By Jada Harris, Senior Journalism Major, Tennessee State University
This summer I had the opportunity to participate as an intern with seasoned professional journalists at CAMP REACH. As a college student majoring in journalism at Tennessee State University, I am passionate about captivating a story. Using this space I will share reflections on my personal experiences as well as observations from the teens, ages 14 to 17 who attend Camp REACH and learn valuable skills and explore varied activities.
Camp REACH students and volunteer professionals/instructors recently visited the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, less than 250 miles from Chattanooga. I was thrilled with the opportunity to attend. The Legacy Museum was one of several stops in June in Montgomery on a day-long field trip to learn more our history. Also visited were the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park.
Our Camp REACH group watched as ocean water rose across the screen at the Legacy Museum. Our group of teens and adults were captivated as we read the story of the beginning of enslaved Africans in America and as this history was displayed on the screen in blood red letters.
“I thank Jesus I don’t have to go through this,” said 13-year-old Rose Wright after learning about the cruelty that slaves experienced.
Some students remarked they didn’t know what lynching was until they saw the displays during the museum trip.
The museum exhibits showed how enslaved Africans were depicted as “cargos of human flesh.”
It was a terrifying and deadly journey that separated 12 million black people from their homes, ancestors, and land. More than 2 million of them died; but for those who survived, the horror of slavery began!! according to museum exhibits.
“It’s important to understand, even though this was a short period in our history, how devastating it was,” said Adrian Edwards, executive director of the Mary Walker Foundation which sponsors Camp REACH annually.
The museum exhibits emphasized the connection between slavery in America and the disproportionately high number of blacks in prison.
Edwards said the trip is among several he wants to offer to Camp REACH students as a focus to inform students about their past and to inspire their future. He stated that he wants younger people to “be aware of the shoulders they stand upon”.
Camp REACH students said now that they know this portion of history, they have a responsibility to tell others what they learned.
Halfway through the museum tour Camp REACH director Dr. LaTonya Pinkard sighed deeply and bowed her head to the floor.
“I know my history. I’ve taught our history but to see this all in one space, I’ve just got to sit with it and let the emotions settle,” she said.
Hanging along the walls were various poems scattered. Each poem telling a different story. One poem that stood out, in particular, was a poem by Abel Meeropol. The poem is titled, ‘strange fruit’.
“Southern trees bear a strange fruit. Blood on the leaves and at the root. Black body swinging in the southern breeze. Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.” – Strange Fruit, Abel Meeropol. Seen midway through the tour, the poem evoked a whirlpool of emotions. And, placed beside the poem was a wall with quotes and pictures from African Americans who have departed; each story different than the next. Though the stories differed they all still had one common factor; they all (each person) lost their life to racism in America.