The Ancestors Are Still On Duty
Sometimes I just smile to myself. Did you know that 128 years and 11 months ago to the day, Philip Reid left this earth? If you think about the events of Wednesday, January 6, 2021…I believe Mr. Reid is still keeping an eye on things. Allow me to explain.
Hailing from Charleston, South Carolina, Philip Reid was purchased by Clark Mills. Clark Mills was known as a self-taught artisan. He purchased Mr. Reid as a young man for $1200.00 This was quite a hefty sum. However, he was a young strapping young man, a smart mulatto that would be an asset and quite worth the investment.
After entering and winning a competition to make a statue of Andrew Jackson, Clark Mills was considered quite the sculpture. With the help of many laborers and a slave known as Philip Reid — a foundry was erected near the White House. This was the first statue cast in bronze in the United States of America.
This work of art drew many accolades which spearheaded the commissioning of casting the mold for The Statue of Freedom. This magnificent piece of art sits on top of the United States Capitol. Many do not know that this might not have happened if not for Philip Reid.
At the time the Statue of Freedom was being constructed, Philip Reid was still a slave. Many men are known to have worked on this statue. However, through documented records, Mr. Reid was the only slave of record who worked on the project. What is even more remarkable is the paycheck. Keep in mind this was grueling work. Mr. Reid could not read or write, yet showed up for $1.25 per day on Sunday’s — his day off. According to the Architect of the Capitol records, Mr. Reid’s job was to keep the fire under the mold for this statue. The records show him as a laborer and Mr. Mills paid him directly.
The plaster mold was created in Italy and shipped to the United States. Once here, the artisan who was hired to assemble the statue was not willing to do so without a raise. This was quite the dilemma as no one could figure it how to pry it apart. The seams had been concealed. Philip Reid figured this out without any type of formal education...or art classes. (Yes I am grinning from ear to ear.) Making do is something that most African Americans have had to do ever since we were delivered to America.
Figuring out that using a pulley and tackle would enable the men to disassemble the statue helped save the day. The statue was transported to the foundry and was cast. On December 2, 1863, The Statue of Freedom was finally erected. However, Mr. Reid was already a free man. He was not freed out of the generosity of his owner or by his help in figuring out how to find the seams of this statue — thereby saving the day. Abraham Lincoln just happened to have freed the slaves in 1862. Changing the spelling of his last name to Reed, Philip moved on and became a well-known plasterer in Washington, DC. He had a wife named Mary and the 1880 census reflects they had a son, Henry. Upon his death, Mr. Reid was buried in the Graceland Cemetary. This African American Cemetary was on a hill that had a view of our Nation’s Capitol, enabling Mr. Reid to gaze upon his finest work. Even in death, after working on his day off, it was assumed he still wanted to be on duty.
In 2008, Congress authorized the construction of the hall which is considered the entryway to the United States Capitol, known as Emancipation Hall. Did you know that the original plaster mold can be found there? In 2014, a plaque was erected at the National Harmony Memorial Park Cemetary that states Mr. Reed is currently interred there.
One thing most African American’s know, the Ancestors still watch over things that were part of their familiar. I firmly believe Mr. Reid was watching last week. I wonder how many people are aware of Mr. Philip Reid? How many school districts teach our young people about this man? Representation matters and the more we learn, the higher our self-esteem rises.
Thank you, Mr. Reid, for representing what we are capable of doing if we put our minds to it.
