How to build a community...it starts with Education!

Mattie Ridgely and her class at the Ridgley Rosenwald School in the 1940's located in Prince George's County Maryland. 

Primary School Children at the Maryland Normal and Industrial School, July 1918.  Photo from the Goodloe family archives. 

We are learning Porteguese!

Culture Keepers skyped with our school partners in Brazil (Onarin Koja) to talk about project and practice our Porteguese!

Guest Speaker Dr. Arvenita Washington Cherry

Lecture by Dr. Arvenita Washington-Cherry

Review by Jasmin Eubanks, Grade 10, Age: 14

"What is the African Diaspora?" 

The African Diaspora is the movement, scattering and dispersal of people (either forced or voluntary) from an ancestral homeland. The literal meaning of "diaspora" come from the Jewish people referring to their removal from their homeland.  PG Country was officially established in 1696. Most people might have thought that people coming from Africa to Colonial Maryland were slaves but most of the people coming were Indentured servants. An indentured servant is sort of like a slave but they work for there freedom from there masters. 

"What happened after Emancipation?" 

After slaves were free the first thing they would do was try to build communities of African American people. The major things these communities needed to thrive were church, education (schools),  and recreation. There were times when hate crimes tore down thriving black communities. Crimes like burning down houses and schools where black people were, lynching also took place. 

                                Dr. Arvenita Washington Cherry talks about the Freedman Settlements

Black in Latin America, Review by Bryanna Rather, Grade: 11

 

“Blacks in Latin America”

 Bryanna Rather, Suitland High School, Forestville, MD. USA

10/ 13/13

 "For the past two years and some months, I have been a proud participant of Culture Keepers.   I have enjoyed learning about African American art, and I have gained increased awareness about the settlement of people of African descent all across the Americas, not just here in the United States.  When attending cultural events and visiting the different museums, I have grasped a deeper understanding of African history and a new respect for the influence and accomplishments by persons of African descent in their ‘new homes’ throughout the Americas".

“Blacks in Latin America” is a four-part documentary by Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. that discusses the history of the African Diaspora in Latin American countries. To perform research, Professor Gates, traveled to the island of Hispaniola to look into the vast contrast between Dominicans and Haitians.  He also traveled to Mexico, Peru, Cuba and Brazil in search of Afro Latin Americans so that he could explore the history of their African ancestors. By doing so he wished to document history so that his work could educate those who are either unaware of their African heritage or choose to ignore it".

 

"Professor Gates pointed out vast comparisons and shocking contrasts not only between the different Latin American countries but also between those countries and the United States. His goal was not to belittle these countries and make them seem as though they were harsh people. As an African American himself, Gates goal was simply to learn what life would have been like for him if he was born in one of these other countries. Gates wanted to see what life was like for people that were of African descent, like him, in Latin America.  He used his own knowledge and experience as an African American in the United States to guide his research.  He used his understanding of the history of slavery and Jim Crow laws here in America, to research how laws in Latin America were used to treat persons of African descent in Latin America".

"For example, a common derogatory term that the U.S. used to describe Blacks is “nigga” or “nigger.”  Yet in places like Brazil, there is little public display of racism, including the public use of words to belittle people.  In addition, within Black Latin American culture, there is little differentiation by complexion.   Basically, all persons of African descent consider themselves to be black or “morenos.” But I learned that in Latin America, there are other words used to refer to persons of African descent, including persons of mixed descent.  With many friends and close family friends, I have heard the terms “morenas” and “mulato,” but I did not know of words like “negrito” or “indio” which are also used to refer to Black people".

"What amazes me the most is that out of all the countries covered in this segment and even the U.S., Peru was the only one to make a public announcement apologizing to the Africans who were enslaved and mistreated. Yet, the U.S. was the only country to offer program s to return African s to their homeland. Nonetheless, slaves working on both tobacco farms and sugar plantations and for the most part in general where all morally mistreated and were subjected to harsh abuse and torn apart from their family. Treatment of the African American race as a whole in the different countries has changed and progressed over the years. For some countries it has taken longer to see improvement and for others the history was simply erased and replaced by a layer of denial as a cover up". 

