and the Road Runner always said it twice. “Beep Beep!”

Mark Nichol published a list of “25 Words Coined by Twentieth-Century Authors”.

Did you know that the word “beep” was invented by a 20th-century scientist and novelist named Arthur C. Clarke? Since some of the words on Nichol’s list are related to technology, it’s no surprise they were unheard of until the 20th century. But the other nontech words are surprising to me and may surprise you, too.

Curious to know the other 24 words?

**
Source:  Virily.com

25 Words Coined by Twentieth-Century Authors https://t.co/1czLdxdhrY
Novelists and other writers during the 20th century introduced several words into the English lexicon. Words like "superman", "microcomputer" and "beep". #words #increasevocabulary #LearnEnglish pic.twitter.com/gGAbH2PXZK

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) November 20, 2019

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12 Languages We Should Know How to Speak

Asian Studies : Searching for Chinese Treasures

Planning a trip to China? Hoping to find hidden treasure from the ancient world? Students who compare civilizations in world history are aware that like the pharaohs of Egypt , the Chinese emperors and leaders buried treasures with them for their after life. 

 

It was reported in 2009 that Chinese archaeologists uncovered an 1800-year-old tomb in Xigaoxue , which they believed to be the genuine tomb of a Chinese general Cao Cao . Hundreds of relics were recovered, but some experts were not convinced the bones belonged to the military leader and wanted DNA tests done. Evidently, they had the bones of the general's son which had been discovered in 1951. 

 

The treasures of the Tombs of Southern Song Dynasty emperors were found but they had already been robbed. Perhaps there might still be some hidden tombs that the grave robbers could not locate or access. 
 

Curious seekers wanting to find treasures of ancient China often search for undiscovered tombs, but based on some interesting information uncovered doing research to write another article, it appears that searching for ships lost at sea or shipwrecks, might be just as profitable.

Content published on Read.Cash.

Like to dabble in Asian studies? 

 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

http://ahencyclopedia.tumblr.com/post/139354113884/book-review-your-travel-guide-to-ancient-china-by

Ancient Israel : Memorable Battles in Jewish History

SHILOH (not Jerusalem) was at one time the focal point of Israel's worship, where both the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant resided. 

Shiloh (biblical city) By Abraham Sobkowski OFM - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

The Jews took the Ark from Shiloh to Kiriath-Jearim to the battlefield because they thought it would being them victory. They were wrong! They lost the Battle to the Philistines. It was a slaughter!! The enemy took the Ark as a spoil of war. But it was not the kind of trophy they would be allowed to show off with. There were plagues in every Philistine city where the Ark was taken. In the end, they gave it back to the Jews.  


Where is the Ark NOW?? The Jews don't even know!!!  


What's that? It's in Ethiopia?


Yeah right. And the Chinese invented the fortune cookie.


As if ... any God-fearing Jew on the planet would let the Ark - if it really were there - remain in Ethiopia.
   

References: Ancient Jewish History: The Ark of the Convenant and the Book of Samuel

- INTERESTING HISTORY NOTE:  During the American Civil War, the Union Army under the leadership of Ulysses Grant, achieved a victory at the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862). But that's another battle. :)

Statue-Ark Of The Covenant w/Priests-Gold/Silv-SML

Bible Readers: What About All Those "ites"?

Now that you know how to read you can read the Bible for yourself. That's what my momma said.

Most Bible readers (from my generation and the generations in the centuries before mine) will likely say what struck them when the first read the scriptures was all those "begats". Some people will skip over verses, even whole chapters if they see that word. The word "begat" usually connects a string of names that are very difficult to pronounce.

For me, one of things noted when turning the pages of the Old Testament starting with Genesis and working my way to the Revelation was all those "ites". The names for the inhabitants of different ancient nations.

Hittites, Asherites, Jebusites, Amorites, Amakelites, Girgashites, Moabites, Perizzites, Canaanites, and of course, Israelites.

Then it changed from "ites" to "ans".

Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans.

Suffixes in the English language:

*  ite = follower or supporter

*  an = pertaining to

* ian = belonging to

Belonging to? Hmmm?  Like Christians?

Yes. Only Christ is not a nation. Christianity and the gospel message of peace and goodwill is not restricted by man-made boundaries. But it's an observation as to how the suffixes were used by the scholarly translators.

