Sites linked to Black history are emerging as hotspots for a new wave of “heritage tourism”
Photo Courtesy National Park Service
Plazas where enslaved people were once bought and sold and spots where civil rights marchers were beaten have become sought-out destinations for visitors amid a rise in Black heritage tourism, Axios’ Steph Solis and Russell Contreras report.
Why it matters: Following the murder of George Floyd four years ago, advocates have been transforming abandoned sites of racial pain into places of pilgrimages to pay homage to those who fought for social justice.
The big picture: Cultural heritage tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments in travel.It involves “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present,” according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
State of play: For years, many sites linked to crucial moments in Black history sat forgotten, abandoned or visited by just a few diehard history buffs.Recently, once-overlooked places like the community of Africatown in Mobile, Alabama, have become a must-visit for Black heritage tourists.Descendants of the Clotilda — the last known U.S. slave ship to bring captives from Africa — now offer “The Africatown Experience Boat Tour” every month.Florida has located civil rights sites in the state for visitors, Mississippi has mapped the Blues Trail (to be explored with a Spotify playlist) and advocates in Texas are working to locate sites linked to the Underground Railroad to Mexico.
Zoom in: Boston is among the many cities now honoring previously ignored historic sites. Clennon King, whose father was an attorney for Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists, has compiled a list of at least 21 sites related to the Kings’ early life in Boston.At his urging, city officials recently approved a resolution to establish the King’s Heritage Trail.Plaques have gone up highlighting the former Twelfth Baptist Church site and the Lincoln Apartments, where the Kings lived as newlyweds.
Yes, but: Beyond Boston’s Black Heritage Trail, the region’s history of Black-led abolitionist efforts, jazz musicians and civil rights leaders has all but faded into obscurity.Most of it would remain buried were it not for Black historians’ and other educators’ efforts to unearth the evidence.
What they’re saying: “A lot of our desire as Black folks is to really understand where we come from,” tourism consultant Kelly McCoy tells Axios.Black heritage tourism has become popular as an inexpensive opportunity to “tell our true narrative,” McCoy adds.”You get a better sense of the place, the space and possibility. You can almost imagine going back in time and see what it would have really looked like. You can talk to the ancestors.”
What’s next: The National Monument to Freedom — a new monument honoring 4 million enslaved Black people who were emancipated at the end of the Civil War — is expected to open next year in Alabama.The monument will be part of the planned Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, a 17-acre site of large-scale sculptures that will tell the story of enslaved Black Americans, set to open soon.
News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2024 Contact: Mahogany Waldon, 757/728-5316 mahogany.waldon@hamptoncvb.com
Hampton celebrates Women’s History Month with a series of events
Hampton, VA – In honor of Women’s History Month, the vibrant city of Hampton, Virginia, is set to host a series of empowering, educational, and entertaining events throughout the month of March. These events aim to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women throughout history and inspire present and future generations. Be sure to check out the following things to do as you embrace women empowerment in Hampton!
Port Hampton Culture Series Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter, Conductor, Nurse, Soldier, Spy Monday, March 4, 7-8 pm Museum members free, non-members $5 Harriet Tubman was a soldier, Underground Railroad conductor, nurse, and spy, and staunch advocate for African American rights. Yet, her most important role was that of a fierce advocate, defender, protector, and supporter of African American rights.
In her presentation, Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander will explore the life of this woman whose journeys took her from Maryland to Philadelphia, Auburn, New York, St. Catherines, Canada, and Hampton, Virginia, where Tubman served as the head matron in the Colored Hospital at Fort Monroe.
Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander is the Endowed Professor of Virginia Black History and Culture, Emeritus Director of the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Center for the Study of the African Diaspora, and former Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Norfolk State University.
She’s the author of Virginia Waterways and the Underground Railroad (2017), An African American History of the Civil War in Hampton Roads(2010), co-authored Black America Series: Portsmouth (2003), Hampton Roads: Remembering Our Schools (2009), and co-edited Voices from within the Veil: African Americans and the Experience of Democracy (2008). Dr. Newby-Alexander has appeared on a number of national programs and documentaries including PBS’s Many Rivers to Cross, the History Channel’s Race, Slavery and the Civil War, and C-SPAN’s broadcasts on history.
