John Kunering News Today

From flounders to stealing collards, Wilmington has its own specific past traditions that bind it to Christmas

By Tamara Shiloh Early accounts from white Southerners describe Christmas as a day of kindness and generosity. But the reality of what took place on December 25 during slavery was complex and, in many cases, dangerous. In Wilmington, N.C., slaves celebrated ‘Jonkonnu’ a contraction of the name John Kunering. Dressed in costumes, the enslaved people […]| By Tamara Shiloh Early accounts from white Southerners describe Christmas as a day of kindness and generosity. But the reality of what too...

What Was Christmas Like for America’s Enslaved People? For some, it was a rare time of respite; for others, an opportunity for resistance. Author: For some, it was a rare time of respite; for others, an opportunity for resistance. How did Americans living under slavery experience the Christmas holidays? While early accounts from white Southerners after the Civil War often painted an idealized picture of owners’ generosity met by grateful workers happily feasting, singing and dancing, the...