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Different Stories But One Common Thread
by
Mar. 6, 2008
On Sunday February 24, about 50 gathered at Faith Community Church to hear the stories of communities from the past - Sugartown, Persimmon Grove, Bass Chapel, Collin Grove and Raleigh Crossroads. Mildred Brown, John Hughes, Frank Miller, Theresa Meachum, James Raleigh and Mary Sapp all had different stories of communities that are lost, nearly extinct or being gentrified through urban re-development and suburban sprawl. At the end of the gathering many similarities held the pre-civil rights communities together. Their willingness and determination could all be heard in their voices as they fought to have education. It was interesting to hear Juanita Brown describe what it was like to walk several miles to catch the bus, only to hear the last speaker James Raleigh laugh as he described a similar story of getting up at the crack of dawn to drive the same kids including Juanita Brown from the black neighborhoods to school. Different stories but a common thread could quickly be seen!
It was clear from hearing the panelists talk that racism existed however it didn’t seem to be the focus of the panelists at all. So if those in attendance had expected a bashing party this was not the event to do so. However, this event spoke to how with perseverance the individuals and communities were able to overcome if they banded together. They had no time to discuss the inequalities but only time to focus on the promise of tomorrow. It was clear inequalities existed but the panelists celebrated the strong communities and the unity that existed.
It was clear that Mrs. Meachum’s family was determined that she would have an education and that the community played a role in this task. Mrs. Meachum wasn’t allowed to attend public school because desegregation had not occurred and she couldn’t attend Dudley either because she lived in the county. So, the community banded together to find her a place to live while she attended private school.
The churches also played a major role in the communities all represented at the event. The panelists shared wonderful stories of the unity revivals at the churches. Certainly, the churches recognized strength in unity because they closed down their respective churches on Sunday to go support the each other at – Bass Chapel, Collin Grove, Persimmon Grove and Raleigh Crossroads.
The richness of their stories prompted those in the audience to ask questions about creating oral histories. Everyone agreed the stories told by Mr. Hughes and Mr. Miller, the rich discussions by Mrs. Sapp and her persimmon pudding and by Mr. Raleigh’s family broom business all needed to be recorded. The hope is that when the last of these communities are gone and the only thing that remains are the churches because they are historic and the communities are extinct, the same stories can heard at Faith Community Church on February 24, 2008, on "Revisiting Sustainable African American Communities in the Greater Greensboro Area."