George Teamoh
American politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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George Teamoh (c. 1818 – after 1887) was born enslaved in Norfolk, Virginia, worked at the Fort Monroe, the Norfolk Naval Yard and other military installations before the American Civil War, escaped to freedom in New York and moved to Massachusetts circa 1853, and returned to Virginia after the war to become a community leader, member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868 and then Virginia Senate during the Reconstruction era, and finally an author in his final years.[1] Teamoh's autobiography[2] is remarkable for his clear rebuke of the military's use of slave labor and the federal government's role both in perpetuating slavery and failing to protect newly emancipated blacks.
I have worked in every Department in the Navy Yard and Dry-Dock, as a laborer, and this during very long years of unrequited toil, and the same might be said of the vast numbers, reaching to thousands of slaves who have been worked, lashed and bruised by the United States government ...[3]
George Teamoh | |
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Member of the Virginia Senate from the Norfolk County and Portsmouth district | |
In office October 5, 1869 – December 5, 1871 | |
Preceded by | George W. Grice |
Succeeded by | Matthew P. Rue |
Personal details | |
Born | 1818 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
Died | after 1887 |
Political party | Republican |
Occupation |
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His narrative also contains important information on post Civil War Virginia, for he was an elected to and participated in the Virginia Reconstruction era government. He discussed critically and candidly the role played by African American delegates to the state convention; his efforts as a state senator to promote equitable work policies at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard; and the factionalism within the Republican party that led to his defeat.