Meg Singleton

16th Street Baptist Church

 

I chose to create a video on the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. My favorite part about the video is the song that accompanies the images. What most people might not know is that the song was composed by John Coltrane in 1963 specifically in response to the bombings; it was meant commemorate the lives lost in the tragedy in Birmingham, Alabama – hence the name of the song. This shows that the misfortune that occurred in Birmingham that day in September of 1963 was not an isolated issue. People across the country and the world heard about the bombing; multiple songs have been written about the incident, and serve as an eternal memorial for those who died. The images of the bombing were taken from the archives of the Birmingham Public Library, and depict the aftermath of the incident. The poems that accompany the song and images were written by me in order to try and explain the history of the landmark in a more creative way. The poems also serve as an image in their own sense – the imagery, diction, and rhyme schemes that I chose to use within the poems are meant to show how the Civil Rights movement was an extremely emotionally-driven time period in our country’s history.

Description of the Location:

            The description of this Nationally Historic Landmark and its significance to African American communities is embedded in the video via the poems. Professor Strmic-Pawl and I agreed that I would not need to write a full 200-word description of the location and the incidents surround it as it would be redundant. Watch the video for a more entertaining description!

Kara Perrino

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These are pictures I took of my visual journal spread I did for this piece. A visual journal is a cross between a scrapbook and a journal for poems, stories, memories, or in this case assignments I find are better represented in a creative outlet. I used pictures I took while at the Penn Center and incorporated the map of the grounds, flowers I took from the grounds, and patterns and elements I found suitable to create imagery to accompany the poem I wrote in this spread.

Poem

Remember me
not just in the pictures
not only in the words
remember me in being here,
recall the landscapes curves
of my hips; my body may lie
beneath these hills
bones twisted among the roots
but I still see you clearly
feel your footsteps upon my familiar earth.

I’m not just in the paneling,
the buildings, cottages, and school,
peering through window panes
I’m the yellow jasmine blooms,
the pages of books in worn out rooms,
the tables and chairs in which you rest,
the wind you feel –
I am in your breath.

I am not a selective aid to memory
I am all –
every leaf, every tree
every blade of grass you see
not just the stone structure with faceless memory.

Remember my essence
in everything.
I am not gone,
I do not cease to be. 

Accompanying Statement to Poem

I chose to do a poem because I have always been fond of writing, so the excuse to create a poem from this field trip to the Penn Center was very exciting for me. I stuck with the theme of “remembrance” because on the bus ride to the Penn Center our group read very interesting articles on the importance of relationships with places and how certain landscapes can acquire meaning, in which certain places trigger acts of self-reflection. On this trip I found myself thinking not only of the school and center themselves as noteworthy places to reflect but of the physical earth itself, the very living, breathing, continuing ground that still grows and flourishes to this day. To me, the people who inhabited Penn Center and all of those who were a part of it will always be a part of it and that their essence there will be forever present in the scenery.

Dyshia Parks

dyshia

 

My trip to the Penn Center was quite interesting. I really enjoyed the speech and the livelihood of the material being brought forth. I was amazed at how the buildings in the slideshow resembled the buildings still on the land. The main things that stood out to me were the Historical marker, The Pine Cottage, The Museum, and The Gantt Cottage.

I was fond of the Gantt Cottage mainly because it housed Dr. King. I also liked the fact that it was not at all fancy and it still remains the way it appeared to be when Dr. King resided there. I also admired the fact that it resembled a house that we live in today. The Gantt Cottage is now used for an office for the Neighborhood legal Assistance.

I enjoyed this trip and I would recommend others going as well. You actually learn a lot of neat and meaningful things about the Gullah Community and the ancestors who played a part in this unique experience. A lot of things that were available in the museum were interesting as well. I truly enjoyed myself.

Brittany Hill

Avery Research Center

The location I chose was the Avery Normal School, which is currently the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture. “Normal” refers to a school for training teachers ofering classical education along with college prep classes. The school has provided services for about 100 years to several African American students. Studies have included music, science, philosophy, foreign language, grammar, math, etc. This school was the first secondary school for African American students in South Carolina that was formed by the American Missionary Association of New York City. Since the beginning of the institution in 1865 the name has been changed several times, as various people have been honored due to their contributions. The school was unfortunately closed in 1954 but Averyites, Alumni of Avery, kept the institution alive by working as a team to preserve the site and create an educational center for the public. Today the Avery Research Center offers five thousand printed documents, four thousand photos, and about two hundred manuscript collections. They also provide VHS tapes, artifacts, clipping files, and digital media. The center is open to anyone who would like to roam the historical site with plenty of African American art throughout the hallways and rooms, to learn about African roots, or to even rummage through archives in the reading room.

