“A River To Ignite My Mind and Alert My Senses “

teammemphis12 — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:12:02 +0000

Today was our first day in Memphis. After food shopping and eating lunch with each other at the hostel, we went to Zion Cemetery and met with Milton Moreland (professor from Rhodes College in archeology.) Before he arrived, Haley presented about the cemetery and shared various cemetery ceremonies such as the going home ceremony and famous persons that our buried there sucha as Dr. Georgia Patton Washington, who was the first African American female in Tennessee. When Milton arrived he showed us the various stones including the late Doctor’s which was buried under a magnolia tree (that tree must beautiful in the spring, I almost could smell it’s sweetness as Mr. Milton told us about her). Milton also shared with us his assumption that the cemetery had mass graves from the epidemic of yellow fever of the 1870′s and Professor Hartnett showed us stones where two people were buried in the same plot; hence maybe they were buried on top of each other. We also we were surprised to learn that the local prisoners have done a lot brush clearing work but still more work needs to be done. As planes from Fed Ex flew above us in the cemetery that contains many graves dating to Civil War times it was s conflict of old world meets new world. … There will be lots of research to learn about this cemetery whether it will be busy work helping Professor Moreland maintain the cemetery database or actual physical work i.e. clearing brush or hwill learn something about our selves in the process…

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. ~Henry Ford

teammemphis12 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:35:03 +0000

Tomorrow we will be home a week from Memphis. I cannot speak for others on this trip, I feel that Team Memphis was a uplifting experince for all of us. It was not about a grade as with other classes we have taken previously. It was about helping to rebuildi a cemetery that has been ruined for a number different reasons and finding closure for families and unraveling new mysteries. It was about listening to experinces that history books and that books do not tell us . Like Miss Hattie, whose story of being at King’s speech on Mason Temple , you felt you were seating beside her or was it sitting next to Dr.Netters and listening to him tell me “to eat more” after telling him I was full after some of the best food I ever tasted. Or was it the hugs and the stories that we share not only individual but as a team. I miss everyone and everything we experinced , I am hoping we can do another service immersion trip next fall. I hope everyone we met is safe and happy. I wish all my team members have a good semester and carry your memories in your heart and share them freely and keep your mind on the impact that a people that have given us thier warmth and genorsity to share with the world. (I think this is what meant by the words “Pay it Forword” . )

-Kammie Sue Brunswick

COLLEGE AS A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE

teammemphis12 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:30:03 +0000

Stepping off the plane made it final. Team Memphis 2012 had dispersed. There will be no picking up right where we left off. Not an option! We have been changed for the better- a sentiment I think we all would share! Our trip sets the stage for a transformational year. After all, as Andrea (if I’m not mistaken), one of the ladies passing through the hostel, pointed out, “this is the Year of The Dragon.”

Andrea impressed with our dedication to the restorations efforts of the cemetery likened us to missionaries. Others shrouded us with gratitude and welcomed as if we were fellow Memphians. The recognition left us knowing the work we did was impactful. IMPACTFUL BUT INCOMPLETE-is the chronicle that we stepped into and then back out of. Knowing that the work is incomplete is not unsettling rather it is uplifting. Who will come together to narrate the next page or chapter remains to be foreseen. Will Karen, who preserved the records of the T.H. Hayes Funeral Home, connect with Dr. Moorland of Rhodes College to make the records accessible online; will Carol of AmeriCorps spearhead an annual clean-up project at Zion Cemetery; or will a member of the Mt. Vernon Baptist congregation who serves on the Zion board recruit others to join the board? The possibilities of partnerships are limitless. I have faith that progress will be achieved. Whichever scenario plays out, these are opportunities for the community to come together and reconnect with the past and…we helped to create them (through direct action and in raising awareness!)

Today in reflecting upon our trip Mark Noll, director of Institute for Engaged Learning for The College at Brockport, posed the question “Should all students be required to complete a course with a service learning component?” Our group stood divided. Dr. King I believe would answer YES. Simply put, he describes service work as “The rent we pay to live on Earth.” This begs the bigger question of “What is the goal of our college experience?” Is it merely to get a degree or, as Mark suggested to us, is it meant to be a transformative experience? The later I would contend!