 

Culture Keepers Music Choice of the Week

Miguel

Awesome documentary about the African Diaspora

Black in Latin America:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/black-in-latin-america/featured/preview-black-in-latin-america/172/

Culture Keepers went to the National Gallery of Art

Niama, Bryanna, and Kenetia are looking at a photo exhibit at the National Gallery of Art

Students visited took a Saturday trip to view the Kerry James Marshall Exhibit at the National Gallery of Art.  The exhibit featured drawings and large scale mixed media paintings.   Marshall's work "confronts the idea of the American dream from a black perspective," exhibition curator James Meyer explained during a preview. Subject matter ranges from the Middle Passage and African mythology to public-private housing and depictions of real-life African-American figures.

View Photos of Artwork:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/kerry-james-marshall-national-gallery-of-art_n_3504823.html

Painting by Kerry James Marshall "Great America"

Bryanna, Niama, Kenetia are talking about the Kerry James Marshall Exhibt

Bryanna is showing her sketches from the Kerry James Marshall Exhibit

African Americans & The War of 1812

Culture Keepers examined an original manuscript signed by U.S. president James Madison, which was a  report of expenses incurred in Washington DC and Maryland after the war of 1812.  Students examined Prince George's County's line items of property including land, assets, and the number and property value of enslaved African Americans after the War of 1812.  Students also learned more about the War of 1812 and how African Americans impacted the war.

About the War of 1812: The War of 1812 was a 32 month war fought between the U.S. and England.   Thousands of African Americans including entire families escaped to British ships to escape Slavery, but many enslaved and freed African Americans fought on the side of the U.S. for opportunity of economic and social advancement. 

Students are examining an original manuscript signed by James Madison in 1816, the manuscript accounts for property lost in the War of 1812. In 1813 there were 9,898 enslaved people in Prince George's County, which was a little over 1/3 of the population in the county. 

Alvin, Darlin, David and Ms. Compton are in the photo.  The manuscript gives the amount of enslaved people in 1813 and 1816 in every county in Maryland. 

Thousands of enslaved African Americans escaped during the War of 1812 which was a precursor to the Civil War which officially ended Slavery. 

A Journey Through the African Diaspora

Culture Keepers 2014

The Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center in North Brentwood (PGAAMCC) was awarded by the American Alliance of Museums’ Museum Connect Grant to implement a yearlong cultural exchange project.A Journey through the African Diaspora. In response to the PGAAMCC  current exhibit “ Voices from the Diaspora: The Afro-Latino Experience in Prince George’s County”, teams of high school students, teacher liaisons, and teaching artists will compare and contrast the impact of the African Diaspora in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Prince George’s County, Maryland .  They will also have the opportunity to collaborate on mural projects and exhibits in each location to showcase their findings in their communities.

International School Partners: 
CVPA, Suitland High School, Location: Forestville, MD.  USA 

EMEFM Antonio Sampaio (High School), Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil  http://emefmvas.blogspot.com.br/2013/09/lancamento-oficial-do-projeto-onarin.html

·        Participants: 10-15 youth participants in the PGAAMCC Culture Keepers after-school program at the Center for Visual & Performing Arts (CVPA) Suitland High School will partner with EMEFM high school's Ona Rin Koja after-school program,  in Sao Paulo, Brazil and the Museum Afro-Brazil.  Both after school programs will engage in a yearlong research project on the African Diaspora and Transatlantic Slave Trade and how it impacts both communities.  CVPA Suitland High School is located in District Heights, Maryland (District 7).

·        Culmination: A travel cultural exchange with PGAAMCC Culture Keepers students and faculty from CVPA Suitland High School and faculty and students from Sao Paulo, Brazil.  A public mural project that reflects the African Diaspora in Prince George’s County will be completed during the cultural exchange.  The mural will be installed at a public location in Prince George’s County and Sao Paulo Brazil.  

·         Community Impact: This project will impact communities throughout Prince George’s County through community arts events, mural installations, international cultural exchanges/dialogue, and community partnerships. This is going to be a ground breaking opportunity for youth and community members in Prince George’s County and we will be internationally recognized as a County that celebrates and innovatively shares our history, art, and culture. 

 

A Journey through the African Diaspora, a Museums Connect^SM project, is funded [in part] by a grant from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the American Alliance of Museums.  The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author[s] and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.  A Journey through the African Diaspora project is also funded in part by WELLS FARGO. 

Culture Keepers 1st Orientation! 

Andrew is excited about this year! He might even travel to Brazil!

Ms. Saldana is having so much fun at our first Orientation for the year!