Who Is Black Pansy? A Woman of Color, in Love with a White Man… During the Civil War

Mabel stood hiding behind the pole, she’d been politely told to refrain from meeting directly with the public and to stay out of sight as much as possible. It was not due to Mabel’s obvious dash of colored blood but more out of fear that Pittsburgh’s citizens would figure out who Black Pansy was. “Good day,” Charles repeated and looked straight at the pole Mabel hid behind. He leaned in to get a better look but she held her position firmly. Eventually, impatience and curiosity got the best of her and she peeked to get a better look at him.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

Mabel’s Biracial Romance

Mabel was in the back of the building when Charles Churchill walked in. A large wooden post and coat rack allowed her, as usual, to peer and watch the day’s business unfold. Every day the News Herald received the usual neighbor’s complaint, unruly dogs and occasional murder and mayhem and always a drunken disturbance that citizens felt it was their duty to report. Mabel thought of these citizen informers as “tattle tales” so usually ignored them, going about her work but kept one ear open in the slight chance something important would spew from the mouths of these “good citizens.” But today when the bell tinkled and the door shut and the morning’s sunshine warmed the room, there was something different about the air of the gentleman who stopped and looked down at the wooden floor when his feet brought a squeak to the boards.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

Fiction… Navigating Through Black Pansy’s Mysteries

Mabel did not know Mary’s mother’s name, was it Sarah? She could not remember. Phinius Crocker has been blamed for the abuse of Sarah that led to the birth of Mary.  But Jenny had made it clear it was her grandfather, St. Francis who abused Sarah, not Phinius. But Sarah was a Crocker, who were her parents?

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

Slavery… A Tale of Two Masters

One master is horrific enough, but can you imagine two masters over your life? One yours, the other your spouse’s. The master of the wife owned the children. According to the Louisiana slave code, during the 1700s, people actually lived under these conditions. Today, freedom rings.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

Black and White Civil War Era Romance

Relationships are hard enough. Imagine trying to have a biracial romance during the 1800s, before the Civil War. One’s love would have to be strong. It wasn’t just frowned upon. It was illegal. So much so, it could get you killed. Yet, it happened…

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

Say Amen… It Is Imperative

The Black Code of Louisiana, was installed in 1724. Also called Code Noir, it was the list of rules forced upon enslaved people of color. Religion is a beautiful part of Black culture. I cannot easily conjure up words to express the respect that I feel for America’s Black Church services. From the beginning, the Code Noir made it “imperative on masters to impart religious instruction to their slaves.” Throughout the centuries, Black religionists have fought hard to break away from the pay-to-play requirements imposed upon them when establishing their own churches.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

What Was the Purpose of the SLAVE CODE?

“To regulate relations between slaves and colonists, the Louisiana Code noir, or slave code, based largely on that compiled in 1685 for the French Caribbean colonies, was introduced in 1724 and remained in force until the United States took possession of Louisiana in 1803. The Code’s 54 articles regulated the status of slaves and free blacks, as well as relations between masters and slaves.”

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

Where Did You Get Your Husband?

Peter and his wife, Miss Townsend have left us with an unusual story. Peter was Miss Townsend’s father’s slave. The father “gave” Peter to his daughter so that they could marry. The statement reads, “his master gave him to her.” These are the only details, we’ll have to ponder the circumstances. The place was Charlestown, South Carolina, just before the Revolutionary War.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

Slave Labor… Literally

Post-Civil War, when slaves were supposed to be free, there were ways that were used to return Black people to the slave labor pool. Rules of conduct were set in place that were very strict. Infractions of those rules was easy to fabricate. Fines were imposed and if they were not paid, the accused was vulnerable to being hired out to planters again as slave labor.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy:

Slavery… He “Bought Himself” for Forty-Five Pounds

Some folks are ambitious. Some more than others. Being enslaved at the advent of the Revolutionary War was an impossible situation. Yet somehow a slave named Prince was able to “buy himself.” He paid forty-five pounds. I do not know what kind of conflicting pride a man who had to buy his own freedom, must have felt. Freedom is something that we’re born with. But here we have another unusual story from American history that ended with Prince a free man. One has to admire his fortitude.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy: