ames, and Shanelle were selected to participate. They received a 90% paid trip to visit the campus' of Spelman College; Morehouse College; Clark-Atlanta University; Alabama State University and Tuskegee University. The trip was organized by Mr. Carl Ray, whose company covered the costs of travel and accommodations for participants. This is a picture of NWAC clubhouse members in the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. We flew to Atlanta, Georgia and joined up with clubhouse members from throughout the United States. Our flight was delayed a few hours and the weather caused numerous delays and cancellations. When we arrived in Atlanta, there were people sleeping in the airport because they had missed their flight. Some of our group were already in the airport when we arrived. Although our flight arrived arround 11:00 pm, the last of the group did not get on the bus until after 2:00 am; by the time we got into our hotel room, it was after 3. We had to be at our first tour location at 9:00.Thursday - Spelman, Morehouse & CAU
The girls toured the all girls college, Spelman, and learned about its dorm life, classes, buildings and organizations. Before going on their Spelman tour, the girls had the opportunity to briefly join the guys on Morehouse's campus. This was a rare honor, because Morehouse is an all-male college, but we (the girls) were a little early for our Spelman tour, so the guys were very gracious in allowing us to join them for a brief introduction of Morehouse, before their tour. We learned about the WELLs that define renaissance men:
- They are well-read.
- They are well-traveled.
- They are well-spoken.
- They are well-dressed.
- They are well-balanced.
These WELLs should apply to girls, also. In fact, everyone should aspire to achieve these WELLs.
The girls went on the tour of Spelman; while the guys toured Morehouse. We all met up for lunch, which was followed by the tour of Clark-Atlanta. Everyone had the opportunity to go into a dorm room and speak with students about their college experiences. Following the tours in Atlanta we boarded the bus and traveled to Alabama.
On the way to Montgomery, Alabama, we were treated to a bonus sto
p at the Tuskegee Airfield. Mr. Ray gave a history lesson about the Tuskegee Airmen and their role in World War II. It was awesome to have this trip include this important piece of American history. If you don't know about the Tuskegee Airmen I hope you will investigate. It is important to know that it wasn't so long ago that African Americans were not permitted to participate equally in American society. There are still people today who believe that just because of your skin color, you couldn't possibly be intelligent. The Tuskegee Airmen proved them wrong and people like you are proving them wrong, everyday. Pictured here is Reggie next to a Tuskegee Airman Fighter Jet.
p at the Tuskegee Airfield. Mr. Ray gave a history lesson about the Tuskegee Airmen and their role in World War II. It was awesome to have this trip include this important piece of American history. If you don't know about the Tuskegee Airmen I hope you will investigate. It is important to know that it wasn't so long ago that African Americans were not permitted to participate equally in American society. There are still people today who believe that just because of your skin color, you couldn't possibly be intelligent. The Tuskegee Airmen proved them wrong and people like you are proving them wrong, everyday. Pictured here is Reggie next to a Tuskegee Airman Fighter Jet.Friday - Alabama State and Tuskegee Universities
Our first school to visit was Alabama State University. We spent the morning at ASU and enjoyed lunch in their cafeteria. ASU is a state-funded university that offers associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctoral degrees and post-master's certifcates. We
were all given a t-shirt and information bag before having three tour guides escort us around the campus. The girls were able to enter Bibb Graves Hall, a girls dormitory. (We learned that part of the history of this dorm is that it served as the home for Coretta Scott King and her daughters following the bombing of the King home in 1956).
were all given a t-shirt and information bag before having three tour guides escort us around the campus. The girls were able to enter Bibb Graves Hall, a girls dormitory. (We learned that part of the history of this dorm is that it served as the home for Coretta Scott King and her daughters following the bombing of the King home in 1956). The ASU campus is big and beautiful. It is located in the state capitol of Montgomery. This city is rich with the history of the civil rights movement. Each of the clubhouse groups were able to get their picture taken at a monument dedicated to the mother of the modern civil rights movement, Mrs. Rosa Parks. The encryption at the base of the monument reads "She sat down so that we can stand up". This was another great teaching moment. Pictured with the Detroit group are members from the Chicago clubhouse (from left to right: Antoine, Shanelle, Charles, Marcellous, Reggie, and James).
