Here Are Just A Few

It is often portrayed that Conservatives, the Tea Party and the Republican Party exclusively fill their ranks with whites.  That misconception is miles apart from the truth.  However, before going further, let me admit right out of the gate that proportionately these groups are not reaping the benefits of a higher proportion of blacks.  What their membership can proudly claim though is a cadre of some of the most intellectual, wise and dedicated Americans of color.  It would also be a mistake to think that their greatness comes from their color.  How far from the truth, no, it comes from their being great men and women.  I want to single out a few of these special Americans.  


Early in the birthing of this country there was a young slave named Prince Whipple.  His master was General Whipple who was said, in a book titled Lives of the Signers of The Declaration of Independence, to have remarked to Prince, 

".. we may be called into action, in which case, I trust you will behave like a man of courage, and fight bravely for the country."  "Sir", replied Prince in a manly tone, "I have no wish to fight and no inducement; but had I my liberty, I would fight in the defense of my country to the last drop of my blood."  "Well", said the general, "from this moment you are free."  

After his emancipation, Prince Whipple became a highly regarded member of his community. It is reported by William C. Nell, in his 1851 book Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, 

"that he was later entrusted by the General with a large sum of money to carry from Salem to Portsmouth. He was attacked on the road, near Newburyport, by two ruffians; one was struck with a loaded whip, the other one he shot...Prince was beloved by all who knew him. He was also known as "Caleb Quotom" of Portsmouth, where he died leaving a widow, Dinah a freeperson and two children."

According to legend, Prince Whipple accompanied General Whipple and George Washington in the famous crossing of the Delaware River. Some believe that Whipple is the black man portrayed fending off ice with an oar at Washington's knee in the painting Washington Crossing the Delaware, including the artist who painted the painting, German American artistEmanuel Leutze.