What’s Right With Our Schools: Black History at Bessie Smith Cultural Center
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Black History is much more than a month at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. They have exhibits on African American history, culture, sports and so much more. It’s a great resource for students of all ages and a timeless example of what’s right with our schools.
Arthur Benton is the Educational Program Coordinator.
He explains, “Here at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, we pride ourselves with partnerships with the school systems here in Chattanooga. It’s important for just not only the students, but the teachers, the staff, the principles to come and see what we offer here at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.”
Benton continues, “Black History Month is a very important month, but we’re here more than just for the month of February. Our doors are open all year round for people to come in for tours, to get educational programs that we offer here, but also just learn about the great black history that we have here, which is local history in Chattanooga.
Elijah Cameron is the Director of Community Relations and Development.
He chips in, “At the Bessie, we do American black history 365 days a year. And it’s very important that we continue to do this particular piece because, so many times kids in the schools don’t get all of the history that they need to get, and we tried to tell the true history here at the Bessie Smith Culture Center. We encourage student to come, and we have a lot of kids coming through the Bessie Smith Culture Center, and of course the university is sending classes down now, and we we’re happy to have those classes come through, because we get to talk about the African American history here that happened right here in Chattanooga. Those African Americans who contributed significant to the growth of Chattanooga and talk about other things that happen along the way.”
Arthur Benton concludes,” For the month of February, for Black History Month (the Center) is very packed. We had our art competition that was open up to Hamilton County School students from K to 12th grade. We honored Clifford Gordon, who was a pioneer uh with artwork here in Chattanooga. This past week we also had our divine n Greek talk learning the stereo types about the fraternities and sororities here In Chattanooga. Coming up now, we have streamings of movies, we have a big event also with black athletes locally here in Chattanoga where there are local athletes to come in and talk about their stories and their journeys, and how they got started here in Chattanooga. We winded out them up with a Tennessee songwriters competition hosted here. So, we have plenty of programming here at the Bessie Smith Culture Center for the month of February. So, I sent an open invitation to the community to students to come in to tour Bessie Smith Cultural Center. A lot of things that you may see in history books we have right here inside the museum. Come and be amazed about the rich history of local Chattanooga history makers here at the Bessie Smith Culture Center.”
