Hope, Faith, Education and Prosperity in Gullah Geechee Life
Setting Your Own Path
Robert Smalls was born in 1839, the Planter boat pilot didn't settle on being a slave, instead he seeked freedom for himself and 16 others.
He was a man of meager beginnings with no formal education who believed in becoming greater than the life that was planned for him.
He later served as Major General Robert Smalls in the United States Army, South Carolina House of Representative, United States Senator
After Emancipation churches played a big role in the development of Gullah Geechee communities
The old Hebron Presbyterian, at 4058 Betsy Kerrison Road, Johns Island Bohicket was a place for people to come together as a family to worship, praise and serve God.
Some schools were built by northern missionaries in churches and other available spaces to properly educate former slaves about christian beliefs.
- Promise Land School on Johns Island was built in 1882 and offered education for Black elementary school children.
- It was a place for learning, discipline, and shaping the lives of students to become productive members of the community.
Septima Poinsette Clark, born May 3, 1898 was an educator voting and civil rights activist. She was born in Charleston, South Carolina.
At the young age of 18 she started her journey as a teacher at Promise Land School, a one room schoolhouse on Johns Island, South Carolina.
Ms. Clark's introduction to residents on rural Johns Island with little resource and connection to the mainland influenced her life long teaching and involvement in voting and civil rights.
She worked in various other schools and forced changes for black teacher's salary before she was forced in 1956 to resign her teacher position in South Carolina rather than give up her NAACP membership.
Many organizations have recognized Ms Clark's life long work. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King called Septima Poinsette Clark the "The Mother of the Movement"
A new Promise Land School was built in 1955 with money from a state sales tax. This is the first time public money was used for the school building.
This small cinder block building with six windows later provided a better learning environment for children at the new location next to the first Promise Land School. This build has been altered but still stands today.
Former students appreciate the teaching they received at Promise Land School and thought it helped to shape their character that made them successful.
Ms. Harriett Johnson became the first female adult bus driver.
Rev. Alfred Heyward became a business owner of the school.
Ms. Liz Coaxum became a long time teacher on Johns Island.
As students of the Johns Island Field School, Patricia Jones and I visited the Robert Smalls house at 511 Prince Street, Beaufort, South Carolina and it was very impactful.
In conclusion, Major General Robert Smalls and Ms Septima Clark have proven that one doesn't have to accept the life planned for you by others, instead plan your own life based on your hopes and dreams for yourself!
SOURCES
"Septima Clark" Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 7, Gale, 1994
African-American Primary and Secondary Public School Buildings in South Carolina, ca.1895-1954. National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form ( http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/MPS/MPS027.pdf )
Septima P. Clark Papers, ca. 1910-ca. 1990. Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture
"The Christening and Launch of the Major General Robert Smalls." The Presentation and Press Release of the Army Naming Its Newest and Largest Ship After Black Civil War Hero Robert Smalls
