Callie House is an unknown epic heroine in African American history. She thought America’s debt to its more than four million enslaved founders was long overdue. Once a slave, she felt it was her right to be owed for her many years of hard labor. Callie House created the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association. This organization was created to help ex-slaves that demanded reparations for the years of hard labor. Callie was born into slavery in Rutherford County near Nashville, Tennessee, in 1861.
In 1862 and early 1863, when Callie was a toddler, the Union Army swept through Tennessee. Her family was among the thousands of so-called contraband — slaves who either ran away or whose masters fled — in their wake. Callie intensely desired education that they immediately began to teach one another. Obtaining an education put Callie and other black students at risk. In 1883, at age 18, Callie left her sister’s home and married William House. Later on in life, Callie House became one of the founders of the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association. House felt that all ex-slaves should be repaid for all their pain and suffering due to all the years of enslavement, that’s when the National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association was conceptualized. House joined others who also felt the same as her. The National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association was created in 1899. Mrs. House and her colleagues worked to establish chapters across the former slaveholding states. House encouraged members to sign petitions to congress and held conventions. House had a major problem after the Post Office Department denied the association the use of the mails, but this didn’t end her plight. After working hard, House eventually had officials behind her and supporting her cause.
“My face is black its true but it’s not my fault but I love my name and my beauty in dealing with my fellow man."
Between 1901 and 1915, Mrs. House and the harassed and beleaguered Ex-Slave Association continued to organize local chapters to deliver medical and burial aid to aged members and their families. In March of 1916, instead of relying on fraud orders to strangle the movement, they decided to prosecute Callie House. Essentially, they punished her for exercising her constitutional right to petition the government and teach other ex-slaves to do so, but she was unanimously charged with obtaining money or property by false or fraudulent pretenses or promises.
In March of 1916, Lee Douglas presented the case against House to a federal jury in Nashville. Three months later, the all-white jury returned an indictment charging House with violating the postal laws. After her release from prison, House returned to her home in South Nashville and in years following, the great migration of blacks to the North and West grew from a trickle to a stream. African Americans were drawn to economic opportunities. Black businesses in Nashville and elsewhere reached its peak.
Because of Callie House’s undying tenacity, it was possible for blacks in America to have successful lives although they had endured such an unforgiven struggle. House is not only an African American hero, but a black, female hero. She was one of many who paved the way for feminine righteousness of this generation.
“My whole soul and body are this ex-slave movement and are willing to sacrifice for it.”