 

clark

Septima P. Clark Papers, Avery Research Center, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA

Upon entering the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is a breathtaking image of Septima Poinsette Clark. Ms. Clark is a Charlestonian who attended Avery Normal Institute and graduated in 1916 with her teacher’s certificate.  She then received her Bachelor’s from Benedict College and her Master’s from Hampton Institute.  As Clark entered the workforce she found it difficult to find jobs that paid equally to her Caucasian counterparts. Also laws stated that African Americans could not teach in the City of Charleston, so she taught on Johns Island for three years. Although she taught at several schools in South Carolina, the difficulty of finding a job encouraged her to become heavily involved in not only the civil rights movement but the feminist movement as well.  In 1956 it was documented that she lost her job teaching because she was involved with the NAACP. Throughout her lifetime she was involved in several women’s groups such as Coming Street Young Women’s Christian Association, SC Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, National Council of Negro Women, etc.  Ms. Clark passed away in Charleston on December 15, 1987 and has had an auditorium, day care, and highway named in honor of her contributions within South Carolina. (the crosstown—DT Chas.)

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Bryana Evans

Bryana

Located on majestic lands,
This safe haven holds a multitude of memories.
Memories of freedmen.
Memories of racial strife.
Memories of civil rights.
Under the leadership of Laura M. Townes an Ellen Murray,
One can only imagine the scrutiny these woman faced from faces unlike their own.
But with the help of God they prevailed!
As it is known today, the Penn Center withstood all opposition,
And today stands for all to see.
Revered.
Dignified.
Everlasting.
Upon visiting you’re simply in awe,
Immersed in the Gullah-Geechie culture.
No wonder this mantle of social justice has withstood the tests of time.
In honor of those sweet woman who founded
What was once a great school, I say thank you.
Without the dedication it took to move to foreign lands
Where whites and blacks did not mingle took courage.
Bless the souls that walk the grounds where Martin Luther King Jr. used to be.
Bless the people who continue to educate the world about the Penn Center and all of it’s successes.
God bless the Penn Center.

Accompanying Statement to Poem

This poem is a dedication to those who helped the Penn Center become such a success. Not only successful in educating the black youth of it’s time, but also for not conforming to the norms of the south. Starting during a time where black people and white people did not mix, Laura M. Townes and Ellen Murray were true saints. They did not let anything stop them from educating those less fortunate than themselves, and for that, so many black children were able to come out of the belief that blacks could not be educated.

 

Dontez Capel

Placed In History

Upon arrival, it was hard to say how I felt.

The taste, the touch and the scent I smelt,

Like liberation and freedom from the “ruler’s” spell. \ .

A sense of history was placed upon me—

An overwhelming sense of spiritual salvation

Accompanied by the almighty empowerment of the people.

On this island isolated from the wicked intention,

The youth could embrace teachings of higher dimension.

And overall influence the prevention

Of the unruly world’s way of apprehension.

 

Accompanying Statement to Poem

This excerpt is a poetic expression of the field trip to the Penn Center.  Upon arrival I did not know how I felt, it was unfathomable to be on this island—in fact, an island I never heard of.  How could such a prosperous establishment not be more recognized?  Within this establish remained the relics of past African American life, from old cabins to the tools used to build these old cabins.  Photographs of past Penn Center faculty, staff and students left haunting, surreal impressions of the struggle upon my mind.  It took isolation, upon an arrival, to achieve education standards amongst the African American youth.  Religious devotion also aided in the success of the Penn Center establishment.  With this knowledge of spirituality within the Penn Center grounds, it was hard to deny the presence of something almighty, something that intended to educate, possible, while protecting the sanctity of the Penn Center.  I could only help but feel a sense of community, while on this field trip with fellow classmates.  The sense of solidarity and community was immortalized when all classmates joined together for a photograph staged outside of the cabin MLK Jr. resided.  All classmates joined in the name of equality, and the inquisition to our nation’s history.   Here we were joined and placed in history, a history that could not have been capable without the presence and impact of the Penn Center.

Margaret Kapp

The Penn Center was the first freedman school to be established that began as an experiment to see if African Americans could actually be educated. There are several similarities between the beginnings of African American education and contemporary issues. First of all, there were separate schools. Even though they wanted to see if blacks could be educated, they did not want them in their current white schools so they created a whole different school for them. This is very similar to the “separate but equal” schools that were established during times of segregation. The schools were not necessarily equal because it seemed as if the white schools were usually more updated and all around a better learning space. Early black schools were very small and probably not as nice as some of the white schools. The Penn Center’s pictures of the early cabin in which they were taught indicated that there was not that much space for learning and they were on a very limited budget.

The Penn Center also eventually started teaching skills such as agriculture, carpentry, cobbling, and other fields which could help the locals obtain jobs. This type of schooling is similar to future African American colleges that teach the industrial arts such as the Tuskegee and Hampton Institutes.  The Penn Center developing such a curriculum as well as the establishment of other black colleges were big accomplishments for African American education.

The Penn Center has such a rich sense of African American culture as well as a proud educational history. It is astonishing that it began during the civil war and still exists today to celebrate African American culture and history. There is such a positive feeling associated with the Penn Center where as many colleges, especially with historical campuses do not celebrate the importance of African American history like the Penn Center. Many times they ignore the slavery that assisted in building the campuses as well as the first African Americans that attended those colleges. Often times, African Americans are the minorities at the colleges and they often times feel more disconnected to the campus than other students. Even in modern times, African Americans still deal with racial issues regarding education.

