By the Sweat of Our Brows: Beyond the Fields

Honoring the lives, labor and legacy of the enslaved and freed communities, By the Sweat of Our Brows is a powerful and inspirational event bringing together families and friends across racial lines.

The day begins with a moving tribute at 10:30 a.m., where descendants of those enslaved on the former Bratton Plantation read the names of their ancestors from Harriet Bratton’s 1865 Freedman’s List. This year’s theme focuses on recreation and resistance, and will include a baseball game that the public is invited to join at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., led by former Negro League player, Wali Cathcart.

Visitors will also have a chance to hear the story behind the Enslaved Ancestral Burial Ground, recently opened on Historic Brattonsville’s property, commemorating the lives of 481 people. A Black history site tour will begin at noon.

Visitors of all ages have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, explore the process of traditional cotton production, including the running of a historic cotton gin, and learn about African American foodways. Other activities include traditional textile dyeing, clothing for the enslaved, and meeting the Descendants themselves.

Guests can also hear stories from generations of Brattonsville descendants during “Lineage and Legacy: Conversations Across Generations” at 1 p.m. Christine Sparks, a new member of the descendant group speaks to her role in telling the whole history. “As a descendant of an enslaver, I believe it is my responsibility to show up—to listen, to learn, and to stand in solidarity with the descendants of those who were enslaved. Healing begins with truth, and their stories must be told with honesty, dignity, and honor. It is up to all of us to ensure that this history is not hidden or forgotten, but remembered and respected.”

Black and white Bratton descendants have come together and over the years connected with more relatives, across the United States. They now meet regularly to catch up, discuss family history and serve as advisors for Historic Brattonsville’s African American history programming.