“We shall overcome , we shall overcome some day “….

teammemphis12 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:25:04 +0000

On Sunday, we were invited to the Mount Vernon Baptist Church Sunday Service. After the service we were treated for supper at the Four Way Restaurant where Dr. King ate during his stay in Memphis. The church service was 2 1/2 hours, a little longer church service than most of us or you would be used to. The church building itself has a beautiful stain glass featuring the dove of peace, a beautiful choir who sang with love in their hearts as well as pride & joy for the Lord. When it was time for the congregation to sing “We Shall Overcome,” you could feel the Lord’s presence and the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was during this time that a sense of peace took over my spirit, and I realized that the work the team and I have done in Zion cemetery is important. All the anxiety and apprehension I had about this trip was lessened at that moment. We listened to the Co-Pastor Rev. Watkins give a powerful sermon on “Tithe and Beyond” which was based on the scripture of Malachi 3:10. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store.” He emphasized four principles: (1) to honor Old Testament principles (2) Jesus ordered tithes (3) Proclaimed the gospel as a link between them and the priests (4) God owns it all and only ask for ten percent. I also decided to “rededicate” myself to God and asked Dr. Netters if I could become a member. So I will be an “honorary” member of this church and the wonderful church family that has accepted this team with open arms and generosity…”Oh deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall live in peace someday.”

–Kammie Sue Brunswick

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – M.L.K.

teammemphis12 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:57:21 +0000

Remember visiting your grandparents’ house for holiday dinners? Everyone in the family would rise to enthusiastically greet and embrace you upon arrival. The aroma of food filled your nose and warmed your soul, as you’d mingle amongst family members, catching up with one another. Outbursts of laughter and little cousins running around the house would interrupt conversation, only to put a smile on your face knowing you were home.

Yesterday, we were at “home” in Memphis. Our team woke early to attend a service at the Mount Vernon Baptist Church – Westwood, where we were formally introduced and praised in front of the entire congregation. Following the church service, senior pastor, Dr. Reverend Netters, treated our group to a traditional soul food meal at the legendary Four Way restaurant. Afterwards, we were invited to LeMoyne Owen College for an annual fundraising event, where we were introduced to many black churches from the Memphis area. Throughout the day, worshipers took us aside to thank us for the work we’ve done, wish us good luck with our studies, and lavished us with warm hugs.

At LeMoyne Owen fundraiser, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Reverend Netters’ great grandson, Jalon, who afterwards pointed out that I had separated from the team Memphis group. I responded that it shouldn’t be too hard to find them, as we instantly located my White classmates dispersed among a sea of Black people. As Jalon and I laughed, it became apparent for the first time in the past week that we were the minority.

I wish all members of minorities could be treated like family, as we have been for the past week by the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church; embracing one another for differences and taking advantage of opportunities to learn from one another. - Erica

It’s time to hang up our blue suede shoes

teammemphis12 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:56:27 +0000

Today was our last day in Memphis. Some of our team visited the cemetery one last time, others finished up blogs, and we all used the remainder of the day to explore the city. Being 64 degrees it was too beautiful a day to drive anywhere, we took the time to walk to our destinations. Quite quickly our last day began to turn into our last night. We spent our time at Neely’s BBQ with friends we have met during our stay in Memphis.

Our time at the restaurant was consumed with talking and laughing. There was not a silent moment at dinner; if you happened to be another diner at the venue you would think we had known each other for years. It almost feels like I have known everyone for years. As we sat sharing stories and photos my newfound friend Miss Carol Russell spoke almost poetically a quote, “Though miles may lie between us, we’re never far apart, for friendship doesn’t count the miles, it’s measured by the heart”. She then nudged me gave me a smile and said “That’s gonna be us”. During this trip lifelong relationships have been made that will only grow with time, and what better way to get close than over some good southern barbeque!

Besides the friends we have made down here in Memphis, the relationships I have created with my peers from school have been a truly amazing opportunity. I’ve created bridges with students and staff I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to make any way other than this class. And even though it is time for us to hang up our “blue suede shoes” and leave our new found home in Memphis, I truly believe our adventure as friends has only begun.

-Kristen

“There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place”

teammemphis12 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:50:59 +0000

Yesterday the team woke up and got ready as usual, but it was a special day. Instead of dressing in our average day-to-day clothes or the grungiest thing we could find to work in the cemetery we put on our Sundays best and ventured out to Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Dr. James L. Netters Sr. and his amazing church staff lead Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Together they create a warm and welcoming environment for not only their congregation members but for visitors as well.

Our group received the VIP treatment from the church for the duration of the trip. From being announced after the service and able to stand before the church members to explain what our mission was in Memphis to being treated to lunch at The Four Way, we have been considered honorary visitors since our arrival. Not once have we walked into a room and not have it full of smiles and welcome. That has been the most rewarding part of the trip, to have people care about your purpose that barely know you. I’ve heard about southern hospitability, but experiencing it first hand puts it in a new perspective.

Overall the church community is full of beautiful people inside and out. I know I’m speaking for the whole group when I say it was a pleasure and an honor to meet them all. Our stay in Memphis would not have been anything without the assistance of this church. In the words of Dr. Netters “there’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place”, and I am grateful to have it present in my life now.

