By Jan Green who writes: I am the descendant of an African American immigrant who moved from his home of Dutchess County, New York State in the 1850’s to start a new life in Australia. It is through this man, my great-grandfather Alfred Brown and his wife Alison, who had the foresight to retain letters from afar, that I met Alonzo Brown, my great-great Uncle. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” Without Alonzo’s ability to write, the essence of his being could have been lost in time. I am now going to introduce the life and times of Alonzo, whose letters opened the door to his life inspiring me to go through that door for a closer look.
