What Nance Means to Us
Pekin Community High School students reflect on the legacy of Nance Legins-Costley
About This Project
To honor the legacy of Nance Legins-Costley and to celebrate the dedication of her memorial in Pekin, Illinois, this website was created to house a portfolio of Pekin Community High School student generated work celebrating Nance.
For this multi-disciplinary project, students from Creative Writing, Art, State and Local History, Psychology, and American Government and Civics courses found inspiration in former Pekin resident Nance Legins-Costley's historic story.
All writing and art in this compendium was generated by PCHS students. We invite you to learn more about not only Nance's story, but how her legacy is impacting students to this day.
Nance's Life
Illinois House Resolution HR0232
Commemoration of
Nance Legins-Costley
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/103/HR/10300HR0232.htm
Student Created biographical video:
Student Artwork
In Memory
By Maya Follis
Nance Legins Costley lived a life of graciousness,
Her heart was full of love, her spirit alight.
She stood for justice, a woman of might.
She pleaded for what was right.
Her impact was felt far and wide,
For justice, equality, for a future so bright.
And in doing so, she shone like a light.
Her spirit lives on, her memory in place,
She showed the power of love, the power of truth,
In doing so she showed us to continually pursue.
A Life of Your Own
by ellie hill
Born without choice
Your life was not your own
silenced your voice
And left you all alone
Traded like coin
And labor was your worth
Property conjoined
You an object from birth
Raised with family
Till sold from stupidity
A debt they made you pay
Till troubles arise
and used words devise
To arrange the master away
Trade hands again
a glimpse of freedom glimmers
Help from a friend
In court they hope to be winners
But oh disaster
Trial rules someone is owed
Even dead master
Can't lighten your undue payload
with help, they try again
they succeed with a new friend
And feed the antislavery sown
Your life was your own.
Poetry
A Pillar of Hope
by Danielle Ramsey
She stood tall. She stood strong.
No pavement could cover up her history.
Having 8 kids and a will from heaven.
How did she do it? It's no mystery.
Not only a real woman, but a mother.
An impact she made will forever be remembered.
An appeal process that took 5 years.
Abraham Lincoln even took her case and started switching gears.
The world knew of its own corruption,
But she was the one that made an actual eruption.
A slave to some. A woman to the rest.
She never gave up, until she cleaned up the world's mess.
Nance took a stand. Abraham gave her a hand,
But she did it on her own.
Making the government become one.
She stood tall. She stood strong.
No pavement could cover up her history.
An Unforgettable Tale
by Lucas McGinnis
Nance Legins-Costley's tale is told
Of a slave who dared to be bold.
With Lincoln's help, her chains were loosed.
Her courage and fight, a freedom's boost.
Through her struggle, a path was paved.
For dignity, equality, to be saved.
Her legacy, an inspiring story
Of hope, perseverance, and glory.
Nance Legins-Costley
by Liv Summers
You walk on the ground I lay
With no evidence of my existence
Asphalt suffocating the ground beneath
All of my resistance - buried.
A white man freed me
But what about my legacy?
The fight for my rights
Not credited the way it should be
I was the reason he formed his firm stance
The first of millions free from the hands
That once wrapped around our hearts,
Forcing it to beat for them.
Once just a teen standing up for all people
Grew to be a woman; a mother; an equal
So while I lay and you walk,
Think of the beginning when they talk
Of the millions of us whose rights were fought.
Legacy Reflections
“To carry on her legacy for fighting for personal liberty, I can advocate for equal rights and opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their race or background. I can also educate myself and others about the history of slavery and its ongoing impact in society. Overall, just to work towards a more equitable and just world.”
“I can try and carry on her legacy by not settling for anything and always fighting for what's right not just because the majority agrees with it. It won’t always be the right thing to do.”
“She shows a fighting spirit, always standing up for what is right no matter
how long it takes. Without her, Abe Lincoln probably wouldn’t have been so
adamant on ending slavery. I plan on carrying on Nance’s legacy
by speaking up against what is wrong no matter how long it takes for things to change.”
“To carry on her legacy, I will remember the bravery and determination that she had
and use it as a motivation to stick up for myself. I will recall her historic legacy
when I am feeling defeated or confiscated of my own personal liberty and use it to
stick up for others as well.”
