Commonwealth Speakers:The African American Experience


A mural of activist Cecil B. Moore. From Denise Valentine's presentation, From Richard Allen to Cecil B. Moore: Stories of Hope and Freedom.

An understanding of the complex history, contributions and tribulations of the African American community in Pennsylvania and the U.S. is vital to a complete understanding of the history and culture of the state and the nation. In this category, and in others, you will find a variety of topics and perspectives that illuminate the African American experience.

Did You Feed My Turkey? Play Parties, Rhythms and Rhymes from the African American Community
Play party rhythms and rhymes are chants, ring dances, hand clapping stories, call-and-response songs, finger plays and jumping/skipping games played by children. Storyteller Linda Goss will share a variety of the rhythms she learned as a child growing up in rural Tennessee, and compare them with rhythms and rhymes she has collected from children and adults in Philadelphia neighborhoods and other urban areas.

Linda Y. Goss, Philadelphia
Co-Founder of the National Association of Black Storytellers and Artist-in-Residence at the Rosenbach Museum

The Souls of Black Baseball: Barnstorming the Keystone State
In this presentation, Bob Allen will examine the rich history of black baseball as played in Pennsylvania. Participants will get to know the stories and contributions of Octavius Catto, Oscar Charleston, Cum Posey, Gus Greenlee, Eddie Bolden and others who delivered black baseball in the Keystone State. We will barnstorm across Pennsylvania to discover and appreciate the greatness of teams such as the Pythians, the Hilldale Club of Darby, the Philadelphia Stars, the Harrisburg Giants, The Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Through video interviews and guest appearances by living players, we will follow players and teams as they moved from little towns and twilight leagues closer to the spotlight of the nation's principal leagues. We will explore how Pennsylvania players contributed to moving the black leagues, and the nation, out of the shadow of the Jim Crow era.

Bob Allen, State College
Former Instructor, Penn State University

From Richard Allen to Cecil B. Moore: Stories of Freedom and Hope
Hear stories about African Americans who lived, breathed and walked the streets of 17th-20th century Philadelphia. Storyteller Denise Valentine will share fictional accounts of the extraordinary and the ordinary people who participated in the events that shaped Philadelphia and the nation. The presentation will discuss historic sites including Penn's Landing, where the ship Isabella landed in 1684 with a cargo of 150 enslaved Africans; the London Coffee House, where they were auctioned off to local settlers; and Congo Square, where they gathered to await shipment to points south. Valentine's presentation also will touch on great escapes from slavery (e.g., Henry "Box" Brown), great black leaders and great entertainers.

Denise Valentine, Philadelphia
Storyteller

His Story/My Story/Our Story
Look at the word history. Do you see the word story? Do you see the word his? Whose story is history? Stories are like roots to the past and wings to the future. They help build a sense of identity and give us a sense of direction. They tell us who we are, where we come from and how the past has shaped the present. The blues singer, praise poet and griot all call out to the people in song, story, myth and metaphor. Join storyteller Denise Valentine as she explores how African Americans through history have used stories to send messages, voice protest, ease their pain and gather strength.

Denise Valentine, Philadelphia
Storyteller

It's Storytelling Time! A Journey through the African American Storytelling Tradition
Through a lively participatory presentation and discussion, Linda Goss will share some of her favorite folktales, family narratives and legends from the African American storytelling tradition that she has collected over three decades. She will demonstrate how field hollers and praise singing are used to enhance a story. Audiences will join in the stories through call-and-response techniques. In a workshop component, participants will learn how to put expression in their faces, to vary and project their own voices and to move their bodies to best tell the story they want to share.

Linda Y. Goss, Philadelphia
Co-Founder of the National Association of Black Storytellers and Artist-in-Residence at the Rosenbach Museum

Men of Color: Race, Riots and Black Firefighters' Struggle for Equality
The achievements accomplished by the Civil Rights Movement are well documented. Less familiar, however, is the protracted struggle for racial equality black firefighters experienced in urban America, especially in Philadelphia. Throughout the 19th and most of the 20th centuries, when black men tried to integrate all-white fire departments, their efforts were met with fierce resistance. This presentation, in lecture format, will examine the history and social dynamics of race relations in the Philadelphia Fire Department from the AFA to 2007.

John McWilliams, State College
Associate Professor of History, Penn State University – DuBois

Secret Symbols in African Textiles and African American Quilts
From traditional African textiles to contemporary African American quilts, fabric has long been prized for the ways it can tell our stories. Whether worn as traditional clothing, 21st century "ethnic" fashions or sewn into contemporary quilts, this hands-on presentation will unravel the secret meanings of authentic African textiles such as mud cloth, adinkra designs and kinte. A folklorist who specializes in material culture, Cassandra Gunkel has documented and studied African American quilts and textiles. She also has curated numerous exhibits in Philadelphia and Bucks County.

Cassandra Stancil Gunkel, Ivyland
Folklorist

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