Impactful Women of Fort Monroe Walking Tour Fort Monroe Authority Wednesdays in March, 1-2 p.m. 30 Ingalls Road Every Wednesday in March at 1 p.m., the Fort Monroe Authority will host a profound walking tour for Women’s History Month. Celebrate the contributions to history, culture and society by the women of Fort Monroe. Explore what it takes to make a lasting change and how these women are an inspiration for future generations. This tour is free and open to the public. It includes moderate activity level, with limited places to sit. Tour starts at the Visitor and Education Center. No registration required.
Women Who Lead with Purpose Bryant & Stratton College- Hampton Thursday, March 21 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. 5030 Kilgore Avenue Registration required In honor of Women’s History Month, BSC-Hampton is hosting the upcoming “Women Who Lead with Purpose” Symposium Thursday, March 21st starting at 5:30pm. This year’s speakers include Captain Janet H. Day, Commanding Officer, Naval Station Norfolk, Michelle Ellis Young, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA-South Hampton Roads, and Mary Bunting, City Manager, City of Hampton, Virginia.
So make plans to attend this event so that you can hear from some amazing leaders in the 757 who can offer fantastic advice on how to enter and remain successful in your business and/or community endeavors. To register, click here.
Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the 70s Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m. The American Theatre 125 East Mellen Street Don’t miss the Tony nominated Broadway star and Platinum selling singer/songwriter in “Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the 70’s” for a night of rousing and beautiful classics. Callaway covers hits from the great songwriters of the time-Carole King, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, John Lennon and more. And she puts her own stamp on the unforgettable songs from some of the greatest female performers in history including Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack and other beloved singers of the time. For a feel-good time of holding hands, clapping, singing along and taking a walk down memory lane, this is the show to see!
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Women’s History 1: Flyer provided by Fort Monroe Authority Women’s History 2: Flyer provided by Bryant and Stratton College – Hampton Campus Women’s History 3: Portrait of Harriet Tubman, Library of Congress
Partially bordered by the Hampton Roads harbor and Chesapeake Bay, Hampton, with the 344,000 sq. ft. Hampton Roads Convention Center and the award-winning Hampton Coliseum, is located in the center of Coastal Virginia and the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Hampton is the site of America’s first continuous English-speaking settlement, the site of the first arrival of Africans in English North America, and is home to such visitor attractions as the Virginia Air & Space Science Center, Fort Monroe National Monument, Hampton History Museum, Hampton University Museum, The American Theatre, among others.
Join us for a fun evening at the Wine Tasting After Work Mixer hosted by The Pack Roadtrip Travel Club and The Connect 757. Unwind with friends and enjoy aContinue reading “Wine Tasting Mixer”
March is Women’s History Month. Why not kick it off by reading your copy of my book, “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960”?
The book, $25, is available on Amazon or you can purchase a copy from me by visiting bonnienewmandavis.com. What is the book about?
The first Black woman to run for vice president of the United States was Charlotta Bass—a journalist. That happened 70 years ago. For nearly four decades before her 1952 run for the vice presidency, Bass was the crusading editor and publisher of the California Eagle, the largest Black-owned newspaper on the West Coast. But those who write the history of that time have largely forgotten—or simply ignored—Bass. Bonnie Newman Davis’ book, Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960, tells the stories of 24 Black women whose journalism careers spanned the last forty years of the 20th century. They are print and broadcast journalists and, like Bass, courageously bore the burden of being a Black woman in America’s newsrooms.
I’ll be discussing my book on Zoom on these dates in March: March 14, 7 p.m. Zoom Link: https://lnkd.in/egc-R4hJ
Marita Golden and Itoro Bassey will discuss the often difficult and sometimes taboo topics that can haunt and threaten to derail a writer’s work and life:
How to live with and learn from rejection
How to find your authentic voice
How to define success on your own terms
How not to be derailed by competition.
How to create a supportive community with other writers
The importance of rest and practices that support emotional balance and well-being.
Marita Golden is the award-winning author of over 20 works of fiction and nonfiction, a veteran teacher of writing, and co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation.
Itoro Bassey is a Nigerian-American author and journalist based in Washington, D.C. She is an award-winning short story writer, and her debut novel Faith was published in 2022 by Malarkey Books.
FILM
ART
Dawoud Bey: Elegy
Courtesy VMFA
Through Feb. 25 2024
Lower Level: Altria Group Gallery, NewMarket Gallery, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Va.
