The Springfield community celebrates and honors Black History Month

Black History Month started out only being a week. In 1926, Harvard graduate Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History started Negro History Week. It fell on the week of Feb. 12 and 14 because those were the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

For this one week, educators prioritized black history, its effects on this country and influence on the world. That one week kick started a motion that has changed the narrative taught in history classes. It turned into the celebration called Black History Month.

Changing the Narrative

Before Negro History Week began, the historical narrative taught white history exclusively and attempted to cast slavery in a positive light. It was a false narrative that historians are still unraveling.

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois is a favorite historian of Dr. Michael Verney, Assistant Professor of History at Drury University and advisor to Drury’s History Club. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote “The Souls of Black Folk” and helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1895, he was the first African American to earn a PhD from Harvard. His work was so impactful that despite it being over 100 years old, historians still cite him by name in scholarly essays and articles.

Verney states, “I admire [Du Bois] deeply because he was a scholar who used his incredible knowledge to try to make life better for people of his background and that’s something that is very inspiring to me because I like trying to bring history out of the history books, out of the classroom, and into the community and into activism.”

“It is crucially important that we celebrate all the many achievements [of] the black community in this country, all their contributions to American life, all the ways that they’ve fought against oppression and racial restrictions and racial exclusion,” states Verney.

Peoples History Cafe

One new tradition for Drury’s History Club is participating in the Peoples History Cafe. The club began volunteering with the program in spring 2019, spearheaded by Verney and the event organizer, Minister Christine Peoples. Peoples moved to Springfield with her church after high school when it expanded its ministry on old Bolivar road. As a minister liaison between the churches and the community, she feels strongly about outreaching to families with young children to empower them within their community. In fact, community is her mission.

The History Cafe website can be found here: https://www.peopleshistorycafe.com/.

This year’s focus was on Alberta’s Hotel featured in the Green Book, owned by Mrs. Alberta Ellis during the time of segregation and no public accommodations. The hotel opened in 1953.

Ellis’ grandchildren now reside in St. Louis. Irv Logan, her grandson, wrote an article for Route 66 entitled “Money Couldn’t Buy” which provided the tagline for the event. Logan recounted how his family would have to pack food and other necessities for their trips because there would be no accommodations available for people of color – the things that money just couldn’t buy.

“I’m really emphasizing collaborations with schools, churches and the library for history programing through Timmons Hall. We could do so much. I think that’s the life of a community, when you have good relationships between those entities,” Peoples said.

The History Cafe has developed over the last 6 years from its original meet and greet format that focused on teaching etiquette and cultural celebration to preschool and elementary students.

“When there’s children as young as preschool age feeling indifferent about their skin color and hair in school it’s heartbreaking. I wanted to have something publicly that celebrated African American history in the community,” Peoples said.

“Because these were mostly little girls that this was happening to, I started out with a glamour day. Facials, nails, feet and a new dress! The whole beauty treatment and did they blossom! It was all about them.”

She emphasized the role of college student volunteers who served as role models for the children as examples of the next step of their lives.

“It just raises the roof to see your family, your church and schoolteachers coming together in the community to celebrate you! This brings love and safety to the heart of any child.”

“I don’t just do things to do them. It must be educational. When people walk in here, I want them to leave with information that they didn’t have before. And I want them to know it was served up with love and empowerment. It doesn’t matter what color you are; I want you to feel loved in every aspect. That’s important to me, because we need each other. Without each other, what’s the point,” Peoples emphasized.

Timmons Hall

Photo by Maclen Johnson

Peoples feels a strong connection to her role as director of Timmons Hall.

“I believe it was timing. I’ve always done this type of work in my community and when this building was moved… I just knew I was to be a part of it in some way, I just wasn’t sure how.”

“When this job was offered to me, it was just such a fit, it was such a match. And everything I was supposed to do for my job, I was already doing it,” Peoples said. “It was like slipping into a pair of warm fluffy socks. I didn’t have any idea that it would be to this level.”

Timmons Hall, located in Silver Springs Park, is owned and operated by the Springfield Greene County Park Board under special facilities. Peoples aims to expand the mission of Timmons Hall as an event center and rental space and incorporate “Park Day Jr. History Explorers” for preschool & elementary students. June 29 is recognized as Timmons Hall Day in Springfield, becoming the official date in 2019. It was moved from its original location on Webster Street and Texas Avenue in 2015 and renovated with funds from the Friends of Timmons Temple.

Timmons Hall Photo by Maclen Johnson

“I think having this piece of history, the church itself, is allowing me to educate from within. It was saved because of its beauty, its aesthetics on the outside, and for it to be placed in Silver Springs… we’re really just blessed with two gems to be a part of the parks system,” Peoples said.

“Because it is a significant part of Springfield’s history that’s never been unearthed for the African American population… it is really priceless,” Peoples said. “Getting families along these trails, [Timmons Hall] could be a spearhead as well. That’s why I think it’s such a diamond in the rough right now.”

On Saturday, Feb. 8, Timmons Hall’s History Spotlight event will focus on “The Milly Project.” This event includes a conversation with the director and cast. There will be a panel discussion led by Christine Peoples at Timmons Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and refreshments will be served. The event does not include staging of the play. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Please call 417-983-1171 for information.

This project recounts the life of Milly Sawyers, a slave who earned her freedom through litigation before the Dred Scott ruling.

BUIC

Black United Independent Collegiate (BUIC) is also putting on several events during this month. The Mirror spoke to Dre Hill and Heaven Hart, members of BUIC. BUIC’s second annual Blacked Out panel is one major event BUIC will be putting on this month.

Dre Hill and Heaven Hart of BUIC Photo by Afton Jagels

Hill explained, “What we’re trying to do this year is push the whole Springfield community aspect of that – trying to get people from MSU, Evangel, and OTC, and other [areas] of Springfield to come in and sit on the panel.” People of all backgrounds are welcome to attend and ask questions. It will be on Feb. 25 in Lay Hall.

They also have a Brown v. Board exhibit up in the library for the month, as well as a book display that will be up soon.

“Black history is American history first and foremost,” stated Hill. “A lot of the things we have in this country, if they weren’t invented by African Americans, they were improved upon or modified – there was some part of African Americans in a lot of things we have today.”

Hill said, “[Black History Month] isn’t just for black people – this is stuff that any American should really know.”

If you want to hear more from this interview or just Hill’s and Hart’s thoughts on black culture, they’ve started a podcast called “What the Hill.”

There are a plethora of events that happen in February, and it is not merely about history. For many, it is a lived experience.

Another upcoming event is a movie showing followed by a discussion. The MLK Commemoration Committee will be showing “Soul of the Game” on Feb. 13, 5:30 pm, in the Olin Room. This movie and discussion will be celebrating the centennial anniversary of the Negro Baseball League. The discussion will be led by Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson and is open to the community. Timmons Hall is a partner of the organization as well.

Table of Negro Baseball League apparel at the Peoples History Cafe Photo by Maclen Johnson

“While it’s wonderful and important that we have a month where we focus on this issue intently, I believe that we ought to be celebrating black history twelve months of the year,” said Verney.

“We need to bring folks back together again, to really see what’s important. We’re doing things together to change the narrative, to make our community safe again,” said Peoples.

“When the unknown occurs, fear sets in. People are looking for refuge and a safe place to gather, to really be appreciated and be able to appreciate others. I feel like that’s what’s happening,” Peoples concluded.

Article by Afton Jagels and Maclen Johnson