Martha R Bireda

Obi: Seminole Maroon Freedom Fighter Martha R Bireda

Obi: Seminole Maroon is a fictionalized account of the daring escape of a 15 year old enslaved young man and his friends from a cotton plantation in South Carolina who find refuge among the Seminoles of Florida. The story follows Obi's meeting with the mysterious Quashee, his transformation from slave to freedom seeker and his escape to Florida. Through the "learnings" provided by Quashee, Obi develops the traits essential for his becoming a Maroon leader, establishing a Maroon village, his fighting in the Gullah Wars of Independence, going to Indian Territory out West, and his subsequent escape to Mexico. Obi: Seminole Maroon Freedom Fighter has been reviewed and recommended by a team of educators. One member of the team, a middle school principal has suggested that "The story of Obi is an action adventure that middle school students will love". Martha R. Bireda, Ph. D., is the Founder and Executive Director of the Blanchard House Museum of African American History and Culture of Charlotte County (FL). She is Director of the Museum's Maroon Study Center, and the New Image Project, a project dedicated to positive identity development of youth of color. Dr. Bireda is the author of six books including The Trabue Woods Book of Values, a book for youth designed to teach lessons in values and character. She has previously designed youth curricula including Developing into Womanhood: Tasks and Skills, a curriculum for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Female Initiative Program, administered by the African American Leadership Council; and the Trust for the Development of African American Youth Curriculum and Training Manual for the Greater Tampa Urban League, Tampa, Florida.