Fiddler on Pantico Run

Artist Statement

This ink drawing was inspired by the book “Fiddler on Pantico Run”, by Joe Mozingo. Joe is a White journalist who traced his family surname to Eduard Mozingo, a Sub-Saharan African. Eduardo, Joe's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather, was stolen from his home and family and brought to Virginia, in North America, in 1644. He went to court, sued, and won his freedom. He owned property, married a White woman, farmed his land, and raised two sons. Eduardo was hired to play the fiddle at White social functions. In 1644, if an enslaved person owned a fiddle, they were a fiddler. When laws changed in 1700, Eduardo was no longer allowed to own property. He wasn't allowed to be married to a White woman. My DNA test assigns 51.2% to Sub-Saharan Africa. One of my DNA relatives' grandmothers contacted me. She is a direct descendant of Eduardo Mozingo, who was brought to Virginia in 1644. I wasn't even finished reading Joe's book. I was awe-struck! I made this drawing, imagining Eduardo, on his land, playing the fiddle, enjoying his freedom.

— Linda Ternoir