I did not grow up learning about Hiram Ulysses Grant, or hearing much. I am grateful to be able to glean positivity from his legacy as it is one shared intimately with the history of conflict. Reading his memoirs feels like a real conversation with my grandfather and not like a history lesson. When I went to High School in S.C. with Jefferson Davis' descendent, she was a young girl the same age as me. She was well aware of her family's social pressures while I lived without anyone knowing who I was, not even myself. She and I were friends, almost two decades later do I realize "who" we were. I studied medieval and European history under the descendent of John C. Calhoun; Mr. Calhoun was my homeroom and history teacher. A day didn't go by where we didn't have to discuss Clemson's games before our lesson (much to my dismay). Coach nicknamed me after Geoffrey Chaucer: "Geoff" and it stuck. He thought my egregious joke making and constant raising my hand was just like the author's character in "A Knight's Tale", we watched parts of the film in class for the historical costuming. None of our heritages mattered while I was a student there, only that we learn as much as possible about history. He wanted us to have fun and act like a team no matter what we were doing and that was a first for me. That is also why forgiveness and mercy were key at the end of the Civil War, Grant knew his children would be shoulder to shoulder with the children of the Confederacy for the rest of time. I was also fortunate enough to be blessed with learning US History in college under Dr. Warren Barbour, a friend of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a former Civil Rights Activist.  He was the inspiration for my move into the field of Anthropology. 

In November 2019, at the "Warrior Tradition" screening at Buffalo WNY PBS station I had the joy of meeting my cousin, John Grant, who was the historical documentary producer. After the screening I met Ely S. Parker's descendent and shook his hand. I highly recommend you to watch the documentary about our Native servicemen and Veterans, both of foreign and domestic conflict. I spoke briefly with others privately among the crowd about the restoration of Seneca Park land on Buffum St. to permanent care under the Natives. We observed an incredible gallery of artworks by Native artisans.
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In many regards, he and I share the same genes, yet modern medicine spared me the same fate by removing the same organs that took his, 107 years later when I was a newborn. 
His story is the story of the United States of America; I don't feel it is mine to share so I am creating my own. 
The story of disease following war, disease following technological progress; The reality of hope and creativity emerging from personal struggle & Cancer is American, and fundamentally human. The story of the Reconstruction still continues today as we stride forward on the shoulders of giants. Please read about some of the most important work of the Reconstruction here; PBS: NOVA. 
He was not just a President, a General, a loving father, husband and grandfather; before any of these he was an artist. He proved that anyone can take charge of their meager beginnings and turn them into "luminous ends", as E. E. Cummings would say.

I am honored to announce Ely S. Parker is being posthumously admitted to the NYS Bar as of November 2025.