The Invisible Staircase: Martin Luther King

Quote Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Invisible Staircase 
Let's honor Martin Luther King! Have you thought about the impact Martin Luther King has on family research?  In his writings he actually gives us a great view of the social impact of our ancestors living in America. 

Be A Pioneer
Let it be known that as an ex-executive in corporate America, my interest in Martin Luther King was not so much his “I Had A Dream” speech, but was engulfed in his use of the “Invisible Staircase.” It is here that I stress a basic mantra: the problem is people confuse what is hard with what is impossible. I can’t count the times I have had to bat down perceived obstacles. Just recently I wrote an eye-opening piece about about how I have chosen to share the impact of America's past.

Read this: So I Will Share

The Invisible Staircase MLK Quote?
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” It is from the resistance for change that The Invisible Staircase: Know Thyself” presentation was created as well as the So, I Will Share piece above. Maybe if we make it personal, and peek at our own ancestors' invisible staircase we will be able to conjure up the courage to make change.

What does this have to do with genealogy? Oh, so much! Our paths today share the same struggles, fears, and triumphs of our ancestors. It is through every first step struggle, not know the end result,  that we move the needle. This applies to our life, our businesses, or any new endeavors; not just genealogy research. It also applies to our ancestors' life - those first steps, as we saw even in the early 1960's were brutal. The first steps we saw pre 1860 were brutal. But our ancestors took the first step. 

I purposely weave The Invisible Staircase: Know Thyself with examples of Martin Luther King’s quotes and the courage of our ancestors: 

• Did your ancestors leave the cotton fields to explore the industrial northeast or Midwest?
• Did your ancestors choose to fight for a country in hopes for freedom? Or, naturalization? Or, to defend a country that questioned their ability of constitutional rights, or the legality of their right to citizenship?
• Did your ancestors follow a path to settle unexplored lands in the west of a vast country? 

And this is not just about one continent. Think about it. 

Did your ancestors willingly leave family and friends behind in a country across great waters?

The list is endless. My ancestors sold their land in North Carolina and Tennessee to settle in the middle of Kansas on unimproved lands. A new start, leaving family and friends behind in hopes of the American Dream. They traveled with a group of 52 members of their extended family. But,they had no assurance of what western Kansas would offer them in the 1880s? This had to be a leap of faith…just take the first step - MLK would say decades later. Most Kansans don’t know where Comanche and Harper counties lie now! 

Ancestors Who Worked Outside of the Box

 You Are A Pioneer, Kathleen Brandt

This is the working outside of the box theory in Corporate America. It is the spirit of the USA entrepreneur; the newly settled immigrant; the uncomfortable change of a political party every four or eight years; the acceptance of a new job, a new location, or the reevaluation of “old comforts.” Let's ask ourselves "Does the old way still serve your purpose?" Our ancestors asked that question. 

Based on America's settlements, migratory patterns, and social growth, we must think that the majority of our ancestors were willing to take that first step. 

Regardless of the circumstance, like our ancestors, we must walk boldly toward new endeavors, or through uninvited experiences. And, Martin Luther King gave us the first step in the quote itself: “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” 

Like our ancestors, we must forge along through the steps of a winding staircase before us.  For me it’s simple. Where faith begins, the staircase holds at least the following components:

The Invisible Staircase, a3Genealogy, Presentation, KBrandt

I wish to remember Martin Luther King my way: The Invisible Staircase

Be Historically Correct  

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Revised from original publication18 Jan 2021                                                                  

Stephens College, Columbia, MO. 2014

"Annoyed Child": Our Ancestors and Euphemisms

Our Ancestors and Euphemisms
If you read newspaper articles from 1915 to 1940, you will stumble upon words and phrases that suggest a crime but fail to define the crime. The phrase “He annoyed a child” was a common one during this timeframe. Our ancestors used this term to describe acts of child molestation, sexual abuse, or assault. Basically, early 20th century societal norms around decency and propriety caused for strong action. The seriousness of this assault on children was softened in its reporting by alluding to inappropriate or criminal behavior without directly addressing its nature.

