Black Issues Forum 2010 - 2011

2620 | Penetrating the Old-Boy Network

Life in a small town changes for better when a local DJ takes a stand against apathy. Hear how Leon Gatewood's started a movement with a party and is now CEO of the non-profit organization HOLLA, Helping Our Loved-Ones Learn and Achieve. Also hear from the President of Kate B. Reynolds foundation on funding to help HOLLA fight obesity.

Matthew Lewis has been a resident of Thomasville for over 20 years and even served as a staff photographer for the Thomasville Times after a stellar career as a photographer and Assistant Managing Editor at the Washington Post. groupshot He has photographed every subject from rock stars and presidents to everyday people like a teacher hugging a schoolgirl, and having worked through the era of Civil Rights his photography has captured both the best and worst of America. In this episode of "Black Issues Forum," he shares with Natalie Bullock Brown the stories behind the images and some of his own rich history as a member of four generations of photographers.

North Carolina is replete with both historic spaces whose rich pasts have been beautifully preserved, and those spaces whose preservation efforts never move past a photo album. In this episode we explore what's involved in historic preservation and look at some success stories. While the idea of creating a lasting monument to the past is a noble one, those who pursue historic preservation and renovation without good information can quickly become frustrated and give up. We're going to try to arm you with some of that good information in today's discussion as we look at several Rosenwald Schools. The Rosenwald Schools were part of a rural school building initiative conceived by Booker T. Washington in 1912 and funded by Julius Rosenwald, an American clothier who became part owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company. Over the course of 20 years the Rosenwald Fund contributed more than 28.4 million dollars to construct over 4900 schools and other buildings for black children in the South. The program guests are very familiar with efforts to preserve the history of these schools. Our guests include Claudia Brown, Acting Administrator and Architectural Survey Coordinator with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office in the Department of Cultural Resources. From that same office working in the North East region, we have Reid Thomas, a Restoration Specialist. Addistionally, we have Mrs. Ella Wilder Perry, a 1936 alumna of the Panther Branch Rosenwald School in Wake County, also referred to as the Juniper Level School, and President of the Juniper Level Alumni.

Politics and the Way You Live 2: Education