BCC in UNCG's Carolinian: "Center hopes to keep community remembering"

by Rebekah Cansler

Mar. 4, 2008

[The Grassroots History Project's Revisiting Sustainable African American Communities Gallery Opening was featured in UNCG's student newspaper, the Carolinian. ]

Greensboro has a very rich history, but are we familiar with it? The Beloved Community Center wants to make sure that the younger generation understands and remembers the hardships, joys, and triumphs of their black ancestors. The BCC calls their endeavors "The Grassroots History Project," and say the hope to help the Greensboro community realize what a unique and wonderful past it has.

Faith Community Church in downtown Greensboro held a panel discussion Sunday, Feb. 24 where the oldest members of the four original African American communities were invited to speak about their lives as children. The oldest speaker in attendance was Mrs. Mary Sapp, 97. She belongs to the Persimmon Grove's community. The names of the other communities are Sugartown/Bass Chapel, Collin Grove, Woodyside/Persimmon Grove, and Raleigh Crossroad/Persimmon Grove.

Lewis Brandon, BCC Grassroots History Coordinator, gave an estimate of the size one community, Raleigh Crossroad/Persimmon Grove, covered.

It started at Guilford College and went all the way to the Macy's Department Store off of Wendover," explained Brandon.

The speakers at the Sunday panel discussion talked about the churches and schools being the binding part of the communities. All these communities have close bonds, because over time people began to intermarry with each community, making the bonds grow stronger. Brandon also expressed that even though these communities were poor, no one knew it because of the close sense of belonging these environments gave.

Now the communities are all but extinct because of development of businesses, housing, and annexation in Greensboro. Only some of the original houses and the four church cemeteries still remain. The four churches in theses communities are still active, but their original buildings have been torn down and rebuilt. This is such the case with Persimmons Grove Church.

BCC at Faith Community Church felt the need to host this event because they want the public to see and participate in this great history. BCC is also dedicated to tracking down historical information pertaining to theses communities and documenting it so the information cannot be lost.

BCC helped N.C. A&T with the dance production of "Bullet Holes in the Wall: Reflections on Acts of Courage in the Struggle for Liberation" by providing materials and research information.

There is still an exhibit going on at Faith Community Church at 417 Arlington Road. The staff expressed that they would be happy to talk with any students who are interested.

A history exhibit and discussion is a yearly goal for the BCC. They decide what part of history they would like to focus on for that year and then they collecting information and preparing to host an event.

When asked what the BCC hoped to convey with their efforts, Brandon answered that he wants the student population to realize that these were thriving communities. They had a strong economic basis and even though theses people had just come out of slavery and segregation, they were still able to create such powerful and lasting communities.

BCC realizes that they cannot bring back the past, but they can certainly keep it alive.

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