Parker Robbins, from "free black" to Union Soldier and Republican Legislator and Skilled Mechanic

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Parker Robbins, born in North Carolina, July 5th 1834. His parents being Chowanoke Indian and African-American, the state considered him a free black. He owned a 102-acre farm.

During the Civil War, Robbins fled to Union-controlled Norfolk and enlisted to fight against the Confederacy. He rose to sergeant-major with the 2nd U.S. (Colored) Cavalry.
Peace restored, Robbins became a fervent Republican. He won two terms in the state house and was delegate to the 1868 constitutional convention. He signed an Address to the Colored People of North Carolina that denounced Democrat depravities.

President Ulysses Grant appointed Robbins local postmaster. Later years, the skilled mechanic invented machines for planting cotton and sharpening saw blades. He constructed a steam boat as well as many houses.

Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandoldpartisan.com. 

Here is a YouTube Video about this article.

Here is a TikTok Video about this article.

Here is an Instagram Video about this article.

Here is my Substack about this article.

Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.


Each day, his YouTube videos and TikTok videos and Rumble videos and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states.

Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.

"This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!"

"Your book is a national treasure. I'm always recommending it."

"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."

and

"one of the best books I ever read"

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