2013 Black College Tour - Day 8

It is the final day and we are headed home.  The teens are gathered in the lobby of the hotel to eat breakfast. 

The crowd continues to swell as the teens are readying themselves for the 10hr ride.

The last few teens load the bus.  The time is nearing for us to depart heading home!



What would a trip be with out one last group photo to celebrate this moment.  I am so proud of all of the teens for their behavior and their bold perspective.  We received numerous compliments on the teens at various venues.

Our tour rally cry...

TURN-UP!  COLLA GREENS!

2013 Black College Tour - Day 7

Author  : Dan Franklin
YMCA : West Side Surburban
Date      : 04/05/2013

The day started with everyone eating breakfast and making there way to the bus.  There was a buzz in the air as everyone was feeling the excitement from it being the last college tour of the trip.

In 1882, one of the nation’s early Black Church denominations founded what has since evolved into Lane College. Now referred to as The Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church, the organization was originally named the Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church in America when it formed in 1870. Among its top priorities was the establishment of schools to educate the newly freed Negroes following the Civil War. This enterprise of building a school in Tennessee was conceived as early as November 1878 at the CME denomination’s Tennessee Annual Conference. The CME church’s first Bishop, William H. Miles, presided over the meeting which convened at the old Capers Chapel CME Church in Nashville, Tennessee. A most pivotal moment of the conference occurred when Reverend J.K. Daniels presented a resolution to establish a Tennessee school. Amid much applause, the resolution was adopted, and a committee was appointed to solicit means to purchase a site. Reverends C.H. Lee, J.H. Ridley, Sandy Rivers, Barry Smith, and J. K. Daniels constituted this committee.

Due to the great yellow fever epidemic of 1878, the committee’s work was hindered; but when Bishop Isaac Lane was appointed to preside over the Tennessee conference in 1879, there was a turning point. He met with the committee, gave advice, and helped to formulate plans for the founding of what would be called the “CME High School” (now Lane College). For $240, Bishop Lane purchased the first four acres of land to be used for the new school, and they were located in the eastern part of Jackson, Tennessee.

On November 12, 1882, the “CME High School” began its first session under the guidance of its first principal and teacher, Miss Jennie E. Lane, daughter of Founder Isaac Lane. This first day of school marked the beginning of a powerful and ongoing commitment to the uplifting of people throughout the south, the nation, and the world.

Lane college has approximatley 1900 students.  The tuition was approximately $15,000.

The teens met with the Director of Recruiting for Lane College.  She provided the teens with a moving message.  She also shared with the teens the tuition cost as well as the retention rate. 

Campus radio station is operated by college students with professors there to support the operations.

The Lane College water tower was where the book store, a eatery and a business office for entrepreneurs was housed.

The campus had two of these amazing retreats on the campus that the students could go to and relax.  The students are able to watch movies, listen to music, play games, cards, pool or table tennis. 

Lane College dorm room.

After our trip to Lane College, we returned to the hotel and the teens had to complete their end of tour essays.

We left the hotel and went to the Memphis YMCA.  The gymnasium was our disco for about 3 hours.  The teens had a great time listening to music, dancing and eating.  You can see some the teens and there fancy moves.  

And, we had our end of the day meeting

2013 Black College Tour - Day 6

Author : Mekyiala Bumpers
YMCA : Racine
Age. : 17
Date : 04/04/13

This morning we woke up a little later since we didn't have to be on the bus till 8:30am.  We left at about 9:20am after everyone had breakfast and grabbed there things.  We had about a 25min to 35min ride to Rust College. 

Rust College was established in 1866 by the Freedman's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Its founders were missionaries from the North who opened a school in Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, accepting adults of all ages, as well as children, for instruction in elementary subjects. A year later the first building on the present campus was erected.

The school has approximately 1000 students.  The primary focus for the school is Math and Science. 

We met a great Recruiter for the school.  His name was Thaddious Jefferson.  He welcomed us to the campus for the tour.