Mesmerizing and evocative, these 42 photographs and two film installations by contemporary American artist Dawoud Bey contemplate the harrowing journeys and human realities of the Virginia slave trail, Louisiana plantations, and Ohio’s Underground Railroad. Dawoud Bey: Elegy premieres a trilogy that includes Bey’s most recent series of never-before-seen photographs taken in Richmond and commissioned by VMFA. Internationally renowned for his Harlem street scenes and expressive portraits, Bey, in these landscapes, meditates on place as profound repository of memory and witness to American history. In this immersive and transportive exhibition, his works poetically imply a human presence, deepening our understanding of African American experiences rarely represented in collective US history.
Organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and curated by Valerie Cassel Oliver, Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Dawoud Bey: Elegy showcases three photographic series. Visitors will first encounter Stony the Road, commissioned by VMFA, which takes viewers to the historic trail in Richmond, Virginia, where Africans arrived in bondage to an unknown land and were walked into enslavement. The photographs in In This Here Place contemplate the plantations of Louisiana and the toils and horrors of enslavement. Photographed in Ohio, Night Coming Tenderly,Black elucidates our understanding of the Underground Railroad and the perilous flight to self-emancipation.
The first film installation, 350,000, evokes the 350,000+ men, women, and children sold from Richmond’s auction blocks at Manchester Docks between 1830 and 1860. The film’s soundtrack features Dr. E. Gaynell Sherrod, VCU professor of dance. Visitors will also experience Evergreen, a three-channel film installation created in collaboration with composer and experimental ethnographer Imani Uzuri, whose multilayered vocal score adds a haunting soundscape.
MUSEUMS
I Have a Dream
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy with various educational opportunities throughout January. From in-person activities to online offerings, the museum commemorates King and the holiday surrounding his impact on the world. Beginning Jan. 8, 2024, King’s original “I Have a Dream” speech from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, on loan from Villanova University, will be on display through March 4, 2024. For digital visitors looking to learn more about King online, a blog post highlighting surprising facts about King’s life is now available at nmaahc.si.edu/5thingsMLK.
Alongside the “I Have a Dream” speech on view are objects associated with King, including a Congressional Gold Medal awarded posthumously to him and Coretta Scott King in 2014, a laundry pail used by King during the march from Selma to Montgomery and 1956 handbill advertising a prayer meeting with King at a Boston church.
On Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, the museum welcomes author Jonathan Eig for a special event to discuss his biography King: A Life in the Oprah Winfrey Theater and streaming online. The event “The People’s Holiday: The Many Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Monday, Jan. 15, reinterprets the life and work of King through powerful performances by students from Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
From Jan. 12 to Jan. 15, 2024, the museum’s Sweet Home Café will celebrate the holiday with a special menu featuring a selection of King’s most-liked dishes, including ribs, collard greens and a chocolate bourbon pecan pie. For more details, visit the Sweet Home Café website. Entry to the museum includes access to the café, and special Dine and Shop passes are available for access to the café and museum store only.
In observance of the holiday, the museum will remain open during its regular operating hours from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Advanced and same-day free timed-entry passes are available online.
MUSIC & THEATER
Hell’s Kitchen
Courtesy Broadway.com
Kitchen, a new musical with music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and pianist Alicia Keys, is coming to Broadway. The musical, inspired by Keys’ experiences growing up in the New York City neighborhood, will begin performances on March 28, 2024 at the Shubert Theatre, with an official opening set for April 20.
The show, which made its world premiere off-Broadway at the Public Theater this fall—in a run that continues until January 14— features a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, music supervision by Emmy and Grammy Award winner Adam Blackstone, music consulting by two-time Tony and Emmy winner Tom Kitt and choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown. It is directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif.
“Good things take time and, for 13 years, I’ve been dreaming, developing and finding inspiration for a musical based on my experience growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC,” said Keys in a statement. “Hell’s Kitchen is inspired by my life, but it’s not a biographical story. It’s a story about family relationships and identity: Who are we? Who do we want to be? Who are we becoming?”