Why Annoyed?
The use of “annoyed” can also be traced to legal terminology of the time. This was the preferred way to address crimes against children. Verbs like “offend,” “disturb,” or “annoy” a child, are riddled in historical court records, newspaper articles and divorce records.

What About the Child?

Well, some took matters in their own hands. Murdering Dad seemed to be an option. Matter of fact, as you see above, murdering the man who touched your daughter was "justifiable homicide." 

This was not the norm however. Children were often silenced or disbelieved, and perpetrators were shielded by societal taboos and unpolite topics to discuss. Yet, we see above that parents, sometimes just the mother, allowed daughters to testify. In one case above, the older sister also testified on behalf of her little sister who killed Dad. But, we must know that minimizing language to “annoyed” reflected a cultural discomfort with addressing these issues head-on.

I'd like to say, as awareness of child abuse and sexual violence grew in the mid-20th century... but truth is EVERYONE knew it! There wasn't a lack of awareness, it was a lack of acknowledgment. Anyway, after WWII there was a shift in transparent language. Activists, survivors, and advocates worked to bring these issues out of the shadows and into the public eye using the law and media!

Women Empowered

The term rape has existed for centuries but rarely used in early newspaper reporting or courts. Its consistent and direct use in media reporting began in earnest during the mid-20th century, gaining momentum with feminist activism in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, it is recognized as an essential term for accurately and responsibly addressing the crime of sexual violence.

Kathleen Brandt

Tracing Sharecroppers & Tenant Farmers?

The Columbus Ledger Columbus, GA, Feb 3, 1964, pg.Page 7

Researching your farmer ancestors can be challenging, especially in the South, post-Civil War. NO,  President Jimmy Carter was not born yet, but he, too, had ancestors, artifacts, diaries, data, and books. Check out the holdings at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum. 

Why consider the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library? Because our Ancestors were Farmers! And well, Jimmy Carter, born in 1924, revealed a lot about our ancestors' rural lifestyle. President Carter implemented policies and supported initiatives during his presidency (1977–1981) that aimed to improve the lives of rural Americans, including the descendants of post-Civil War families

Where to Start?

With a family tree like that one we first must ask "Really?" Yes really. When researching family history, we often turn to archives, historical records, and libraries to uncover the stories of our ancestors.

           

           

FamousKin.com

Now remember Presidential Libraries are specialized and you aren't going to find vital records - birth marriage deaths, but you may find ancestors like "Why did the rural farmer lifestyle of our ancestors need so much attention? We can find who, what, when, and where in genealogical databases and many deeds and records; but what about WHY? 

Researchers will find a wider view of ancestors through any President's papers. These repositories of history, preserve records from the president’s administration, personal papers, and materials related to their era. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library is no exception. While it primarily focuses on Carter’s presidency (1977–1981), it also houses resources that can enrich your understanding of your family’s past, particularly if they lived in Georgia or the South during the late 20th century.

Researching Tenant Farmers and Share Cropper Ancestors?
If your ancestors were farmers in the late 19th or early 20th century begin with gathering the following:

• Land Records: Check historical deeds or tax records to determine if they rented land (tenant farmers) or worked as sharecroppers.
• Census Data: U.S. Census records from the late 1800s and early 1900s often note whether a person was a “farm laborer” or a “farmer” and whether they owned or rented land.
• Local Histories: Explore local archives or oral histories for information on land ownership and agricultural practices in your ancestor’s community.

In the aftermath of the Civil War, new paths were made for landowners to maintain labor on their farms without the enslaved workforce. Mostly those who struggled tried, without success, to get out of poverty being a Sharecropper or Tenant Farmer.

Sharecroppers were farmers who worked someone else’s land in exchange for a share of the crops they produced, typically half or more. A tenant farmer might rent 20 acres, plant corn, and pay the landowner 20% of the crop as rent, keeping the rest for their family or sale.