JAT. (Just a thought.) :)

glitter-graphics.com

Histomap: Visualizing the 4,000 Year History of Global Power

If my view were a "theory", the histomap would have thoroughly disproved it.  Alas.  It's not a theory.  It's just a thought.  :)

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Meet Little Miss HISTORY – She’ll Be Your Tour Guide!

Spotlight on Barbara Ann Mojica, creator of Little Miss HISTORY.

Retired educator and historian Barbara Ann Mojica is using her KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) to write history/travel books for children. Published a series of picture books, nonfiction, the main character is a young traveler named Little Miss HISTORY, an aspiring park ranger eager to take you to famous landmarks and tell you all about them! Through her, Ms.Mojica takes readers on guided tours to well-known sites in the United States. So far LMH has visited: Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, Sequoia National Park, and Ford’s Theater.

Ms. Mojica has been recognized by BRAGMedallion.com, an organization that endeavors to recognize and promote the works of new and talented self-published authors:

B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
Barbara Ann Mojica.

Little Miss History Travels to MOUNT RUSHMORE is the first in a new series of children’s nonfiction books featuring a funny character named Little Miss History who takes you on a journey to visit historic places. This book is appropriate for middle-grade classrooms, libraries, and homes. Ms. Mojica is an historian, parent, grandparent and retired educator-driven by a genuine motivation to help make learning history a fun experience for children. In the words of one reviewer…”I wish we had books like this when I was in school.”

Since her last trip to Mount Rushmore, Little Miss HISTORY has journeyed more than 1700 miles over land, sea and air to reach her second destination, The Statue of Liberty. This national treasure stands proudly in New York Harbor welcoming all people to the land of freedom and opportunity. In this second book of the series, Little Miss HISTORY will help you discover who thought of the statue in the first place, the values she symbolizes, the architects and engineers who built Lady Liberty, and the little known individuals who contributed their pennies to make her debut in New York’s harbor possible. You will learn about why she remains a promise and symbol of the hopes and aspirations of many people around the world and not just to immigrants coming to America. Come now and follow Little Miss HISTORY as she enlightens you about The Statue of Liberty!

Are you ready for another thrilling adventure? The Little Miss HISTORY series is a nonfiction picture book, history/travel series written with the intention of making learning fun for children and adults alike. In the third book of this series, this wannabe Park Ranger with pigtails and hiking boots three sizes too big skydives into SEQUOIA National Park. She will take you on a journey back in time to meet those who first settled in this wilderness. Through breathtaking illustrations and photographs, the reader will hike, horseback ride, and kayak through the park to view its wonders. Adventurers will encounter waterfalls, granite cliffs, giant trees, and geologic exhibits on their journey. More than three hundred species of wildlife abound in the park. Don’t be surprised if you meet a cinnamon bear or a mountain lion! Little Miss will explain the differences between sequoia trees and redwood trees, how they grow, and why they are important. Discover why the General Grant tree is called a “living memorial.” Despite the natural beauty of this park, readers will discover a deadly danger lurking within.

We are approaching the 150th Anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in Ford’s Theater, April 15, 1865, Washington, D.C. In her fourth adventure, Little Miss HISTORY pulls up her reins at its doors to visit a place that has witnessed the best and worst of times. Its walls have heard laughter and tears. This nonfiction picture book is illustrated in somber tones that convey the mood of the tragic events that unfolded there. Little Miss HISTORY keeps spirits up by wearing a top hat like Lincoln and a Roman toga while acting in the theater, but she is well-aware that she is visiting a darker part of America’s history. Learn why many believed the building was cursed. Gaze at the Derringer pistol that fired the fatal shot. Study the boot that John Wilkes Booth wore while injuring his leg during his attempt to escape. See the bed where President Lincoln died. Crane your neck up to stare at the Tower of Books written about Abraham Lincoln in the Center for Education and Leadership. Let Little Miss HISTORY be your guide to learning how Ford’s Theater has become a living memorial to Abraham Lincoln and to the resilience of a country made whole once more.

Caribbean History : The Cruel Fate of the Tainos

Who Were the Taínos? Freelance writer Ivan Castro, former writer for the Miami Herald, a South Florida newspaper, publishes a variety of articles on history and archaeology.

"TheTaínos were the people Christopher Columbus and his men encountered when they first set foot in the New World. Taínos greeted the Spaniards when the voyagers landed in the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and other islands. They were were doomed the moment the Europeans came ashore."  Read more at: **

European Colonization and the Cruel Fate of the Taínos

Sharing a link to an excellent article by Ivan Castro, Suite.io Contributor, a former reporter for The Miami Herald. He is an excellent writer and has written several articles on various historical events such as - reign of Nero, an emperor of ancient Rome; World War I and II; and slave rebellions in the Caribbean. To view his complete list of contributed articles, click here. You will indeed learn some things you never knew you never knew!!