Many schools still deal with segregation that was present during the beginning of African American schools. As urban development continues to grow, there becomes an income divide among neighborhoods, which affects the school districts. Areas that are primarily low income, African Americans, often get stuck with inadequate schools for their children. This is a serious educational problem that shows hints of old issues we thought were had already crossed over.

Christine Ruscito

 

 

I chose to pair the photos of The Penn School with famous quotes about freedom and education. I decided to do this because they are the foundation of what The Penn School was, and the legacy it holds. The song I put behind the video is called “Toast to Freedom.” This song was written by nearly 50 artists and is dedicated to human rights activism around the world. While it was written from Amnesty internationals 50th anniversary I thought it was very appropriate for the message that the Penn Center holds. “Toast to Freedom,” supports human rights for all and The Penn School is an institution that was one of the first stepping-stones for the rights and education of slaves.

Lea Armstrong

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The East End of Asheville was described by a past resident as “a community, a neighborhood, self contained…It had hair-dressers. There were grocery stores, funeral parlors, cab stands. Eagle Street had doctors’ and lawyers’ offices, dentists’ offices, churches.  You had theaters. We had swimming pools. you had barbershops and the Dew Drop Inn. Miss McQueen’s restaurant was across from YMI. Rolands Jewelry and Chisholm’s sold everything.” What past East End resident, Ralph Bowen, is describing is a bustling African American community situated on the edge or what may now be considered central downtown Asheville. This is a historic community whose origins come out of slavery. The East End had been a vibrant black community dating back to the 1880’s “although African American presence dates back to the earliest times of slavery in Western North Carolina.” Asheville’s East End was likely the site of the homes of James Patton’s family’s slaves prior to the civil war. After the Civil War it is here that newly freed African Americans gathered to build their community which strove to provide social, commercial, religious, and educational opportunities in a time of segregation.  The East End was composed of a multitude of black owned businesses and countless homes covered over four hundred acres. It was a cultural center, a neighborhood, a community that shared a cohesive identity. This area encompasses a vibrant and rich piece of the history of Asheville. Sadly the process of Urban Renewal that took place in the 60’s and various other factors have left this once thriving community hardly recognizable.  Not much is left – a few churches, a handful of businesses, and boarded up buildings remain.  Fortunately there is a renewed interest in paying respect and revitalizing this important part of Asheville’s past.  These efforts can be seen in a collaborative effort to create a mural in Triangle Park, which stands in the East End down off Eagle Street. The mural is a work in progress but is nearly complete. It pays respect to the rich heritage of the East End and the countless contributions made by its residents.  While there is not much left to be seen down in the East End many who lived there remember the sense of community and they help to keep the spirit alive through their accounts and efforts to revitalize this once thriving landscape.

D’Andra Williams

19 buildings and structures on each side,

first formal school in the South

founded in 1862,

by Ellen Murray and Laura Towne

 

It started as a public school,

to provide formal education to freed slaves.

The first students were 9 adults,

which later would expand.

 

Ellen Murray and Laura Towne were Northern Missionaries,

volunteers, not getting paid for their work.

Ms. Towne called her favorite students “pets,”

I guess to them, it didn’t hurt.

 

Held at the Union Headquarters,

this school became a big deal.

More and more people heard about it,

and soon the first Penn School House would appear.

 

Three mobile homes were purchased,

placed side by side.

Penn School House is now in session

on St. Helena Island.

 

Students would row their boats to school,

with lunch pails by their sides.

Remember, the school has gotten much bigger,

so little children were down to ride.

 

Volunteers still teaching the students,

under harsh conditions in the weather.

From mosquitoes and hotness, to fever,

many volunteers didn’t make it.

 

As more students began to enroll,

the federal government couldn’t fund them anymore.

So the students had to pay tuition,

by roaming campus, doing mini chores.

 

Uniforms became mandatory

and students were taught reading, writing, and math.

But as the school got bigger, and more students enrolled,

the subjects expanded to industrial trades and crafts.

 

From sewing classes to sweet grass basket weaving,

from black smith classes, to garden digging.

From ironing, to carpentry,

the students were well rounded in learning.

 

Then soon, in 1948, Penn Center closed it’s doors as a private school,

because public schools were starting to take over.

Many students were dropping out,

because they couldn’t afford it anymore.

 

Later, Penn School became a mantle of social justice,

teaching people how to be successful.

Educating people on Civil Rights,

still maintaining the Gullah heritage.

 

Accompanying Statement to Poem

The Penn Center was the first formal academic school in the South, originally built to provide a formal education to former West African Slaves.  Penn Center later became more of a mantle of social justice, teaching people many things, and was one of the few places at the time where multiracial audiences felt safe.  Although the Penn Center has closed it’s doors as a private school, it’s heritage is still strong, as Penn Center has become the first African American site in South Carolina  whose primary purpose was to safeguard the heritage of Gullah Communities.