Blackburn Institute

Burt Jones Rural Travel Experience to Wilcox County

February 2009

by John Hammontree, 2008-2009

Humility is a concept rarely tossed about among the so-called “glitterati” that comprise the Blackburn Institute’s student fellows. Hailed as the state’s future leaders, it becomes difficult for 20something year-old students to view humility as anything further than a practiced tool for political and/or scholastic advancement. After all, several students make no claims of modesty and will readily voice their thoughts, suggestions, opinions, ideas, criticisms, etc., with the understanding that they bring to the table a fresh, new generational perspective. Of course, when I say “they” what I truly mean is “we,” because no matter how I’d like to spin it otherwise, there seems to be something innately self-aggrandizing about being placed in a position of relative importance, as well as in youth itself. However, as we loaded the buses to Wilcox County early on the morning of January 4, we embarked on an experience both humbling and inspiring.

Days after the stinging—and humiliating—defeat in New Orleans, we were excited and desperate for the chance of escapism and camaraderie that the Burt Jones Travel Experience promised. As we boarded the bus, the bulk of us naïve to the exact purpose and design of these excursions, one would never have guessed that it was 7 A.M. with the anticipatory smiles that gleaned across our faces. The ride to Selma consisted of catching up with old friends, establishing new friendships, and the occasional nap.

A half-hour—but memorable—stop in Selma afforded us an opportunity to reverentially follow in the footsteps of the victims and heroes of Bloody Sunday as we marched Edmund Pettus Bridge in pairs. Preceding and following were informative discussions lead by Councilwoman Angela Benjamin, as well as the opportunity to meet with Councilwomen Susan Keith, Geraldine Allen, and Mayor George Evans.

Snow Hill, the next stop in Wilcox County, introduced us to Donald P. Stone and the Snow Hill Institute. Mr. Stone highlighted some of the major civil rights events in community, state, and national history focusing the bulk of his discussion on the experiences of William James Edwards, founder of the Snow Hill Institute.

Around noon the bus reached its final destination and we congregated in Camden Baptist Church for the first of our many delectable meals. More importantly, we received our first introduction to the warm-hearted, candid citizens of Camden. Drs. Sumpter Blackmon and Roseanne Cook painted a heartbreaking portrait of the current state of rural medicine. The prevailing theme of humility first reared its head during this discussion, as we were largely unable to formulate easy solutions for these weary but courageous folk. Dr. Blackmon’s wife, Mayor Henrietta Blackmon, further illustrated the trials facing her town.

A bus tour led by Linda Vice followed this luncheon and introduced us to some of the beautiful scenery that beckons hunters and fishers to this rural hamlet. A favorite among the students was a stop at the historical home of Marion Furman, who welcomed us as her own grandchildren and described some of the finer points of growing up in her community.

The night ended with a dinner at Gaines Ridge Dinner Club and a collection of stories told by Sheryl Threadgill Matthews, covering the town’s racially divided past, and Betty Kennedy, who recounted some of Camden’s greatest “characters.” A discussion of “what it means to be a young professional in Camden” with William Malone and Les Lambert followed. During this discussion the bubbling issue of race fought to the surface and we were forced to reconcile with the fact that we cannot necessarily hold townspeople accountable for all of the problems their communities face. The tense environment produced by some of the deep, fair, but accusatory questions became the topic for the majority of the Late Night Discussion; and it was determined that the purpose of our travel experiences was not that of hired consultants but of eager servants. We established that we must approach each community with a humble desire to learn and to help, not chastise and correct. After hours of deliberation we reached the heart of the Blackburn experience while crammed into a hotel room at the Day’s Inn: we were selected for our capacity to serve and the love that we have for Alabama, not as a force of guilt to coerce change but one that would hopefully evoke it through our actions.

Breakfast the next morning saw a renewed sense of purpose in the fellows and we enjoyed our most informative and candid panel yet. Jim Emerson, Ralph Erving, Willie Powell, Haas Strother, and Jamie D. Wallace, discussed the past, present, and future of industry in Camden and Wilcox County. Like several counties across the state, Wilcox has focused their efforts and future in one commodity and its livelihood rises and falls with the success of timber. The hope for tourism hung on everyone’s lips as they described a community ripe with potential yet limited in options.

The panel that the fellows most looked forward to followed as we met with students and representatives of Wilcox County’s segregated private and public school systems. Ralph Erving joined us again in this discussion as well as Andre Saulsberry, an impassioned principal of Camden Middle School, and Alfreda Williams, the director of the Camden Youth Community Center. The irreconcilable issue of integration was debated throughout the meeting and yet no easy solution divulged. The issue became more complex in the discussion with students from each of the high schools. Dunshic Shoemaker, Justin J. Young, Diona S. Crowell, Clinton Mitchell, and Ross Agee joined us in a discussion explaining that while race was rarely talked about and both schools provided happiness, the issues certainly affected everyone’s daily lives.

Blackbelt Treasures was certainly a highlight of the experience as we met with Sulynn Creswell, the director, and Tyree McCloud, a local artist. The tireless efforts of people like Ms. Creswell presented a glimmer of hope in a community that seems to be hesitating with the fear of what is to come.
After shopping, we filed into the community center again for a heated discussion on the history and potential of Camden, focusing, once again, primarily on the difficult subject of race. John Clyde Riggs, Commissioner John Matthews, Judge Celeste Pettway, and Jim Bonner described the obstacles they faced growing up in a divided community and the hopes and fears they have for the following generations. We found our views tested as we learned of situations we were powerless to affect in the immediate future and left with an understanding that time may be necessary to heal old wounds.

The trip culminated in an awe-inspiring final trip to Gees Bend to meet with the famed quilting collective. Here, amongst all the heartache and suffering and fear of the town, hope reigned. These women represented by Ms. Mary Ann Pettway spoke and sang to our hearts and helped us to realized that even the bleakest of situations, something good can arise. Call it the power of faith, karma, God, fortune, something had lifted the spirits of these women and they sang out in joy and praise. It was humbling and inspiring to meet these women who had established enviable lives out of a trait that no one knew they could market.

These are the reasons we commit ourselves to Blackburn. These are the stories that make bus rides fly by.