Rallying the Troops: When I write or type 'The HistoryMakers' I wonder if I'll ever be inducted into the Hall of HistoryMaker Fame. After all, I am a multifaceted individual representative of a rich cultural identity, possess a great knowledge of family history, and within a given amount of time will make sizable contributions to the community and eventually the society at large. I wonder the same of all of my IMLS fellow Fellows. I feel the presence of greatness when we collaborate on projects, compassionately share ideas and face challenges associated with "breaking" into our field through the training of the IMLS Fellowship. Perhaps its the high level of optimism running through my veins but I'm convinced that in due time our collective intelligence, winning personalities and commitment to our vocation will yield solutions to guide the archival world into a cohesive, sustainable, and successful future.
-"The entire universe depends on everything fitting together just right..." Hush Puppy (from the motion picture "Beasts of the Southern Wild")
Beasts of the Southern Wild |
After a long and challenging week by Friday at 6:48pm I resolved the internal conflict and decided to remove myself from 'work'. You see, whether I'm in the office, walking down the street or on my way to sleep my brain remains overloaded with better ways to complete the present tasks at hand as related to the projects, exercises and expectations of my involvement with being a "budding" archivist. Fortunately, I have one of the best families on the planet, co-headed by my partner, Mohamed, who decided to treat us to dinner and a movie. He'd briefed me on the film but despite the summary my mind remained stuck on the title: Beasts of the Southern Wild. While watching the film, I began to parallel my current experiences with Hush Puppy, the lead character, who worked in unison with her father and community members to keep the society, as they knew it, in tact. The film, categorized as fantasy drama, reminded me of the complexities of running a rare objects repository and acting as the representative for the sustainability of the repository as an institution as well as its objects.
Columbia College Chicago: Center for Black Music Research |
Monument to the Great Northern Migration |
Monument to the Great Northern Migration |
Commemorative of Souls Made of Soles
The week began with a Black History Neighborhood Tour through the South Side neighborhoods of Bronzeville, Kenwood, and Hyde Park. I enjoyed the tour. It's always nice to hear about the neighborhood I grew up in and now currently reside in from a historian's perspective. While listening to Mr. Tony Burroughs share his knowledge of the historical landmarks and other highlights of these areas, I felt proud of my Bronzeville community, which was referred to as "The Black Belt" before I was born and "The Low End" when I was a youth. I found it beneficial and warming to share the experience with the IMLS Fellows and NEH Scholars, most of whom are not from Chicago.
Week eight was extremely exciting on multiple levels from creating presentations "on the fly"to treating our fellow Fellow Chaitra Powell to Bearthday Brunch to rollocking in the fruits of my labor...I'm sure I've omitted many highlights from the week but there's always room to include more juicy deets in the weeks to follow....
...on to Week Nine@TheHistoryMakers....
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