Black Pioneer

Learning and extending my intellect of matters in Utah was not something I foresaw. I love having the chance not only to observe black people’s contributions to this day and age, but to listen to stories that aren’t mentioned as much as they should be. These revelations left me feeling proud of the community they found and inspired to elevate their message.

Green flake, initially a child sold away from his enslaved mother, became a mormon off the promise that in the next life that he’d see his family again. Together with Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, they led a rebuttal attack against the Missouri mob of those who did not share his ideals and faith especially because of the positive attitudes they held toward black people like equality. Mormons were actively being hunted and Green Flake proved to be a strong ally of Joseph. Regardless, Joseph turned himself in and eventually died in jail to keep everyone else safe. 

In Green’s relocation, he fell in love with a slave named Martha Crosby who herself was enslaved by a wicked man of Mormon faith who opposed Joseph’s ideals towards the race of black people. After a dispute between her slave owner, he was pushed to start working for the saints and sent on missions for their protection on the trek to Utah. He had unique skills for craftsmanship, log work, and overall strength. Despite that, fallback between people indigenous to the land still harmed him. After safely getting the saint towards the destination, Green made it his goal to come back to Martha regardless of whether she had warned him not to. They reunited eventually and stayed together for the rest of their life.

 He spent time in the 1860s as an abolitionist working with a secret society of freemen, enslaved, and even his family. Betty Mason was like Green as well, and prospered after slavery with his aide from the South. In the wake of the pioneer event for Mormons, Green flake spoke of his proximity leading to relating enslaved people in Utah their freedom papers. His pioneer movement also resulted in the move of thousands of Mormons to Utah as well.

In conclusion, we can see Green Flake, a man of strength and full heart. As another African American, his story exudes the prominent space held by us in the history of how America came to be. His contributions were immense and I’m glad to share his story of prosperity as he opened the door for westward expansion of this country. It’s important we acknowledge the histories that shaped up not only the present but US history overall and that we respect how Green Flake made of a impossible situation.