Tenant Farmers rented land from a landowner and paid rent, usually in cash or a smaller percentage of their crops. A sharecropper might grow cotton on a landowner’s property. At harvest, they’d turn over 50% or more of the crop as payment, leaving little for their own needs.

Sharecroppers and Tenant Farmers were common in the South, particularly among African Americans and poor whites who lacked the resources to buy land. Over time, both systems contributed to the persistence of poverty and inequality in the region. But what did Jimmy Carter know about this. Well, we are talking the southern practices and here is a 1970 article on just that: 

Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, Georgia, Sep 17, 1970, pg 19

Finding records of sharecroppers or tenant farmers can be challenging but rewarding. These individuals often didn’t own property, so traditional land records may not apply, but there are alternative resources that can reveal valuable details about their lives.

What's at the Library?
While the library doesn’t house vital records like birth certificates or marriage licenses, it provides rich historical context that can complement genealogical data. For example, understanding the challenges of farming in the 1970s or the impact of federal housing policies can help you piece together your ancestors’ experiences.

What You Might Find

• Federal Records: Studies on Georgia’s economy, farming trends, or housing developments.

• Photographs and Media: Images of Georgia communities, Carter’s campaign stops, or significant events.

• Policy Papers: Documents detailing how federal programs influenced local communities.

• Exhibits and Oral Histories: Stories from Carter’s contemporaries, potentially including people from your family’s region..

9 Research Tips

1. Census Records.

• Post-Civil War through the early 20th century, especially 1870–1940.  The 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses often specify whether a person owned or rented their farm or home.
• Occupation listed as “farmer” or “farm laborer.”
• Indications such as “R” (rented), “O” (owned), or “F” (farm) in property columns.
• Agricultural schedules (available for some years like 1850–1880), which may list crops produced or acreage worked.

2. Local Land Records

• Tenant farmers and sharecroppers often entered into contracts with landowners.
• County Courthouses: Lease agreements or rental contracts might be in land records or probate files.
• Historical Societies: Some local organizations have preserved ledgers or documents related to farming arrangements.
• Tips: Search for records of the landowner. Tenant agreements may be filed under their name rather than the tenant’s.
• Look for deeds or tax records that describe land usage rather than outright ownership.

3. Freedmen’s Bureau Records
For African American ancestors after the Civil War: The Freedmen’s Bureau (1865–1872) helped formerly enslaved people transition to freedom, often brokering labor contracts between freedmen and landowners. Look for the following: 

• Labor contracts, particularly in Southern states.
• Complaints or disputes filed by sharecroppers or tenants.

4. Tax Records
Local tax records can reveal clues: Tenant farmers may appear in personal property tax rolls (for tools, livestock, or crops) even if they didn’t own land. Check the County tax assessor’s office or archives.

5. Agricultural Extension Records
In the early 20th century, state agricultural extensions and federal programs worked with sharecroppers and tenant farmers. 

6. Plantation and Landowner Records
If your ancestors worked for a specific landowner, plantation or large landowner records might include tenant or sharecropping agreements and/or lists of workers or correspondence.
Be sure to check out University libraries or special collections focusing on Southern history and local historical societies.

7. Oral Histories and Local Histories

Oral histories can provide personal accounts of tenant farming or sharecropping.
Sources:Library of Congress’s American Memory Project.
Local archives or historical societies.

8. Court Records
County or state court archives may hold these records.

• Disputes between landowners and tenants often ended up in court. Look for the following:
• Lawsuits over unpaid rent or disagreements about crop shares.
• Probate cases that mention tenant arrangements.

9. WPA Slave Narratives and Rural Life Accounts
These narratives may be found online through the Library of Congress or genealogical websites.

• The Works Progress Administration (WPA) collected interviews in the 1930s, including
• accounts of former enslaved people and their descendants, many of whom became sharecroppers or tenant farmers.
• Stories of rural life that may mention local systems of labor and farming. 

Thank You, President Carter

Kathleen Brandt