We met the 11th President of Rust College.  Mr. David Beckly spoke to us for a long period of time about Rust College and it's personal touch to education.  Mr. Beckly made it clear that Rust College is not for everyone and doesn't want to grow to be a very large school.  The vision of the school is to stay focused on providing a personal touch to education.  The student to teach ratio for example was 17:1.  The other interesting fact about Rust College was the $12,900 dollar tuition included books, room and board plus meals.

One other cool fact is that Miles and Mr. Beckly are cousins.

During the tour, we were able to visit the campus radio station.  The radio station was great.  They allowed Lamount Koker to get on the radio and be broadcasted live to the county.

We saw several more buildings and learned a lot.  After walking around the campus, we headed to the cafeteria to eat lunch.  We had a SOULFOOD lunch!!!  It was delicious.  It was the best lunch ever on the tour so far.  We loaded the bus and left the campus after lunch. 

We visited Memphis State University, next.  Memphis State was founded in 1912 and has a student population of approximately 22,000 students.  Memphis State is not an Historical Black College or University.  However, it was great to see the school.  They gave us a bus tour of the campus due to the fact that it was raining outside.

We were able to stop three times to see the Dorms, Student Center and Book Store.  For about 20min, Hunter and Crystal showed us around the campus. 

After touring MSU, we went to the Lorraine Motel the site of the Assination of Dr. Martin Luther King.  The assination took place April 4th, 1968.  It was exactly 45yrs ago on this date.  It was very touching knowing that I was in the place where he was assinated. 

Passage from the Moutaintop Speech of 1968.

Display infront of the Loraine Hotel.

 Instead of just leaving, we stayed for short program.  The program was put together by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King.  The program was incredible.  Also, Mr. Stan, Mr. Vel and Mr. Dan all participated in the tribute to Dr. King and were apart of the program.

I stayed for the program it was cold and rainy.  However, it was great how many people came out to celebrate his life.

The message was given by Pastor Keith Norman, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church (in Binghampton).

The distinguished gentlmen of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.  The oldest black greek letter fraternity, founded in 1906.

Today was a pretty good day! I am looking foward to the last day of the tour...

2013 Black College Tour - Day 5

Name   : Kawan Lever
YMCA : Northside
Age      : 16
Date     : 04/03/13

Up to this day the trip has gotten better, the college campuses that we are touring are larger than the on ethe previeous day. 

We began the day with breakfast at the hotel.  Our goal of today was to practice serving others (assistance with carrying luggage, holding doors, etc...).  We learned that to be a leader one must give back to his or her followers. 

Our first stop was the Little Rock Central High School Historical Site.  Here we got a tour of the neighborhood and learned the heroic story of the Little Rock 9 (the 9 black students who were the first to integrate the school).  It was powerful to hear the courageous stories of these young people who paved the way for us to receive a higher education. 

The 20min documentary video of the Little Rock 9 Crisis

The Little Rock 9 shown with picture and name.  "Thank you for your courage and perserverence"

In 1999 the Little Rock 9 received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Bill Clinton.

This incredible pictures shows the Little Rock 9 infront of Little Rock's Central High School in their youth and as they have aged.

During the crisis the Little Rock 9 received numerous death threats.

As racial divides are crushed, the picture shows segregationist pouring food and other condiments on protestors attempting to get them to respond.

Little Rock Central High School.  During the end of the night meeting, the teens talk to the emotion they felt while walking in the foot steps of the Little Rock 9.

Afterwards, we had lunch at a local restaurant called Your Mama's Good Food.  It was pretty good. 

We then we travelled to U.A.P.B (University of Arkansas Pine Bluff).  We were given a tour of the campus and learned a great deal about the school's history.  It was a larger school at 318 acres and 3200 students.

U.A.P.B Museum

One of 8 theaters that are on the campus.  They were preparation for the Miss U.A.P.B Pagent. 

During the tour, we met students in route to their classes.  This student Kim Wimberly is working on becoming a Neuro Surgeon. 

After the U.A.P.B trip, we travelled to Memphis, TN.  We went to a local restaurant called Jim Nealy's.  We had so old down home barbeque.  It was a nice down home environment. 

Following dinner, we had our meeting giving an overview of the day and closed out the night with free time at the Hotel.  A busy day.  But, we learned a lot.