Keys continued, “The score features new songs that I’m really excited to get out into the world alongside many of my album releases that you know but you’ve never heard like this—rearranged and reinterpreted. I’m honored to be a part of this Broadway season with so much incredible talent and great stories. I grew up with musical theater and have so many memories of standing on line at TKTS to see shows like Miss Saigon and Rent. For me, Hell’s Kitchen is also a New York story of finding your dreams and for me, this musical coming to Broadway is the embodiment of that idea. I’ve learned so much from the experience and the collaboration with Michael Greif, Camille A. Brown, Kristoffer Diaz and Adam Blackstone. I love and respect the art form so much and I’m excited to see it come to Broadway.”
Keys was born Alicia Augello Cook in Hell’s Kitchen in 1981. Growing up in the neighborhood, she carried around a homemade knife, but was also immersed in the music of Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong at home. Her Italian-American mother enrolled her in classical piano lessons at the age of seven, and she wrote her first song a few years later.
Hell’s Kitchen features sets by Robert Brill, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound design by Gareth Owen, projection design by Peter Nigrini and hair and wig design by Mia Neal.
The cast of the Broadway production is yet to be announced. The cast of the Public Theater production includes Shoshana Bean, Chad Carstarphen, Brandon Victor Dixon, Vanessa Ferguson, Crystal Monee Hall, Jakeim Hart, Chris Lee, Jackie Leon, Kecia Lewis, Maleah Joi Moon, Mariand Torres and Lamont Walker II.
Darlene M. Johnson, a Richmond Free Press intern, was among the journalism and mass communications graduates during Virginia Commonwealth University’s December 2023 graduation at the Richmond Convention Center.
By Bonnie Newman Davis
December 2023
It has been wonderful to speak with two different groups of University of Richmond journalism students recently at the invitation of my former Richmond Times-Dispatch coworkers/UR professors Tom Kapsidelis and Tom Mullen. Students were surprised when I gave them impromptu news quizzes (remember, I taught J courses for nearly 20 years) but they handled it well and, of course, passed with soaring colors! (George Santos and Henry Kissinger were recurring answers.)
I look forward to reviewing the portfolios of two VCU journalism students tomorrow at the invitation of MY former VCU grad student, Alix Bryan. I’m most pleased to attend the VCU journalism department’s graduation on Friday during which our Richmond Free Press intern Darlene M. Johnson will be celebrated! Darlene is such a joy to work with and ‘NO,’ nosey journalists at other news organizations, don’t try to steal her! 😂
During one speaking engagement that coincided with the UR students’ last day, I was thrilled to yell “L-DOC” and even more thrilled when none of the students knew what I meant…except one young man who is from Chapel Hill. Brought back fond memories of my year spent teaching UNC-CH journalism students. Now who knows what L-DOC means??? 🎥✏️📝📡📻 L-DOC means “last day of class”! At UNC Chapel Hill that means booming rap music from frat houses and nonstop partying. (At least that’s what it meant six years ago).
At UR, it means students showing up for class and sharing what they’ve learned at one of the most beautiful, tranquil campuses in the U.S. At VCU, it’s the loud, hustle, bustle and flow reflective of one of the most diverse urban institutions on the East Coast. At my alma mater, NCA&T where I served as an endowed professor of journalism for four years, my journey continues with many of my former students whom I keep a watchful eye on every single day via social media . Such an honor to have an up close and personal perspective on each!❤️🙏🏾🎄🎄
I love the feedback, speaking engagements and unexpected opportunities I continue to receive one year after the publication of my book, “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960.” It always takes my breath away when I walk into the home of a family member or cherished friend and see my book on full display. Or when a longtime colleague who is an executive at an NPR news station orders nearly 200 copies of my books for a MEDIA LITERACY PROGRAM!
OR when the Dean of Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism provided 25 copies of my book to students! OR when the former chairman of the journalism department at my alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University, whipped out a check (or was it cash?? Aggies got money, honey) and purchased a dozen books for students! OR when I am Invited to speak at two national journalism conferences and leave one with a national book award and leave the other with an armful of newfound colleagues and friends! But, GOD! There is no better feeling! 🙏🏾❤️What a ride it has been! J
I just received a text from a friend who is visiting Williamsburg. She said she saw a Black woman journalist named Barbara Ciara being interviewed on the area’s CBS station. “Ummmm, Barbie’s in my book,” I replied. “She is retiring after decades in broadcast television. Can’t wait for her next chapter, which includes a husband! 😂😂❤️🙏🏾!” 🙏🏾❤️🦮🍷hashtag#happyscrappy. hashtag#happywife! I truly thank everyone for your continued support! Buy my book on Amazon (or from me) and help enlighten someone this holiday season!🎄🎄
PS: Thanks also to Padilla and Jeff Wilson, APR and Barbara Hamm Lee Hamm of WHRO and Jason Roop Roop, guest host – WRVA for having me as a guest earlier this year, too! I look forward to speaking to students at the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University in the next several days!
