Life of African American Gold Rush “Folk Hero” Honoured at White Hills Cemetery

 

 

United States ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy visited Bendigo yesterday to unveil a plaque at the White Hills cemetery honouring the life of African-American gold rush miner, John Joseph. 

 

Joseph, a leader of the Eureka Stockade and the first of a group of 13 men tried and then acquitted for treason – a landmark decision in the context of the political uprising.

 

He was lauded as a folk hero among the 10,000 strong-crowd outside the courtroom.  

 

During the time, Black Americans were not recognised as U.S. citizens and therefore no assistance or recognition was offered to Joseph in the aftermath.

 

Ambassador Kennedy said it’s important to acknowledge the historical racism that marred his later years. 

 

“It’s hard to imagine the elation Joseph must have felt being carried around the city and cheered by a crowd of 10,000 – and seeing the major impact of his acquittal on the rest of the trials, on miners’ rights, policing, the administration of justice and the governance of Victoria – before becoming impoverished, forgotten and buried here in an unmarked grave.”

 

Santilla Chingaipe is a historian and filmmaker who documented the story of John Joseph via the documentary Our African Roots.

 

She said much of his life is mystery with no known details on about him, outside the Stockade, and no known descendants. 

 

“Much like his life prior to the rebellion, it’s difficult to know what it looks like after his acquittal. What we do know is that just a few years later—in 1858—he dies in his 40s from a suspected heart attack and is buried here in Bendigo.”

 

“This is the triumph of John Joseph’s legacy: that people like me can stand here, speaking in my own words. A privilege that was largely denied to him, but of which so many of us are grateful for”

 

February is Black History Month in the United States.   

 

Image: US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy speaking at the event in White Hills on Monday, Emile Pavlich.