NAACP highlights local Black history at open house
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
Terrance Norman Jr., a fifth grade student at Washington Elementary School, gets a lesson on the history of slavery from his mother, Heather Chandler.
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
Upstairs at Saturday’s open house were displays detailing the history of the Washington branch of the NAACP.
The Washington branch of the NAACP opened its doors Saturday with a showcase of student projects exploring local Black history.
David Gatling, president of the local chapter, said the open house was a chance to show the community how they operate.
“A lot of the people in the community say we don’t do much, or do anything, but we do a lot. So that’s my way of opening up to the community. Let them come in and see what we actually do,” Gatling said.
The first thing visitors saw when they entered the NAACP headquarters on Highland Avenue were displays that detailed the history of the Washington branch, as well as highlighting local Black leaders.
“I’ve asked all the past presidents and even executive members to bring material that they have that can contribute to the history of this branch,” Gatling said.
In the basement were myriad exhibits chronicling Black history in Washington from students at Washington Junior/Senior High School.
Erin Moore, an eighth grade history teacher, said she was proud of the work her students had put into their projects. Some of the topics covered were the history of Ku Klux Klan activity in the region and how Jim Crow-style segregation was still prevalent in the north.
Students also were given a chance to delve into the history of their own families, with some developing family trees and timelines. One project detailed how the LeMoyne House served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
“What I try to focus on is the fact that there were prosperous African Americans at a time when so much craziness was going on,” Moore said.
Heather Chandler brought her son, Terrance Norman Jr., to the event because Norman, a fifth grader at Washington Elementary School, had never heard of the NAACP.
While they looked at the Underground Railroad display, Chandler explained to her son how African Americans were once slaves, treated as property.
“Not enough people know where they came from. So if you don’t know where you came from, you can’t know where you’re going,” Chandler said.
Gatling expressed appreciation for the time and effort students put into their projects. He hopes to expand the Washington NAACP with a youth chapter.
“It’s very nice work. … I think it’s very important for our kids to study Black history, not just what’s in the textbook, because Black history goes beyond the textbook,” Gatling said.