From Slavery to Liberation and Beyond

In the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the extraordinary journey of Dr. Judith Hamer’s family—from slavery to liberation—is captured through donated artifacts. Now 85, Hamer, who holds a PhD in Linguistics, lives through her family’s resilient history, and their persistent navigation of segregation laws. Hamer continues her family’s athletic legacy through pickleball and hiking. Read on to see how her family’s legacy, has shaped her views on life, identity, and aging.

Can you share a brief overview of your life or your family’s history, particularly experiences during slavery and their journey to success following emancipation?

Let me start from the beginning. My grandfather was born in 1868, after the end of the Civil War. He occasionally passed for white due to his fair skin; this allowed him to buy a house in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The neighborhood discovered his wife was Black and destroyed the house. They tore up the plumbing, the plaster, everything, and basically gutted it. And he rebuilt it.

This enabled my father to attend Boys High and later win a scholarship to Cornell University, paving the way for my sister and me to also attend Cornell and earn PhDs.

This isn’t just a success story; it’s a racial story highlighting how we turned segregation laws to our advantage.

You mentioned your family artifacts in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Can you tell me a little more about the piece included in the museum and its significance?

My sister and I have a large collection of photographs going back to 1870. One photograph is of my grandmother’s grandmother and her husband, who seem to be about 50 or 60 years old. They appear worn and very dark, suggesting they were born in the 1820s or 1830s. Like many slaves, there is no record of their names, but the picture is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, forming the backdrop for a section on segregation and other topics.

There are a few pieces in the museum. One is a large photograph of my grandmother’s grandparents looking toward the future, which introduces a section on segregation. There are also smaller pictures of my grandmother holding my father as a baby and my grandfather. These items illustrate how Black families in New York City began to succeed. Additionally, there’s a tattered Cornell banner on the display because my father was a devoted Cornell enthusiast.

How do you believe the preservation of these pieces contributes to the broader understanding of Black or African American history?

It shows that we have been here for a very long time and have made significant contributions despite the systemic barriers. However, I worry that people might misinterpret our story as “they made it, why can’t other Blacks?” That’s not the point; our success was achieved despite these barriers, not because they didn’t exist.

How has your family’s rich history influenced your own life and perspectives today?

It’s made me both proud and bitter. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved against the odds and feel a responsibility to pass that legacy on. However, I’m bitter about the false assumptions people make about us. For instance, I recently encountered a woman who praised a Jamaican caretaker for being “articulate” and “smart”, implying it was unexpected. Such comments, meant as compliments, actually reveal underlying biases and make me wary.

Does this affect how you view Juneteenth and what it symbolizes for the country?

Yes, it does. Many people don’t understand the true significance of Juneteenth. It’s not just a holiday; it represents the delayed freedom of slaves in Texas. There’s a lack of knowledge and recognition about its importance.

Are you happy that Juneteenth is now recognized as a national holiday?

Absolutely. It’s long overdue, though it faced similar resistance as the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. When MLK Day was first introduced, there were dismissive attitudes and scheduling conflicts that showed a lack of respect for its significance.

What does “aging with attitude” mean to you, and how do you embody this in your life?

Aging has made me more outspoken. I used to be a quiet, compliant Black woman, but now I’m much more vocal about my thoughts and experiences. Learning about Black history and literature on my own has fueled my passion and anger, but it’s also liberated me to express myself more freely. The possibilities are endless.

Is that advice you would give to future generations, especially about their identities?

No, I wouldn’t tell them to follow my exact path. I’d advise them to figure out who they are at any given time and do what makes them comfortable. Everyone’s journey is different, and you can’t fight every battle without exhausting yourself.

NaBeela Washington, an emerging Black writer, holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University and Bachelor’s in Visual Advertising from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has been published in Eater, The Cincinnati Review, and others. Learn more at nabeelawashington.com.