Before heading to Tuskegee University, we were treated to a
nother bonus when we stopped at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. This is the first church that Martin Luther King, Jr. served as pastor. The church sits on the corner only a block away from the state capitol. The church has long been a protector of Montgomery's African American community. It was instrumental in helping to establish the Alabama Colored People's University, now Alabama State University; and it is the location where the Montgomery Bus Boycott was planned and organized. Shanelle got her picture taken on the steps of the church.
nother bonus when we stopped at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. This is the first church that Martin Luther King, Jr. served as pastor. The church sits on the corner only a block away from the state capitol. The church has long been a protector of Montgomery's African American community. It was instrumental in helping to establish the Alabama Colored People's University, now Alabama State University; and it is the location where the Montgomery Bus Boycott was planned and organized. Shanelle got her picture taken on the steps of the church.The afternoon was spent visiting the George Washington Carver museum on t
he campus of Tuskegee University. We were able to view a short film about the life of George Washington Carver, as well as touch and take pictures of many of the amazing pieces of history associated with his life. We had a great time reading the list of over 100 uses that can come from the peanut. George Washington Carver was the first African American to graduate from Iowa State University. He was the first African American faculty member there, also. Booker T. Washington convinced him to come to Tuskegee to teach and continue his research. He was an instructor at Tuskegee for over 4o years.
he campus of Tuskegee University. We were able to view a short film about the life of George Washington Carver, as well as touch and take pictures of many of the amazing pieces of history associated with his life. We had a great time reading the list of over 100 uses that can come from the peanut. George Washington Carver was the first African American to graduate from Iowa State University. He was the first African American faculty member there, also. Booker T. Washington convinced him to come to Tuskegee to teach and continue his research. He was an instructor at Tuskegee for over 4o years. We also received a tour through The Oaks, the home of Booker T. Washington and his family. It was awesome to see the inside of this gorgeous home. Another teaching moment came when we learned that the home was designed by architect, Robert Robinson Taylor, the first African American to graduate from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the
number 1 technology school in world, according to US News and World Report.) Mr. Taylor was an instructor and designer at Tuskegee for over thirty years. He designed a number of the campus buildings, including the Carver Museum, which was initially the campus laundry. Equally amazing is that many of the buildings were constructed by students using bricks they made!
number 1 technology school in world, according to US News and World Report.) Mr. Taylor was an instructor and designer at Tuskegee for over thirty years. He designed a number of the campus buildings, including the Carver Museum, which was initially the campus laundry. Equally amazing is that many of the buildings were constructed by students using bricks they made!Saturday - Tuskegee University Open House
Friday was pretty awesome, but I think that Saturday topped it. We arrived at Tuskegee University for their Fall Open House. There was a full-day of events scheduled. It began with a Welcome Ceremony in the TU Cha
pel. There was singing, a skit, and the opportunity to hear from the Interim President and the Deans of each of the colleges and schools at TU. It moved from the Chapel to the gymnasium, where the entertainment included the band, cheerleaders, dancers, the ROTC, and Pan Hellenic presentations. It made me want to grab an application and sign myself up to attend this school. It was all that... and a bag of chips! Just ask Cello, Reg, JB or Shanelle! And it wasn't over. From the gym we went to the cafeteria and enjoyed a delicious lunch. We left the cafeteria and went to the football field where we watched the Tuskegee Golden Tigers beat the Kentucky State Thorobreds, with a score of 45 - 21. It was a great day at TU, U know!
pel. There was singing, a skit, and the opportunity to hear from the Interim President and the Deans of each of the colleges and schools at TU. It moved from the Chapel to the gymnasium, where the entertainment included the band, cheerleaders, dancers, the ROTC, and Pan Hellenic presentations. It made me want to grab an application and sign myself up to attend this school. It was all that... and a bag of chips! Just ask Cello, Reg, JB or Shanelle! And it wasn't over. From the gym we went to the cafeteria and enjoyed a delicious lunch. We left the cafeteria and went to the football field where we watched the Tuskegee Golden Tigers beat the Kentucky State Thorobreds, with a score of 45 - 21. It was a great day at TU, U know!We returned to Atlanta where we flew home the next morning. Carl Ray has been taking students on HBCU tours for over 20 years. He, once again, did an awesome job!