Thursday, February 16, 2023 Community Zoom, 10:30 am VCU Libraries, Richmond
Thursday, February 16, 2023 Bon Air Woman’s Club, 11:30 am Willow Oaks Country Club, Richmond
Friday, February 24, 2023 Norfolk State University 11 am
Sunday, February 26, 2023 Jackson Ward, Richmond, Va. 2 pm – 5 pm
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 North Carolina A&T State University 11 am
Thursday, March 2, 2023 Women’s History Month Kickoff, 6 p.m. Hull Street Branch, Richmond Public Library
Friday, March 10, 2023 National Press Club, Washington, D.C. 2 pm – 5 pm
March 2, 2023 Women’s History Month Kickoff Hull Street Branch, Richmond Public Library. Featured speaker along with Diane Walker
Friday, March 10, 2023 National Press Club, Washington, D.C. Featured speaker with Dorothy Gilliam, Sonya Ross, Denise Bridges, and Marylinn Minor
April 1, 2023 The University of Maryland Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 Conference University of Maryland, Merrill Journalism Building “Fighting to be Heard,” panel discussion with Bonnie Newman Davis, Deborah Heard, Yanick Rice Lamb, Marylinn Minor
May 4, 2023 Morgan State University School of Global Journalism and Communication at Morgan State University Baltimore, Md.
May 25-27, 2023 Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Minority Internship Class of 1979 reunion Philadelphia, Pa.
June 24, 2023 “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960” Reception and Book Discussion featuring Bonnie Newman Davis, Fannie Flono, Mae Israel, and Patrice Gaines Charlotte, N.C.
August 3, 2023 National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention Birmingham, Ala.
2023 NABJ Authors Showcase Featuring Bonnie Newman Davis and Wayne Dawkins.
June 29, 2023 San Antonio Chapter, San Antonio, Texas (Zoom) Featured guest speaker.
September 12, 2023 Black Authors Matter TV, National Black Book Festival, Houston, Texas. (Zoom) Guest speaker
October 14, 2023 Journalism and Women’s Symposium (JAWS), Columbia College, Chicago, Ill. Books and Browse Panelist with Brooke Kroeger, Rachel Louise Snyder, Mona Gable, and Diana B. Henriques.
October 26, 2023 Public Relations Society of America, Richmond Chapter. Westwood Club, Richmond, Va. Fall luncheon guest speaker, Topic. “Fighting to be heard.”
Join us for an empowering event, Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists, on Saturday, June 24th, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST. We’ll be gathering at 6300 Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, 28211 for an in-person experience you won’t want to miss!
During this FREE event, we’ll be celebrating the incredible contributions of Black women journalists throughout history. From trailblazers such as Ida B. Wells and Nikole Hannah-Jones, we’ll explore the ways in which these women have used their voices to bring truth to light and effect real change in their communities.
Featuring a lineup of inspiring speakers and interactive activities, Truth Tellers is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from some of the most influential voices in journalism today, including Charlotte’s Fanni Flono, Mae Israel and Patrice Gaines! So mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable afternoon filled with conversation, food and drinks!
Your Host:
The BND Institute of Media and Culture Inc.
RSVP REQUIRED: bonnienewmandavis@gmail.com or 804-683-7203
“Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960”
The 1979 Dow Jones Minority Newspaper Fund Summer Interns meet and mentor 2023 Dow Jones interns at Temple University
1979 Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Minority Interns: From left to front right, Trudy Moore, Bonnie Newman Davis, Deborah Heard, Ellyn Ferguson, David Ysais, Shirley Carswell (executive director of the Dow Jones News Fund), Valerie Montague, Gary Lee, Debora Martine McGaughey and Charles Mapson. Deceased 1979 classmates are Suleiman Abdul Azeez and Charmaine Bissell.
