Day 58: Independence Day and Walks in the communication of Brown Mountain Creek of previously enslaved people

• PunchBowl shelter (798.1) Brown Mountain Creek (807.6) shelter (807.6)
• 1480 feet rise, 2680 feet

Today is July 4. In our family, we have the tradition of reading the Declaration of independence On the morning of the 4th. It is a long and complex document written in a formal vernacular language that sounds forced in a modern mouth.

If you listen carefully to the intention of the signatories, the language is beautiful and heartbreaking, even today.

We maintain that these truths are evident, that all men are created the same, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, which among them are life, freedom and the search for happiness. That to ensure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their righteous powers from the consent of the governed, Declaration of Independence of the United States, July 4, 1776

All men are created the same

One of the sad lessons that history has taught us is that not all men and women, in the United States, were considered the same. Chattel’s slavery was allowed for almost 100 years after the founders declared all men the same.

The debate of why it is not the theme of this hiking blog. It is enough to say that we recognize and cry that anyone should have lived in such free circumstances. We rejoice with the aboloshment of slavery by the Emancipation proclamation in 1863

Brown Mountain Creek community

We start with the PunchBowl area and progress to the Brown Mountain Creek area.

The corridor of the trail of the Apalaches that passes through the Community of people previously enslaved in Brown Mountain Creek.

Today, there is weak evidence of the prosperous free black community that arose here after the civil war. Although wide enough, the path is difficult, which makes one wonder if the current path is on the old cart of carts.

The earth is wooded but with younger trees. It is quite easy to imagine the clear and vibrant earth with crops on tobacco, corn, oatmeal and wheat terraces.

Brown Mountain Creek crosses the earth, as surely an anchor for families, as it is, is now hiker.

Reflections on Independence

Banks at the beginning and end of this section of 7 miles invite reflection. Going there are abundant and quiet sounds. Birds singing in the trees, squirrels that run through leaves and branches. The deer navigate between the brush and drink refreshing water of the stream. The crunch of our shoes on the leaves.

While we walked through the community, a reverent sensation walked with us. We felt humiliated to know for two and a half centuries, our ancestors enjoyed the freedom of Declaration of independence. The people whose houses passed had to wait an additional century to be included.

The voices of the past that resonated around us were mainly happy and peaceful. They reminded us that independence is vital for life. They ask us to look around and consider who among us still longs for freedom. They urge us to speak peace and freedom along our path of trails of the Apalaches and all the walk of our life.

We wish you freedom and make peace on July 4, 2025

Anniversary and the historian

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