CCS students study local African-American history
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| Several Christchurch School students under the direction of Amanda Porter have been working with the Middlesex County Museum to collect historical information on life during slavery and immediately after slavery ended in the county. Last Thursday the students created a display of what they have learned and placed it in the annex building of the museum. School seniors participating in the program are, from left, Eric Siegel, Lauren Waite, Thomas Dintino, Pat Young and Julius Conway. (Photo by Larry Chowning) |
One year ago, Christchurch School students staged a peaceful sit-in to emphasize to school administrators their desire to observe Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in a meaningful way. The administration listened, and the entire Christchurch community held a day of community service in honor of Dr. King.
This year, the students asked to commemorate Dr. King Jr.’s birthday in a new way. They challenged diversity coordinator Amanda Porter (’93) with their desire for an even more thought-provoking observation of the day.
And thought-provoking it was! Students agreed they would like to explore the history of Middlesex County. By group, the students did independent research on an assigned “location” or point of historical significance in the African American history and culture from the founding of the county through today. They then dispersed throughout Middlesex to explore their locations in person.
Two groups were lucky enough to receive an invitation from Middlesex NAACP Unit #7091 to attend the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at The Beacon, where they were recognized for the project and were interested to hear keynote speaker Dr. Marion Tapscott’s message.
Another group traveled to Richmond to the Virginia Historical Society, where they went behind the scenes of the Unknown No Longer Project to view the collections.
Groups visited and researched the following Middlesex locations: Wilton slave house, Walboro slave cabin, Union Shiloh church and school, Calvary Baptist Church, First Baptist of Amburg, Grange slave cabin, Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Courthouse, Middlesex Museum, Stingray Point, Urbanna waterfront, Old St. Clare Walker School, and Marshall’s Drug Store.
On Monday afternoon, students and faculty returned to campus to meet with the following local speakers: Bessida White, president of the Middle Peninsula African American Genealogical and Historical Society of Virginia; Sherman Holmes, neighbor, legendary musician and nephew of St. Clare Walker; Juanita Tabb, who heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak in August of 1963 and was involved in organizing the NAACP and the Voter League here in Middlesex County; Rosetta Jarvis, one of 29 students who attempted to integrate the schools in West Point and eventually attended St. Clare Walker; and Joan Gosier, author of “Cotton Picking Paycheck.”
On Tuesday, you could hear a pin drop in Scott chapel as Pinkie Holmes read Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream.”
Porter continues to work with the students who are gathering all the research they did to produce an exhibit for the Middlesex County Museum. She said, “I was excited to see that our students, many of whom are from outside the area, suggested a project that would help them learn about and come in contact with so much Middlesex County History. It has also been a joy to meet so many people in our community who were willing to share their experiences with our students.”
Monday’s activities dovetailed beautifully with the school’s Great Journeys curriculum, which helps students discover their infinite value by using Christchurch’s unique location and local resources to provide a rigorous education. Headmaster Jeb Byers observed, “Today’s activities were a brilliant example of place-based education. Many Middlesex County citizens gave freely of their time to connect with our students, to personalize and bring to life the civil rights movement and the long struggle for freedom and justice. Our diversity coordinator, Amanda Porter, envisioned a wide-ranging program that would have impact on a generation of students who were born in the mid-1990s and only know of the major events and leaders of the movement through history lessons and documentary film. The people of Middlesex County responded to this vision by telling their stories in ways that our students will remember and make part of their own lives.”