“How you can carry on her legacy is simple: fight for those that can’t fight for themselves, use the power that you have to make a difference for those that can’t do so because of the limited power that they have.”
“I will personally continue to remember why she was put in this position, and how we, as a community, may never let something like it happen again. America, and Pekin,
must continue to remember their names, and remember the fight for freedom.”
“But one way that I could do so myself is to stand up against racism at school, at
work, and future interactions. Smaller things such as correcting people when they
use derogatory language toward those of color, or bigger things such as participating
in protests, anything to defend the rights of everyone helps carry the legacy.”
"we must
continue her legacy for fighting, as every citizen should be treated with kindness
and equity. Afterall, the battle is not won, until no citizen feels unsafe because of
their skin color.”
“If you want to carry on Nance's legacy, you need to follow in her footsteps:
fight for what you believe in, fight for equality in your community. Fight for what
you believe is right.”
“We can continue to carry on her legacy through standing up for what we believe in,
as well as never giving up when it comes to getting justice and fighting for our rights.
I believe that she is very significant because although nobody
who lives in Pekin believes that they can make a big difference, Nance showed us
that you can as long as you keep fighting.”
“This story inspires me to fight for my own rights and “personal liberty”. As a queer
woman, I will continue to fight for the voice and equality of all women, and the
equality of all queer people. I will not be overlooked by society and
its greed, I am just as important as anyone else.”
"She defied the rules of normality to demand her freedom
during this excruciating period. This not only took bravery; but great strength too. With the help
of Abraham Lincoln, she was able to earn her freedom even though she came from a family of
illiterate and poor slaves. This very trial also helped shape the attitudes and pursuits Lincoln had
towards slavery that would one day mold him to be the man he was."
Historical Impact
“Legins- Costley is an exemplary example of what the citizens of America should be: If something goes wrong, change it. If that doesn’t work, try again until it does. She was, and remains to be, a source of inspiration for those looking to make a difference. All they need to do is embrace their convictions, as she did.”
“With Nance Legins-Costley having her own history in Pekin, she served significance to our town, and represents her race as a freed slave. If we can educate the people of Pekin, and give her the representation she deserves, that’s already doing more to alleviate the prejudice of colored men and women, and pacify the ignorance, as well as the indifference.”
“Nance’s story shows that no matter who you are or where you come from,
you should always fight for what you believe in.”
“Her persistence in fighting for something she knew was right, really should teach
us all a lesson. It should teach us to never give up on something we truly believe in,
no matter how trivial it may seem. While her victory was and should never be
seen as trivial, it is just how we should connect it to our own lives today.”
“The bravery that Nance had to stand up for herself gave many others the
same opportunity. She taught society to stick up for themselves and fight for freedom.”
“Nance Legins-Costley will always signify the importance of freedom. She showed
immense strength in her battle for liberty, which is something we can all learn from. Her
story will always be remembered as one of bravery and resilience.”
“Being the first freed slave by Lincoln aside, her bravery and determination alone was admirable. But Fighting in court as many times as she had, while being black and female, and getting denied almost every time, but still having the bravery to do it all over again, deserves far more recognition than she received, and I think Pekin should be far more proud to have a woman like this come from our town.”
“It shows how one person can make a change for many people.”
“Let her life set an example for all to fight for freedom and take a stand whenever
discrimination or bondage comes our way.”
“Her Bravery and perseverance through the time thoroughly highlights the raw strength and will she had in her, fighting in multiple cases through that time where racism was not only generalized but encouraged, is insane. Each person can fight for your personal liberties by advocating for yourself and others, if you don't like a policy that you feel discriminates against you. You can do this through peaceful protest or if anything be smart and get a good lawyer like Nance.”
“The significance that Nance Legins-Costley has brought to our town is creating equality for people of all colors and showing that just because of skin color didn’t mean she couldn’t be loved. She showed other people at that time that they could achieve freedom if they put their minds to it. Eventually, everyone did have freedom. It started with people like Nance who fought for it until eventually slavery was abolished nationwide. We can carry on her legacy by continuing to fight for equality amongst all people whether it be about race, age, gender, or literally anything else. I will fight for freedom and equality for all people.”