During Black History Month, I received several articles on Black individuals within and without the USA who were noteworthy. I greatly appreciated these articles because they made me aware of people of whom I had no knowledge.
One of the articles I received was on Edmond Albius (1829-1880). Albius was a Black slave who, at the age of 12, “invented a technique for pollinating vanilla orchids quickly and profitably” that is still used today, according to Wikipedia.
Edmond grew up in Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar that is considered an overseas department and region of France.
Albius’ mother died during his childbirth. Orphaned Edmond was kept in slavery by colonist Féréol Bellier Beaumont, who taught him the basics of botany.
When France outlawed slavery in its colonies in 1848, Albius, now a free man, left the plantation. “He adopted Albius as his new surname from alba “white” in reference to the vanilla orchid’s colour,” according to Wikipedia.
There are several reactions I had to the above information. The first is that his white enslaver, Beaumont, saw fit to share his botanical information with young Edmond. Secondly, Edmond showed that even as a Black youth with limited formal education, he had enough intelligence to use the botanical information he was given to discover a method of vanilla fertilization that was so perfect that it is still used today. Thirdly, I read that Beaumont protested loudly against a white man’s attempt to take credit for what Black Edmond had invented: Give credit where credit is due.
In no way do I approve of slavery. But what I gathered about Beaumont’s relationship with Edmond demonstrates that there were slaveholders who still somehow cared at least a little about those they enslaved. (Though they did not end the cruel injustice.)
Thanks, D, for making me aware of Edmond Albius. And all of us should appreciate him for making it possible to enjoy vanilla.
Month of February: Black History Month.
Month of March: Women’s History Month, Irish American Heritage Month, Greek American Heritage Month, American Red Cross Month, National Music in Our Schools Month, National Reading Month, Bi+ (bisexual) Health Awareness Month.
March 3-9 – Women in Construction Week.
March 4-10 – Women of Aviation Worldwide Week.
March 10-16 – Girl Scout Week.
March 1 – International Women of Color Day, National Employee Appreciation Day, World Day of Prayer, Zero Discrimination Day and Share a Smile Day.
March 2 – National Read Across America Day.
March 3 – Caregiver Appreciation Day and National Anthem Day.
March 6 – Day of Memorial and Respect for Veterans and Discover What Your Name Means Day.
March 8 – International Women’s Day.
March 10 – Daylight Saving Time begins, and the International Day of Women Judges and Harriet Tubman Day.
March 11 – Ramadan (Islamic holy month) begins.
March 12 – National Equal Pay Day.
March 13 – National Good Samaritan Day.
March 14 – Celebrate Scientists Day.
March 15 – The ides of March, and the International Day Against Police Brutality and International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
March 16 – Freedom of Information Day and Black Press Day.
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day.