Abraham Brian was raising five children on his twelve-acre farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The abundant land sprouted everything from barley to peaches. It was also a stop on the Underground Railroad!
The Brian family was THRIVING – until white supremacy came in and had its way.
White supremacy is rarely worried about the destruction it inflicts on us. Brian’s home stood on the frontlines of one of the battlefields in Gettysburg during the Civil War.
So the Union Army took it over and ransacked it!
Gettysburg was a bloody battle. When Brian returned afterward, Union soldiers had destroyed everything, including his beautiful crops and orchards. Fences were knocked down, and his house was dotted with bullet holes.
The worst part? They dug a massive graveyard on his property!
The damage was terrible, but Brian didn’t give up. He began restoring the farm and his home. At the same time, he petitioned the government for $1,028 in damages to the land – a modest $20,000 in today’s money.
But as white supremacy would have it, Brian only received $15 – the equivalent of about $300.
Abraham Brian never gave up. He fought to rebuild his life despite how they tried to turn his world upside down. Even “allies” will often not care about the destruction of our lives and property – we frequently have to be resilient and rely on ourselves!