Alphonso Washington

I was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi 1972. One of my earliest memories are of me riding on a cotton sack pulled by my grandmother in a cotton field. This is true! I remember the heat; it was thick and heavy like a weighted blanket. I remember the scratches I got from the evasive plants that fought alongside the cotton for nutrients and water. Some of the plants definately were angry with the pickers and looked for every opportunity to take revenge. I feel the grounds of the south are forever stained with the blood and sweat of generations of American souls. As time and opportunity would have it, I left the farming life and with my family, moved to Ohio. Briefly attending Ohio Northern University before joining the military during the first Gulf War. I discovered the existence of Cathay Williams while researching the Civil War during my first tour in Afghanistan. From the farming fields to the battlefields, I found an unquenched thirst to learn more about African American participation in American conflicts especially the unsung historical figures such Cathay Williams. Story telling is a big part of my life, I love to listen to audio books and watch a variety of programs. I am heavily influenced by well spoken literary masters.