Inspired By Courage with Regina Mason, Susi Ryan, Vera Williams and Rob Brown

The Descendants of the Slave Narratives—are uniquely positioned, if not obligated, to carry forward the largely forgotten work of our ancestors. At this moment in time, in the 400th year of the first ship landing of Africans in British Colonial America, there is no better time to trumpet awareness about this watershed in our history and to encourage the entire nation to, reflect, reclaim and honor, the history of a people who have contributed greatly to the American story.

Regina E. Mason, founder of IBC, is a descendant of William Grimes of Virginia who, in 1825, wrote the first fugitive slave narrative in the U.S. The Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave predates antislavery propaganda and is a work of literary independence. 

Susi Ryan, fiber artist, and quilter is a descendant of Venture Smith aka Broteer, the son of a Prince. In 1798, he chronicled his capture from Africa and life in New England in A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa.

Vera Williams is a descendant of Solomon Northup and founder of the Solomon Northup Foundation. Solomon, a free man, was kidnapped and sold into slavery. After his rescue in 1853, he tells of the atrocities of slavery in his book, Twelve Years a Slave.

Rob Brown is also a descendant of William Grimes and designed the Inspired by Courage emblem.