Photo Credit: Popo le Chien – 13 Sept 2016 – Tulum’s Templo del Dios Viento (Temple of Wind God, left) and Castillo (castle, right)
President Lincoln’s Secretary of State William Henry Seward stood at what was called the Temple of the God of Wind at Tulum gazing northeast over the waters toward the island of Corzumel. Mexican President Benito Juarez summarily dismissed Lincoln’s proposal for American freed slaves to be relocated to that small bit of land off the Yucatan peninsula, but Seward had to see it for himself.
Lincoln was the President, and Seward did what he was told, but his conscience as a man and a Christian told him that if a man were truly free and a citizen of the United States, then his former status as slave should be wiped clean, rather than him becoming a societal pariah. If only he could convince the President of this.
The breeze in his face, Seward became a prophet. “Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
I wrote this for the What Pegman Saw writing challenge. The idea is to use a Google maps image and/or location as the inspiration for crafting a piece of flash fiction no more than 150 words long. My word count is 150.
Of course, I looked up Tulum, but consulting Google maps, I found it was fairly close to the island of Cozumel. It was a small bit of history of that island from 1861 that caught my attention, since the proposal I write about above did actually occur.
I have no idea about how the real Seward felt about it, so I made something up. Also, it seems that Lincoln did succeed briefly, in 1862, in establishing a short-lived colony of ex-slaves on Île à Vache off the coast of Haiti.
The quote I put in Seward’s mouth is attributed to author George Orwell, which would indeed have made the Secretary of State a “prophet,” since Orwell wouldn’t be born until 1903.
To read other stories based on the prompt, visit InLinkz.com.
Great story! Not very I find historical fiction in flash form. The addition of Orwell’s quote was a great choice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Actually, I find these flash fiction challenges just beg to be rendered as historical fiction, especially the Pegman, since it pins the writer to a specific piece of geography.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Excellent piece of historical fiction, making the important point that oppressed minorities are not second-class citizens. It’s shaming that society still has not fully learned that lesson.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apparently, achieving freedom is a long, drawn out affair and not a point event, Penny. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating tale.
LikeLike
I hope that means you like it. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, very much.
LikeLike
Great piece of history. I use this prompt for these things too. I knew nothing of Tulum until this morning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here, JHC.
LikeLike
This bit of history shocked me. Although I confess, the present day seems to shock me more and more. Well done historical fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Karen. I learn something new every day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting slice of history, and I like how you made Seward a “prophet” — that’s a great quote, and true in any age.
LikeLike
Thanks, Joy. It was the best quote I could find on short notice, though it doesn’t “fit” the era.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting take on the prompt.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jelli.
LikeLike
Dear James,
Bits and pieces of history melded together to make a good story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thanks, Rochelle. Nice to hear from the undisputed Queen of historical fiction. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You braided history, fiction and fact beautifully, James. Plus, once again, I’ve learned something new.
LikeLike
So did I, Alicia. Thanks.
LikeLike
Wonderful weaving of history and fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person