By Bonnie Newman Davis
I can’t begin to say how wonderful it has been to reconnect with my class —-the FIRST group of DJ minority interns—after 44 years on May 25-27, 2023! Since 1979, our careers have taken us to news organizations in Richmond, Va, the Washington Post, New York Times, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Milwaukee, Chicago (Jet magazine), Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston, Baltimore, the Moscow Bureau of the Washington Post, Congressional Quarterly, Wall Street Journal, Columbia Law School, academia, and numerous other institutions and workplaces. There were 11 of us then, but just nine of us now. All nine of us are here in Philly. Despite the years gone by, we still recall the wonderful learning experience and bonding that took place for three weeks in Easton and Bethlehem, Pa.
And we have not missed a beat when it comes to cutting up and having a good time when class is dismissed!! Besides myself, we are Charles Mapson, Trudy Moore, Valerie Montague, Deborah Heard, Debra Ann Martine McGaughey, Ellyn Ferguson, Gary Lee and David Ysais. Thank you so much David Ysais and Shirley Carswell, the executive director of the Dow Jones News Fund, for making this reunion such a beautiful reality.
During our three days in Philadelphia, we were fortunate to meet and mentor 12 college students who have their own internships this summer. We wish them the best of luck and encourage them to stay as close as our class has done. I’ll always remember the words of our late mentor and professor Sam Adams who advised us to get to know one another because we will have to lean on each other as the years go by. #summerof79
1979 Dow Jones interns meet with 2023 Dow Jones interns at Temple University in Philadelphia on May 26, 2023.David YsaisDeborah HeardBonnie Newman DavisValerie MontagueGary LeeEllyn FergusonDebora Martine McGauheyCharles MapsonShirley CarswellTrudy MooreTrudy Moore, Sam Adams, Bonnie and Little Miss Taylor Moore!Class of 1979 meets Class of 2023This is us!Sam Adams (middle) with Trudy Moore (left) and Bonnie Newman Davis (right) during the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago in the late 1990s. Trudy’s daughter, Taylor Moore, is also pictured. Sam, one of the lead professors for the 1979 Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Minority Internship program, was as delighted to see Taylor as we were to see him!!
Such a Class Act! I can’t let another day go by without sharing how much I appreciate the SCHOOL of Global Journalism and Communication at Morgan State University for inviting me to speak with journalism/multimedia students about my book: “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960.” From the moment I stepped into the SGJC’s building in Baltimore on May 4, I was welcomed by Dr. Janice Smith, interim chairman of the School’s strategic communication department, along with Associate Professor Wayne Dawkins, Journalism Department Chairman Benjamin Davis and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and journalism educator E. R. Shipp. And then there was my new friend, SGJC student Chase “like the bank” Gilliam, who believes that he is related to Dorothy Gilliam, one of the women in my book.
I felt so comfortable and at home while visiting WEAA, the NPR-affiliate radio station’s spacious floor and meeting administrators, staff and on-air personalities (including students) who ensure that the station runs smoothly each day. MSU truly is one of those HBCUs where everyone wears several hats and don’t mind doing so. The pride in every inch of the building was evident. SGJC is led by SGJC Dean Jackie Jones, a beloved administrator, academic and journalist who is continuing a legacy of excellence established by SGJC’s former dean, DeWayne Wickham. Dean Jones is mentioned several times in my book, and rightly so as someone who helped guide the careers of numerous Black women journalists.
Thank you again, Dean Jones!! (Former Dean Wickham, of course, is one of the lead endorsers of my book). When I entered the room where the book discussion was to take place, I nearly fainted! Spread out on a table were two dozen copies of my book, ready for me to sign for every student in attendance!! YES!! God is GOOD!! The discussion that followed was even better. The students were amazing. They listened, asked probing questions, shared some of their personal stories and more. But further validation of the excellence taking place at SGJC came when I received an email yesterday afternoon from my longtime colleague Wayne Dawkins containing an article that two students wrote about my visit, along with a photo taken by another student!
Talk about meeting a deadline! As often as the word “intentional” is used these days, I cannot think of a better word to describe SGJC’s faculty, staff and students regarding my visit. And EXCELLENCE! I am humbled, honored and blessed. Thank you, again, Morgan State University and the School of Global Journalism and Communication. Jackie JonesWayne DawkinsDeWayne WickhamJanice E. Smith, Ph.D., APR I LOVE this article! Please enjoy
BND Institute of Media & Culture 