2 minute read
Feature Story Bringing history to life
Submitted photos
story about a slave’s journey to reunite with her lost family is grossly captivating. Freed by her master at age 54, Brown embarked on a 30-year journey in search of her husband and children who were sold to different slave owners. Participants learn about her quest west to St. Louis and then to the Rocky Mountains, where she fostered settlements and built schools and churches, but never lost hope in finding her family. Da Silva pulled in eyeballs from around the globe when she and her group of 170 recreationists recreated a slave auction in downtown St. Louis in 2011. Da Silva said that St. Louis and Missouri cannot sweep its slave past under the rug. “We can’t whitewash it,” she said. “We can’t say it never happened here. I am not going to deny my ancestors.” Da Silva found the best way to pull this off was to do so in first person with a commitment to be as authentic as possible. She has woven the stories of her grandmother’s grandmother, who was a Missouri slave, with a scholars’ dedication. “I drained my grandmother’s memory,” da Silva said “There were a lot of stories.” She grew up in O’Fallon as one of the only black students in the Fort Zumwalt School District. Da Silva would go on to have a successful decorated career in the tourism industry, founding the National Black Tourism Network (which hosts media tours and special events that showcase Missouri history), as well serving as a professor at Lindenwood University. She has brought her characters – the real Clara Brown, Lila the Missouri Slave and Mary Fields, the only black female stagecoach driver – to the rural regions of the South and the Midwest.
“When I first started going to these places in the Bootheel and in the South, there was a concern about my safety,” da Silva said. “Every other truck would have either a gun rack or a Confederate Flag, but I have never had a problem.” Those in attendance can feel free to visit with da Silva (in character as Brown) from 12-5 p.m. between performances. Then is also a good time to explore the grounds of the historic park, located at 1868 Highway F. The program is free, but seating is limited to allow for proper social distancing inside the chapel. Additional guidelines will be observed during the event and include each participant’s temperature will be taken before entering the chapel to watch the performance. Seating is limited to a maximum of 30 guests during each performance and park staff will seat and release guests to maintain social distancing. To ensure a seat, guests are encouraged to register online or call the park at 636- 798-2005. “History has not included these stories and on a lark, I decided to rescue them,” da Silva said. “These are people who have done incredible things.”
