Scranton

45 Years Ago Today

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation."

It's official

I never thought I'd see this day. Incredible. I've got tears flowing down my face. And Hillary has been a class act in Denver!

I Wish Gramps Was Around

I was talking with someone the other day about what this presidential race means to me, and got to talking about how my family has always been involved with education, and mentioned my grandfather, who was a teacher, a principal and a superintendent (back in the day, if you were a college educated black man/woman, your options were pretty much limited to either to become a teacher, a funeral director or sometimes a doctor). So, I just Googled my grandfather, Booker Reaves, to see if there was any information on him out there (he passed away in 1995). I found the following 2 interviews he did with the University of Virginia (I actually knew about these and had CDs made about 5 years ago for Mom, her brother and sister and my grandmother). Very cool to see that they're still online, especially nice to still be able to hear his voice after so many years. I just wish he had lived long enough to see Obama.





Interview of Booker and Donna Reaves by Mr. Ashlin Smith and Ms. Jean Hiatt on September 8, 1994.
Booker Reaves, who was raised in the Ridge Street neighborhood, was a pioneering black educator in Charlottesville and was the principal of the Jefferson School before and during integration in the 1950s. His wife, Donna Reaves, also worked at the Jefferson School (and later at Albemarle High School) and together they raised four children on 755 Ridge Street. The Reaves discuss schooling before and after integration, social and commercial life in and around Ridge Street, and their experiences as black educators and community members in a racially divided society. The interview covers topics including the development of the Ridge Street neighborhood, recollections from the Jefferson School, Howard University and the University of Virginia, and details about businesses and commerce in Vinegar Hill.




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Interview of Booker Reaves on November 7, 1980.

A native of Charlottesville, Booker Reaves went through the Jefferson School, on to Hampton Institute and Howard University, and then back to Charlottesville to teach at Jefferson School in 1939, becoming Assistant Principal in 1947. From 1951 through 1955 Reaves earned an advanced degree from the School of Education at the University of Virginia, the first black to graduate from the University's graduate school. Reaves describes Charlottesville's school system and the NAACP's legal battle to integrate schools in Charlottesville as well as the Massive Resistance movement against integration. Reaves tells two "myths" behind the Vinegar Hill name, and names several black neighborhoods in the Vinegar Hill area, also in cases providing the name's origin. He lists some black businesses, churches, social organizations, fraternities and sororities prominent in Vinegar Hill. Reaves comments on the apparent harmony among Vinegar Hill residents despite differences in wealth and home owning versus renting status. He concludes that "the segregated days were not all bad days" in terms of community cohesion, and that the Vinegar Hill project was a good thing black people in terms of standards of living.

Thoughts on 2nite

Wow - America is seeing a black family like mine. That is, a normal, American family that's black. Not different, just black. Parents who struggled to send their kids to school. College graduates. Professionals. Cute kids. We're America too!

I'm 39, soon to be 40. And I have to admit, I never, ever thought I'd live to see this. I'm an optimist, but I just never thought I'd see it. I'm too choked up to write now, that'll come later. But I'm am so, so proud!!

The Obama Family

Rocks!! Those girls are too cute!

Let's Count!

Can we talk, Ben Stiller?

The Missing Episode

The Time For Game Playing Is Over