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A descendant of a slave, Al Arnold, tells his journey of
embracing his Confederate heritage. His ancestor, Turner
Hall, Jr., a Black Confederate, served as a body servant
for two Confederate soldiers and an orderly for General
Robert E. Lee. Turner Hall, Jr. returned to Okolona,
Mississippi after the Civil War. Hall served a prominent
family in that community for five generations. His
life's journey eventually led him to Hugo, Oklahoma
where he established himself as the town's most
distinguished citizen receiving acclaim from Black and
White citizens alike for his service. In 1938, his
journey continued to Pennsylvania as the last Civil War
veteran from his community to attend the final Civil War
veteran reunion, as a Black Confederate. He also
traveled to New York City and was interviewed by the
national talk radio show, "We, The People" in 1940.
One hundred and three years after the Civil War, Hall's
great-great grandson, Al Arnold, was born in Okolona,
Mississippi. Raised in North Mississippi, Al would later
discover the history of his ancestor and began an eight
year journey of why, how and for what reasons his
ancestor served the Confederate armies? To his
amazement, Al discovered that seventy two years after
the Civil war, his ancestor was a proud Confederate and
held in his possession a cherished gift from the
Confederate Civil War general, Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Al's personal research discovered that his ancestor was
owned by Forrest and was enthusiastically warm toward
the general and his service to the Confederate armies.
This amazing connection to two famous Confederate
generals awakened a new perception of curiosity about
Confederate heritage in Al and challenged his
traditional thoughts. He grew to accept his heritage and
now embraces it with a desire to see African Americans
embrace Confederate heritage instead of rejecting it on
the notion of modern ideology. This is a deep personal
journey of faith, heritage, race and family wrapped
around the grace of God through the eyes and honest
thoughts of a modern black man. Al tells the story of
Turner Hall, Jr., his personal Confederate journey and
how family and faith has brought harmony to his new
found heritage. Arnold argues for the revitalization of
the lost Black history of the Civil War era. He bestows
dignity and honor on his Confederate ancestor and
challenges the traditional thoughts of modern African
Americans. Arnold rests in his faith as the uniting
force that reconciles our colorful past to our bright
future.
A NEW CAPTIVATING WORK BY AUTHOR AL ARNOLD
$25 plus $3.45 shipping
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Al Arnold, author
of Robert E. Lee’s Orderly: A Modern Black Man’s
Confederate Journey, takes a nod from one of his
favorite Mississippi authors, Willie Morris. In
his epic work, North Toward Home, Morris
showcases the South through the eyes of one who
grew up on the White side of the railroad
tracks. Arnold turns South Toward Home and
offers the world a telling view from the Black
side of the railroad tracks of yesterday, today,
and hereafter.
South Toward Home will jerk you into deep
thought, laughter, tears, and discovery. Arnold
reveals a tell-all on the forbidden African
American challenges of today, confronting topics
such as what to do with the Negro, abortion, the
Black Church, the Black College, raising Black
children in America, Black culture, and the
Christian faith. Arnold peers into the early
White community and slave culture of his
hometown.
Arnold’s story is one wild, captivating Southern
ride. Growing up in Verona, the oldest city in
Lee County and a historical Civil-War-era town,
Arnold runs against the grain of today’s cancel
culture and continues to trace his Black
Confederate ancestor’s footprints and share his
love for home by staying on a Southbound train.
Arnold dedicates his final swan song to his
beloved Confederate General, Robert E. Lee. All
aboard! This train is heading South Toward Home!
@Al-Arnold-5
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