There is an exciting story in this month’s issue of one of my favorite magazines: AMERICAN LEGACY. Do you know this magazine? Have you ever seen it at museums or at your public library? Ask for it, American Legacy is celebrating its 10 th year. Don’t you love discovering great things?

In this month’s edition, I was surprise to read about 18 th century freedom fighters in a small village in southern France. These peasants who had never seen a black man (except in a painting of the Adoration of the Magi) met at church to officially declare their grievance against slavery. The Church of Champagney built in 1788, still stands. (Can you imagine? I think I want to go see it. The picture looks charming) Here is part of what these brave citizens wrote in their list of grievances to be presented to King Louis XVI, “ The inhabitants pf the community of Champagney are unable to think about the suffering of Negroes in the colonies without it piercing our hearts with deep pain.” I’d like to visit Champagney and see where this all happened over two hundred years ago.

Look for this article “Surprising Finds Along the French Abolition Trail,” in the summer issue of American Legacy. Ask for it at the library.