-Kristen

“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”- Rudyard Kipling

teammemphis12 — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:21:52 +0000

Quote from MLK'S "Mountaintop" speech- at the National Civil Rights Museum

It’s Friday the 13^th, and Team Memphis spent the morning in the cemetery and the night on Beale Street. Yet, it was not the captivating sunup or the electrifying nightfall that stuck with me. It was the trip to Mount Vernon Baptist Church to meet with Reverend Hattie Thompson and the Reverend Doctor James L. Netters. Each of them told their stories of forty some years ago- their own personal accounts of the Civil Rights movement. Seventy-three year old Miss Hattie sat down with us first. She told the story of how she was in the second row of Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech on the eve of his death- “I’ve been to the mountaintop…and I’ve seen the Promised Land.” She spoke of the night with such eloquence and affection that it was as if we could’ve been there with her that day. The blustery night of April 3, 1968 introduced MLK with a boom and a flash of light at the doors, and he approached the pulpit of Mason Temple and spoke his final public words to full house. When Miss Hattie was done with her moving story, eighty-four year old Reverend Netters appeared at the doorway and joined us. Netters told us of his relationship with the Civil Rights Movement and how he worked closely with Dr. King himself. I didn’t think that Miss Hattie’s poignant narration could be outdone, but I believe Netters may have accomplished that- tears were in his eyes when he spoke of King’s death, crying “He killed my man! He killed my man!”

I cannot imagine any event today that someone could recount forty years later with such passion as Miss Hattie and Reverend Netters did. The Civil Rights movement changed so much for the American population for the better. Yet, where is the passion in people nowadays? Where is the excitement? I feel like people need to get off their laptops, iPads, and Facebooks (myself included!) and get out there and do something worthwhile that they can proudly tell their grandchildren about. Don’t people want stories to tell?

~Haley

Strange Fruit

teammemphis12 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:34:17 +0000

I looked up into the twisting trunk of the magnolia tree, faintly tuning in to the story of the buried resting beneath. Nothing hung from the Southern symbol, yet stillness ebbed through the tangled branches. The words of Billie Holiday reeled through my recollection:

“Southern trees bear a strange fruit,

Blood on the leaves and blood on the root

Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

…

Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,

Then the sudden smell of burning flesh”

The song was played for us less than a week ago back in our classroom at Brockport as part of our introduction in the Civil Rights Movement. While standing in the cemetery, that memory seems long ago. The cemetery bodes us to peel back the layers of history resting with fallen and forgotten graves.

Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell and William Stewart are among those who have come to rest in the Zion Cemetery in Memphis. While walking the gravesites with Team Memphis 2012, Dr. Mooreland of Rhodes College, who spearheads the restoration efforts, tells of these 1892 black merchants who were victims of lynching. Ida B. Wells was moved to crusade against lynching and make known her anti-lynching position after these three black merchants were lynched for reasoning other than the usual rational cited; rape. Fellow student, Haley, informed us that it is believed that the lynching occurred to “keep the nigger down.”

Search the burial records for William Stewart on the Zion Community Project website. What you will unearth is the section and row that he is buried in. However, this information won’t bear meaning until stepping foot in the actual cemetery. Part of the purpose we serve in joining in the restoration efforts is to devise a system to help graph and map out the cemetery so the former sections and rows can be traced back to specific locations. I am excited to be a part of this effort and hope in a few years down the road to see more of the community coming together to take ownership over this noteworthy project. Like Billie Holliday graphically reminds us we need to we preserve this piece of history. – Jess

Get On the Bus

teammemphis12 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:21:09 +0000

“I’m tired of being treated like a second-class citizen”

~Rosa Parks

Never did I think that I would be affected in the way I was today at the National Civil Rights Museum. There were a myriad of exhibits and interactive pieces within the museum, but there was one section of the exhibit that stopped me in my tracks. I stepped on the replica of the bus on which Rosa Parks unintentionally changed the course of history. I experienced the most unusual feeling that can only be defined as “Holy _____!” The first thing I saw when I stepped on the bus was a casting of the bus driver. He was turned around to face the casting of Rosa Parks, sitting in the middle of the bus. I looked up and saw the conversation that they had before her arrest, which was posted above the window. At that moment, a wave of different of emotions washed over me. I thought about the time when I was in first grade and was told by a group of girls that I couldn’t play with them because I was black. I thought about the time I spent in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) in high school and was told that my chapter and I had to work harder than everyone else because, at the time, we were the only black school at our state convention. And at that moment, I realized how much those experiences paled in comparison to the discrimination that Parks and all other Black Americans faced during that time period. The castings of the two figures allowed me to visualize myself in a similar situation – one where I had to get on a bus, pay my 10 cents, get off the bus, then walk to the back so that I could re-enter at the rear door. I thought about having to leave my seat to let a white person sit in my place, even though I might have been completely exhausted. I asked myself, “What would I have done if that were me?” It killed me to have to visualize these things, and even more than that, it killed me when I came to the realization that I don’t think I would have been strong enough to do what Parks did.

~Imani Lawrence