(* Link also shared via my Pinterest board on The Bahamas.)

** Note: Articles or other paged links on the suite.io site are not available.  I have been unable to find archived or cached copies.  Here are alternate links:

The Taino genocide | Agabond

What Became of the Taíno?

The Indians who greeted Columbus were long believed to have died out. But a journalist's search for their descendants turned up surprising results

 
Christoper Columbus arrives in America (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 
Dujo, a wooden chair crafted by Taínos. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vocabulary Improvement: Having Fun with English Words

Links below are to a post series I published at one of my favorite social blogging communities, MyLot.com. These may not be words you use in your everyday communications in the English language. But if you like to play word games like Scrabble, they might come in handy!  Learn them so you don't have to consult the dictionary during the game. ☺

English words are fun! Don’t you think so? Even if English is not your native tongue. When I was in elementary school as a method of enriching our vocabulary and improving our word skills, the teacher would send us home with a list of about 10 words. The homework assignment was to look up the definition of the words in the dictionary, write down the word and the definition, and write a sentence we made up using the word. Thinking back on it, I realize that it was a very good exercise.

What I Learned Watching Korean Drama

Several years back I watched a historical period Korean drama about a king who had a dream. He dreamed of a nation where everyone could read and write. Even poor people! It was a radical move! The nobles and scholars vehemently opposed him. They were willing to kill people over this! Can you imagine? To say that others disagreed with his ambitious endeavor would be the understatement of the century. Nevertheless, because he was fiercely determined, he accomplished his goal. He devised a system of 28 alphabets and from those letters, all words could be created. Sounds marvelous, doesn’t it? Watching that series really made me appreciate the ability to speak, read, and write in my native tongue, i.e. English.

Tree With Deep Roots (2011 K-Drama TV series) https://t.co/trTbFKYlyC #kdrama #historicalperioddramas #tvseries #readingandwritingliteracy #koreandrama #entertainment pic.twitter.com/b9H7Ytmrpu

— Joie de Vivre Magazine (formerly My Fox Nooze) (@FoxMarks_ATX) December 24, 2019

Tree With Deep Roots (2011 K-Drama TV series)

What I Learned When I Had No Internet Access

What do you do when you don’t have the Internet? Oh! I don’t know! Clean your house? Read a book or a magazine? How about … learn some new words? Where’s my dictionary? (Actually I don’t have a dictionary. I have a lexicon.)

Unlike the Korean alphabet, our American English alphabet is 26 letters. Our words are derived from the languages of various civilizations: French, Latin, Greek, languages of the Native Americans, etc. The creation of most of the words we speak rest on 5 of the 26 letters, which we call vowels. A – E – I – O – U. Sometimes the letter Y is considered a vowel. But for purposes of this discussion, we will count it as a consonant.

Entertainment and Education

I started out entertaining myself by scanning pages of my old lexicon and honing in on words I didn’t know. Then I thought to myself, many members of online social communities where I am an active member, are non-English speaking. Why not share my treasure finds with them? There are also some members who speak “the real English”. Per my late husband, there’s real English and then there is the English that Americans speak. Those community members who speak “the real English” might enjoy my findings as well.

So I’ve published this series of short posts. Why isn’t the series longer? Well because I got my Internet back. LOL.  I looked up the meanings of “5 English words” for each vowel. The pattern if you can’t detect it is the first vowel in the alphabet paired with the first consonant in the alphabet; second vowel with the second consonant; third vowel with the third consonant, etc. Similar to my homework assignment from elementary school, wrote down the word and the definition. I did not, however, use the words in a sentence. Why? Like I said, I got my Internet back! LOL.

Anyway … as I only wrote down the word and the definition in the posts, maybe the reader can go the extra step and use it in a sentence.

One last note. Keep in mind that some of the words I found, you probably won’t use in casual everyday conversation. But if you love to play word games like Scrabble, they might come in really handy!

5 English Words That Begin With “AB” … “BA”

5 English Words That Begin With “EC” … “CE”

5 English Words That Begin With “ID” … “DI”

5 English Words That Begin With “OF” … “FO”

5 English Words That Begin With “UG” … “GU”

Republished content here  You Can Have Fun With English Words