Award-Winning Author Lectures on History of Black Education
The African American Studies program hosted the lecture in honor of Black History Month.
As February came to a close, MC’s African American Studies (AAS) program hosted one last event for Black History Month. The event, “Something Better for my Children: Black Education in Slavery and Freedom,” included a speech from Dr. Crystal Sanders, Emory professor and award-winning author, on the history of Black education in the South, as well as a performance from the Hinds Utica Concert Choir. Sanders is an associate professor of African American Studies at Emory University.
“Dr. [Kristi] Melancon reached out and invited me to give a lecture as part of this annual lecture series that the African American studies program does here at Mississippi College,” Sanders said. “I was excited to get the invitation. I’ve come to Mississippi several times, but I have never been to Mississippi College, so that was also a draw. Having the chance to come to campus, meet students, and talk to faculty — it’s just been a nice visit.”
On Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall, crowds were met with a warm welcome from Dr. Christian Pinnen, associate professor of history and political science at MC, co-director of the AAS program, and member of the Mississippi Humanities Council. Pinnen’s speech was followed by an introduction from MC student and AAS minor, Javian Ervin.
The Hinds Utica Concert Choir performed several selections of gospel music for the audience to enjoy and sing along with. “The choir did an excellent job,” said Harry Watson, Director of Choral Music at Hinds. “We had a few choir members that were out sick, so we were missing some parts, but we were able to compensate for those parts.”
After the performance, Ms. Taylor Martin, an instructor of nursing at MC and AAS board member, proudly introduced Dr. Sanders to speak on the history of Black education in the South. Sanders is the author of “A Chance for Change: Head Start and Mississippi’s Black Freedom Struggle.”
Sanders’ speech emphasized her passion for history and outlined the history featured in her book. Her speech explored how the activism of working-class Black women led to the creation of federal programming that gave poor Black children access to education and Black women jobs. The fight for Head Start, Sanders says, was a hallmark in the history of political activism among Black educators.
“Faulkner says that ‘history is never past, it’s prologue,’” Sanders said. “And so essentially, the argument is that nothing is new under the sun. It’s important for students to know what happened earlier – to be able to identify and respond to current events that present some of the same problems and challenges as events in the past.”
The lecture closed with a question-and-answer portion led by Dr. Kristi Melancon, associate professor of English and philosophy and AAS co-director.
“I really appreciate everyone coming out tonight,” Melancon commented. “Dr. Sanders' lecture gave us new insight into the history of Black education in Mississippi that we may not learn elsewhere in our current school curriculum but one in particular, that moves Black voices – particularly Black women – into the center as active shapers of Black education in Mississippi.”
The event ended with a special word of thanks from Dr. Sanders. She mentioned how glad she was with the number of students that attended. Attendee and MC senior Xavian Branch was moved by the lecture.
“As a Black man who grew up in Mississippi, the lecture made me very emotional to see what my people had to endure in order for me to have received the education that I have today,” Branch said.
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