We are wrapping up the project here in Greenwood, MS. After 7 weeks of surveying we are finally done. I think we did pretty well. Now we just have to hope that the data we collected will be of help when the board applies for their grant.
We are spending the last week doing a great deal of service learning. Today we spoke with Dr. Hudson, a longtime administrator at MVSU, who grew up in the Delta on a plantation and watched the area change over the years. He brought us to a place called Tallahatchie Flats where there are "authentic" shotgun plantation homes set up like they were in the 30s 40s and 50s. He talked about his experiences growing up and sharing a room with his five brothers. Then he brought us to the store where Emmit Till allegedly whistled at a white woman. He talked about his experiences the day after the story broke
I am hoping that by the time we leave here, my whole team has a better understanding of the way that slavery has left a lasting imprint on the Delta. I hope they all leave understanding the inequality that exists today and how it has been created and perpetuated throughout history. I think they will.
Tomorrow we will be finishing up Alex Haley's Roots and working on our presentations for campus. Tomorrow will be our last day at the Boys and Girls Club because we will be doing a service project outside the club at the nursing home with the kids on Wednesday. I taught the kids how to make God's Eyes on Friday and they LOVED it. It was really fun to do a craft with them and have something that they can take home and give to their mothers to put on the Christmas tree.
On Thursday we drive back to campus to start our transition. I just found out our next project today. More details about that later.
Miss you all! Can't wait to see you over break!!!
Love you,
Casey
yay! can't wait to see you. glad things are going well :)
ReplyDelete