A Generational Connection
This book, A World Turned Upside Down tells a family story with personal letters of the Palmers of South Carolina. The patriarch of this family was Dr. Joseph Palmer, Oni's paternal great grandfather.
Oni's 1st cousin and family historian recently brought this book to her attention. It answered her mother's questions on why over 30 years ago Oni was drawn to the southern dialect prose of poet Paul L. Dunbar, which fueled Oni's decades of research on slavery in America.
Oni received no royalties or reparations from the sale of this book. Yet it is a personal and up close look at her family of slave owners and enslaved family before and after the Civil War.
June 2024
"From the horrors endured by the slaves to their jubilation after emancipation, Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry convincingly conveyed the realities and emotions of the experiences she related, skillfully weaving the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar throughout her narrative. An engaging, and ultimately celebratory experience of the meaning and importance of Juneteenth." ..... Mark Pinto, Phoenixville PA Public Library
Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry
Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry
Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry
In Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 the US government sent General Granger to announced General Order #3 - the end of slavery in America.
"ALWAYS FREE" is a somber yet joyful celebration of the life of a African American woman who survived.
In the 1930's 100,000 former enslaved Africans were still alive and more than 2,300 freed Africans
In Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 the US government sent General Granger to announced General Order #3 - the end of slavery in America.
"ALWAYS FREE" is a somber yet joyful celebration of the life of a African American woman who survived.
In the 1930's 100,000 former enslaved Africans were still alive and more than 2,300 freed Africans were interviewed for the Federal Writers Project aka WPA.
Always Free, A Juneteenth Celebration is a powerful intimate journey in American, African American and Civil War History.
American Living History
Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry
Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry
Oni Lasana as Mary Ella Grandberry is on a book tour telling of her painful and jubilant experiences before and after Juneteenth.
Paul Laurence Dunbar's conversational southern dialect prose is connected to the narratives of several enslaved African woman's true experiences before and after Juneteenth.
With Ruby Dee, Harlem, NY
Oni as Mary Ella Grandberry
With Ruby Dee, Harlem, NY
The iconic actress, and civil rights activist RUBY DEE was one of the actors who spoke the account of Katie Rowe in "UNCHAINED MEMORIES by HBO documentaries in association with the Library of Congress in 2003.
Always Free highlights the value of education and the power of a people who survived the holocaust of American slavery.
Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.
Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.
Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.
Heroes & Shero's of The Underground Railroad
Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.
Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.
Juneteenth, Reading, Pennsylvania
Slavery....the backbone of America... 'lest we forget.
Juneteenth, Reading, Pennsylvania
It's your turn to learn about Dunbar!
Upcoming Presentation
KEEP A-PLUGGIN' AWAY - PT 1
Dunbar's self-motivational poem Keep A Pluggin' Away is our theme.
Meet the people in Paul's life who knew and loved him.
Remembering Dunbar Portrait
Dunbar Oak & Ivy (c) 1996 Reginald Harmon
Freestylin' Dunbar Weekly
Join us for this free WEEKLY workshop on Zoom for educators to creatively teach, artists to perform and adventurers of literature to explore.
You'll learn new techniques on delivering, reading and presenting Dunbar's timeless spoken words.
Based on the Dunbar workshop, A Poetic Approach To Storytelling on p. 289 of Literacy Development in The Storytelling Classroom published in Libraries Unlimited.
Find and bring a poem of your choice: www.PaulLaurenceDunbar.org
Love Of Dunbar Monthly
Love Of Dunbar Monthly
You are invited to our free MONTHLY 2nd FRIDAYS meetup on zoom where we research, discuss and perform Dunbar's life, his southern and northern prose and short stories.
These literary gems are themes of timeless love, nature, pathos and laughter.