Wednesday, July 15, 2009
My name is Peter Pace. I am the grandson of Harry Herbert Pace who was the founder and CEO of Black Swan records, the first African American music recording company. Harry Pace was born January 6, 1894 in Covington, Georgia. to Charles and Elizabeth Pace. He graduated Valedictorian from Atlanta University in 1903. He married Ethylynde Bibb in 1917. He worked with W.E. B. DuBois on the Moon Illustrated Weekly which was the precursor to The Crisis which became the official publication for the NAACP. He worked in banking, and had a very successful career in insurance. Being very light skinned, as were his wife and children, and in spite of a lifetime of race advocacy, upon his death his heirs passed into the white race and the secret was kept even from immediate family members until two years ago. Harry H. Pace had two light skinned children; Josephine and HarryJr. I and my two sisters were born to Harry Jr. We were brought up in an exclusively white environment with know knowledge of our grandparents and fathers race. It is my goal to explore the life of Harry Pace and discuss the ramifications of secrets and "passing" in American culture.
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I'm the great grandson of Harry Herbert Pace, and I am very interested in the idea of passing. I spoke with Steve Cannon, author, playwright, and founder of the East Village Publication "A Gathering of the Tribes" on the subject of being light skinned, and passing. He told me about a fairly large creole culture in New Orleans where he grew up in, and that it was the norm for very light skin people to identify as black. He also remembers seeing certain light skin individuals pass when they were in white communities. He told me that when he went to wave, or say hello, they ignored him and acted like they had no idea who he was. Having spoken to many people on the subject of passing, I have gathered that there is not really that large of a creole, or light skin culture anymore, partly I suppose due to the fact that the "one-drop Rule" is not as widely accepted on either side of the black and white line. However, I still understand that passing occurs presently in the obscurance of one's own African roots. One of my own relatives is seemingly ashamed, or at least unwilling to add complexity to her identity in the eyes of the social network that she operates in. Is it for fear of racist bigotry, persecution, exclusion, or simply her unwillingness to see herself as anything different than what she has always "been". How does discovering that you have african ancestry later in your life(after being raised in a "white" world.) affect your sense of identity. If anyone has any thoughts feel free to comment, I will continue to meditate on this subject out of necessity.
ReplyDeleteMy sons question about how discovering that you have african ancestry later in your life affects your sense of identity is a difficult and subtle issue. My wife points out that I have been utterly changed by the knowledge. A person reflects on the world through the filter of identiy. Any change to that sense of identity, changes how you look out at the rest of the world and calls into question assumptions about your own life. Anecdotal incidents from childhood that were always considered benign,take on new interpretation. Why was it kept secret from me and what are my responsibilties of disclosure to friends, family and the world at large? The secret becomes my secret. My family is still struggleing with all of this. Some wish that we had never found out, others have become obsessive about finding out more but all of us have been irreversibly changed by this knowledge.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Susan Pace Hoy and I am the granddaughter of Harry Herbert Pace. I grew up in an all white neighborhood in a small town, went to an all white school during elementary and high school, attended an all white Episcopalian church on Sundays and grew up with the understanding that my roots were possibly Italian. I never was told anything about my father’s heritage and he never offered any information to us.
ReplyDeleteAbout two years ago, my brother told me of my real roots. His wife discovered from the internet, a story of a man- an incredible man. This was the story of a scholar, lawyer, author, entrepreneur, philosopher, insurance executive & record producer. This was a story of a man who founded the largest black insurance company in America, who partnered with W.C. Handy, “Father of the Blues”, founded Black Swan records and produced the first black recording artists in America. This man was an advocate for the black race for nearly his lifetime until he passed into the white world. The article I read off the internet that evening was by Jitu K. Weusi. “The Rise and Fall of Black Swan Records.”
It was written how this man was very light-skinned and could pass for white. That is exactly what he did-years after the fall of Black Swan Records. I was stunned that the man I was reading about was in fact my grandfather. I was the granddaughter of this incredible person. How could this have been kept from us? How could my father go to his death without telling us this unbelievable story? How could he have been married to my mother for so many years and never told her? I always struggled with why my father never could tell us anything about his childhood. He never talked of his Dad unless we questioned him and then I suppose it was all false. My father had only one sibling, a sister, and she is alive and living in the mid-west. “The Secret” that my aunt and my father harbored almost their entire life is now out to the family.
My nephew asks the question how a discovery such as this could make a person question their sense of identity?
