In 1776, a “groomsman” was defined as a man or boy who was in charge of the overall care of horses.
General George Washington’s groomsman was a 12-year-old slave named Jocko Graves. Historical documents indicate two Continental Army deaths occurred when the British were attacked and killed at Trenton, New Jersey on Dec. 26, 1776 but that’s not true. Jocko died too.
Jocko was the son of Tom Graves, a Black man who answered the call to fight in the Revolutionary War. Jocko followed his father into the army and was assigned a duty safer for a child. He was asked to hold up a lantern to mark the return point for the Colonial Army in the dark of the night after the retreat from the Battle of Trenton.
According to legend, little Jocko was found frozen to death on the Pennsylvania shore while still holding the lantern when Washington and his men returned.
The lantern was still lit and in his frozen hand. After Washington returned to his home in Mount Vernon, he commissioned a cast iron statue of Jocko holding a lantern and named it the “Faithful Groomsman” in honor of Jocko’s dedication and faithfulness to his country.
In 1776, Christmas was not yet an elaborate celebration, but the statue soon became a popular Christmas decoration with it becoming one of the first forms of Christmas lighting. As time passed, the statue was then referred to as a lawn jockey. The lantern was replaced with a round circle that was used as a hitching post in front of homes.
The statues still usually depicted a young Black boy or man but their colorful clothing was that of a horse jockey. The statues eventually became commonplace as a welcoming symbol for guests and decorative for those who preferred an old south or equestrian style.
Some historians claim the lawn jockey was utilized during the Civil War as part of the Underground Railroad network.
Charles L. Blockson, an American historian who specializes in the history and culture of African Americans, continental Africans, and the African diaspora throughout the rest of the world, states the statues were critical to guiding slaves to freedom and safety before and during the Civil War. He believes the statues are enduring symbols of black courage and perseverance, but also a reminder of the racial tensions that remain in the United States today.
Black lawn jockey statues were used during the Civil War period as a means to provide signals to slaves who moved to Northern states and Canada. The jockey’s appearance gave many clues that helped Blacks who escaped slavery in the Southern states.
For example, a green ribbon tied to the statue indicated safety, red ribbons indicated danger, a striped jockey shirt indicated the home was a place to swap horses, a footman wearing a tailored coat meant overnight lodging and food was available, and a blue sailor’s waistcoat meant the homeowner could take the slave to a port for a ship to Canada. An American flag attached to a statue also meant it was safe to stop at a home and seek respite.
After World War II, the statues were used in yards in the north and south as a symbol that a white homeowner supported early Civil Rights efforts and were not members of the Ku Klux Klan. However, it is rare to see a homeowner display a statue today because of its controversy. Many people who see a Black lawn jockey consider them racist or offensive because they don’t know their origin.
Many modern historians consider the statue an icon to the memory of Jocko Graves as he served his country.
There is very little primary historical evidence to support the claim that the statues were used to guide slaves during the Civil War. In any case, they were never meant to be offensive or racist and were intended as a symbol of the road to freedom.
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