Robert Vernon was born enslaved, but his community called him “Free Bob” because he was determined to get free. But it was complicated – his enslaver was also his father.
And he made it clear Vernon would only go free on one condition.
To get free Vernon had to single-handedly work 160 acres of land for 5 years! It was an impossible challenge – but Vernon wouldn’t back down.
Five exhausting years later, Vernon walked free for the first time - but he didn’t go far! He’d built a cabin on the 160 acres and managed to get paid work on the side.
Vernon’s father relinquished ownership over the 160 acres – so Vernon bought the land!
Over time, Vernon turned 160 acres into 3,000! Raising 17 children, he and his family established “Vernon Town.”
The town had a church, school, and cemetery – and it still exists today! Vernon left his children 100 acres each and many of his descendants still own and live on the land, ensuring his legacy lives on.
White supremacy doesn’t teach us about leaders like Vernon because it doesn’t want us to know we can live freely outside of whiteness. Like Vernon, we must build and nurture our communities, providing them with determination, resources, and faith needed to survive for generations to come.