Playwright and motivational speaker, Lutulllius Penton is a former history teacher in the Flint Public Schools and is the 5th Congressional District Chairman of the the Republican Party. He has a World History Degree and A Masters Degree in American Culture from the University of Michigan. Mr. Penton was attending the American Baptist College in Nashville, TN when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 1968 in Memphis and worked in Atlanta doing Civil Rights work. He has recently attained his MLS Degree in American Culture, from the University of Michigan. Mr. Penton authored his directed research paper on Poverty Programs and the "War on Poverty in America" and is currently employed as the Director of the Genesee County Community Action Work First Program.
The 1st Michigan Colored Infantry was formed on February 23, 1863,
after an editorial and letter writing campaign by Henry Barns, an
editor for the Detroit Tribune and Advertiser. On May 23, 1864, the
unit was redesignated the 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops.
Volunteers came from Detroit, southern Michigan and Ontario, Canada.
Some of the 845 volunteers were escaped slaves from the Underground
Railroad, and some were fighting to free their family members who may
have still been in slavery. During training, a regimental band was
formed which toured to recruit more volunteers. The 102nd Regiment
fought throughout South Carolina, eastern Georgia and Florida and was
mustered out of service on September 30, 1985. The regiment returned
to Detroit where they were disbanded on October 17, 1865. The total
enrollment was 1,446.
The
United States War Department issued General Order Number 143 on May 22,
1863, establishing a “Bureau of Colored Troops” to facilitate the
recruitment of Africa-American soldiers to fight for the Union Army.
Regiments, including infantry, cavalry, light artillery and heavy
artillery units were recruited from all states of the Union and became
known as the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Approximately 175
regiments of more than 178,000 free blacks and freed slaves served
during the last two years of the war, and bolstered the Union war
effort as a critical time. By war’s end, the USCT was approximately a
tenth of all Union troops. There were 2,751 USCT combat casualties
during the war, and 68,178 losses from all causes.
The
dramatization is sponsored by The Western Thumb TEA Party which is
committed to educating family, friends and neighbors. Part of the TEA
party experience is gaining enough information to make knowledgeable
choices. There will be information on immigration, health care, cap
and trade. Everyone is welcome. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more
information visit www.tuscolatea.org or email tuscolatea@yahoo.com or call 989-272-5416.