Perhaps when you are young and still have so much of life to live and are only just formulating your identity it may not pose as such an issue. Young people today have been around a multitude of cultures for most of their lives. Growing up in the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s, I remember the civil rights movement, and when busing was being used as a way of integration of the schools. When you have lived 50 + years as one race and then suddenly find you’re bi-racial, it has been not an easy adjustment. These past two years have been tough. Our family has been ripped apart. Some are not speaking to one another and some are. Some do not want to delve deeper into this while my brother and I clearly want to know it all. I have shared the story with my very closest friends. They have embraced me and given me their ear while others I have not, just because of the magnitude of the story. At times I feel conflicted. I am so proud to be related to this man. On the other hand, I feel ashamed of myself for the hesitation when asked about my heritage. Now I am constantly questioning myself. Could it be that I am perpetuating racism by these feelings? I am who I have always been- I am the same person, just a lot more enriched. Aren’t we all just a melting pot of cultures? Perhaps this stereotype of what equates whiteness or blackness will someday disappear. I would like to think that as time goes on race can be a thing of the past.
H. H. Pace was a friend of both sides of my family. My grandfather, Dr. E. J. Turner, was a member of several African American lodges, one of which H.H. Pace belonged to. My maternal grandfather was a president of an HBCU and hired H.H. Pace as a teacher. They were all part of a network of African Americans who were the first generation out of slavery to become educated and professional and most were a part of organizations which had "race uplift" as a their primary priority. You can use the Genealogy Bank website to locate H. H. Pace and his activities.
ReplyDeleteIt was not a completely uncommon phenomenon that some of these people had the appearance of white people since many were products of interracial relationships - and institutionalized rape. All of this is true of my own family, as well, as most of us - myself included - are not physically identifiable as African Americans.
I was raised on African American college campuses and have had a lifelong awareness of my background so, that part has not been as difficult for me. The issues you struggle with are ones I can well understand. H. H. Pace was an ancestor to be proud of. At the same time, the fact that you have the appearance of one race coupled with the background of another isn't always a topic that comes up in casual conversation with everyone you talk to so, do and say what is comfortable for you personally.
I have been considering writing a book about my family's experiences and will look forward to seeing the story about H. H. Pace. A book will be coming out about my own father in 2014.
Hello Elizabeth, this is very interesting, and I am very glad that you reached out to us. It is always exciting when new connections, and information, come's to light. I'm wondering if you have any documents or picture's of Harry H. Pace? How did you hear about your family's connection to Pace?
ReplyDeleteMy father and I have been working on a documentary film which will be released soon. It is a feature length effort, which we have been working on for the last 4 years.
I've become especially interested in Pace's fraternal activities, i.e: the Elks, the Boule, etc..These secret orders enabled these men to remain well connected, even if they relocated to a different city.
Racial identity confusion is still prevalent in my family, and that coupled with the "family secret" aspect of this makes it especially unsettling; hard to understand. Yet, I feel that the shame of my families "passing"is overshadowed by the legacy of my Great-Grandfather, and the pride which fueled his life and career. This pride that had been so carefully, and skillfully removed, hidden, and lost, has now been reclaimed by my family.
Sincerely,
Eric C. Pace
p.s: Feel free to contact my father(Peter) at ppace530@gmail.com or you can message me at: pace.eric@gmail.com
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting readings. I discovered Mr. Pace by accident and just featured him on my FB page Hazelee Consignments. Wow...while writing about him I wanted to know more and I found this page. My Great-Grandfather was very light and could pass for white which he did while traveling as a preacher. Thanks for sharing and I would love to read the book and see the movie.
My name is Alan Reitano with a non profit called American Entertainment Works in Nashvile. We are producing a web series about the history of blues music. I have uncovered several facts about your grandfather during my research. Also, I am looking for a good photo or two for the series. You can check out the series at https://aeworksbluesalley.wordpress.com/
DeleteFeel free to visit www.aeworks.org and click on "Get in touch" to send me a contact email or phone number. The emails fro there come straight to my office. I'm happy to share the info I've discovered so far. Alan
I think the story of Harry Pace and his African ancestry is fascinating. The name "Pace" suggests he might have also been Italian-American, and I assume Mr. Pace was equally proud of that heritage. Why pigeon hole him as one thing? We are all one human race.
ReplyDeleteJust started listening to the podcast The Vanishing of Harry Pace - fascinating stuff. Surprised and intrigued by the Shasta County connection. Looking forward to learning more about this remarkable man.
ReplyDelete