As an educator and cultural anthropologist, I've always believed in the power of history to inform and shape our present and future. Recently, I had the honor of leading a project that brought this belief to life in a tangible way - the designation of Calvert Colored High School as a Texas historical landmark.

This journey, beautifully captured in a recent article by Tenny Luhrs for The Battalion, represents more than just the preservation of a building. It's a testament to the resilience of the Black community in rural Texas and a celebration of educational progress against the backdrop of segregation.

Calvert Colored High School, built in 1929 under the Rosenwald School Fund, was part of a visionary project that saw almost 5,000 schools constructed for Black students across the rural South between 1917 and 1932. This initiative, born from the collaboration between Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald, aimed to address the stark educational disparities faced by Black children in the region.

The significance of this school goes beyond its physical structure. As I shared with Tenny, it represented a dramatic shift from the limited curriculum of plantation schools to a formal education that put Black students "in competition with jobs that white people were doing in the town." It was a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change in a time of profound inequality.

The process of obtaining the historical landmark designation was a labor of love, involving countless hours of research and collaboration with the Calvert Colored/WD Spigner Alumni Association, Calvert's mayor Layla Wright, and the Robertson County Historical Society. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of community in preserving our shared history.

What touches me most about this project is the ongoing impact of the school on the Calvert community. As Charlie Babers, president of the Alumni Association, pointed out, the building continues to serve as a multipurpose center, hosting events and keeping the community connected. It's a living testament to the enduring legacy of those who fought for quality education for all.

This experience reinforces my belief in the crucial importance of preserving historical sites, especially those that tell the stories of marginalized communities. As I mentioned in the article, "The reason we make pencils with erasers is so we can change what we say or what is written, but to the extent that you have an artifact, a physical structure, the only way to erase that is to knock it down."

I encourage all of you to look around your communities. What untold stories are waiting to be preserved? What pieces of history are at risk of being lost? Remember, anyone can apply for a historical marker for a subject they believe is of historical significance. 

Let's continue to honor our past, celebrate our progress, and use these preserved spaces as launching pads for future generations. After all, in understanding where we've been, we gain clearer insight into where we're going.

In the journey of education, there are moments that illuminate the far-reaching impact of our work in the classroom. Recently, I was touched by a beautiful reminder of how our discussions in Africana Studies can ripple out into the world.

A former student from my African Masculinity course reached out, sharing her continued engagement with the themes we explored together. Her journey from classroom participant to campus journalist, now writing for both The Battalion and Her Campus, speaks to the power of creating brave spaces for learning and growth.

What started as an interview about my work on the Calvert Colored High School historical marker blossomed into something more profound. This student's reflection on our course, published in Her Campus, offers a touching testament to the transformative potential of Africana Studies.

As an African American woman teaching in this field, I'm deeply aware of the vulnerability and strength required to navigate these complex discussions. Seeing students carry these conversations beyond our classroom, engaging wider audiences with nuanced perspectives on race, gender, and history, reaffirms the importance of this work.

Read her reflections through the links below and consider your own journey of growth and understanding. How might you create ripples of positive change in your own circles?