Freedman Organization President Walks Trail of Tears path with Choctaw Chief Gregory Pyle

Chief Gregory Pyle, Verdie Triplett and James Triplett, walking the Trail of Tears

May 16th Verdie Triplett, the President of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Freedmen Association joined hundreds of Choctaws as they commemorated the historic removal of the Choctaws to Indian Territory.

Beginning the walk at the historic Skullyville Choctaw Nation Cemetery in Spiro, Oklahoma, hundreds of people made the commemorative walk to the Choctaw Nation Community Center.  Triplett walked with a two-fold purpose. He is a direct descendant of James Darneal, the last Sheriff of the Choctaw Nation.  He is also a descendant of slaves also taken from Mississippi, brought to the Choctaw and also Chickasaw Nation, and who lived, Indian Territory their entire lives. He still lives in the historic Ft. Coffee Community where many of his family and organizational members live on their allotted land.  His ancestors are buried at Roseland-Skullyville Freedman Cemetery adjacent to the historic Skullyville Cemetery, where the historic walk began. He walked in memory of James Darneal and for Hettie Lucas, one of his ancestors, once enslaved, and now buried in the Freedman Cemetery adjacent to the Choctaw burial ground.

Chief Pyle and Mr. Triplett have previously met and have a good rapport with each other. They have discussed issues especially pertaining to the preservation of historic burial sites, and Chief Pyle has promised help to preserve Freedmen burial sites as well. The preservation of history and historic sites in the community is a strong interest of both men and they expect to work together on efforts in LeFlore County and other places in the Choctaw Nation. They spoke on that day on work they will undertake to preserve Roseland Skullyville Freedman Cemetery, fenced off since 1983 from others to whom they were both related and served.

Mr. Triplett has participated in a number of activities sponsored by the Choctaw Nation and he urges others who have ties to the Choctaw Nation to join historic and cultural event, as their ancestors lived and died in this community since the 1830s.  He was greeted by a number of friends, relatives and associates in the area's Choctaw community who warmly welcomed him and his brother James on this commemorative walk.

More Images of Trail of Tears Walk

Son of Chickasaw Freedmen, Dr. John Hope Franklin has Died

America's master historian has died at the age of 94.

John Hope Franklin was born in Oklahoma in 1915. He was the son of Chickasaw Freedman, and noted attorney B. Colbert Franklin. His early days in Oklahoma were spent in the days when Jim Crow was at its worst, and he personally endured many humiliating experiences on his native Oklahoma soil.

His landmark work, "From Slavery to Freedom" was the definitive work and forced America to put slavery on the landscape of American History.

He earned his doctorate from Harvard, and was the first black department chair at a predominantly white institution, Brooklyn College; the African American professor to hold an endowed chair at Duke University; and the first black president of the American Historical Association.

It was his work that documented the presence of African people from the beginning of the country's history, serving in the battle of Lexington and Concord.

During the Clinton Administration, he chaired initiative on Race, and Dr. Franklin received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award given to a civilian.

Born and raised in the Creek Nation, in the all black town of Rentiesville. His parents were Chickasaw Freedmen who served the Creek and Seminole Freedmen for many years. His father also worked to argue many cases on behalf of Freedmen after the Tulsa Riots on 1921.

Dr. John Hope Franklin, was an American treasure and though we mourn his transition, we must celebrate his life.

We, the descendants of Choctaw & Chickasaw Freedmen honor and celebrate his life and legacy.

Angela Walton-Raji