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FROM FREEDOM SUMMER TO THE MEMPHIS SANITATION WORKERS’ STRIKE —Michelle M. Deardorff, Ph.D. Once again, this summer the Hamer Institute hosted two National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of American History and Culture workshops for community college faculty on “Landmarks of American Democracy: From Mississippi Freedom Summer to the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike.” We had fifty enthusiastic summer scholars who represented the entire nation and a plethora of disciplines and interests. Our committed team of scholars, activists, and staff came back together and we welcomed two new graduate assistants. As always, it was an exciting event and exhausting for everyone (a good exhaustion, at the end of the day). The program followed our previous workshop syllabi in which we begin in Jackson with an examination of importance of this narrative and the notion of place. We were pleased that Charlie Cobb was able to join us as keynote speaker and oral history panelist for both weeks; the tone he set was invaluable. Dr. L.C. Dorsey’s discussion of her personal history within the larger framework of the Delta and oppression stimulated much debate—which the summer scholars referenced throughout the week. As always, Hollis Watkins’ contribution of song was a highlight for the participants, many took his cd back to their home campuses in order to engage another generation of citizens. Dr. Charles Payne and Dr. John Dittmer were as involved as always in the workshop and with the summer scholars, as always leaving the Hamer faculty to imagine the possibilities of the “Dream Team” co-leading these sessions. Every year, the oral history panels and the field trips to the different sites that we visit bring the highest praise from the participants. This year was no different. Charles McLaurin led the groups through the Delta masterfully and helped the summer scholars conceive of ways in which their local landmarks could be integrated into their current curriculum. Our oral history panel in Memphis, while not the same without the presence of Vasco Smith, wowed both weeks and resulted in long photo opportunities. Finally, we added a new component for this year. One of our Hamer faculty leaders—Dr. Emilye Crosby—
edited a new book entitled Civil Rights History From the Ground Up: Local Struggles, A National Movement, which featured such Hamer folks as: John Dittmer, Laurie Green, Charles McKinney, and Charles Payne, as well as Emilye herself. So during both weeks Hamer hosted a book signing for Emilye and Charles Payne and Emilye and Chuck McKinney—it was a great way to engage the local community with the current scholarship on Civil Rights. In the fall of 2010, we surveyed as many past participants in the Hamer/NEH Landmarks program for community college faculty that we could track over the last seven years. The results were exciting and invigorating. We had about a 28% response rate and of the respondents, 100% stated they found the workshop beneficial in the months/years after participation and 60% have maintained relationships formed in the program. As for the impact of the workshop: 48% noted greater knowledge integrated into courses; 25% mentioned new pedagogical resources; 23% have created or revised courses; and 23% claimed a personal identification with the places and people that they teach. Participants noted other consequences, such as: new pedagogical approaches, the significance of everyday people and their impact on democracy; significance of personal narratives; greater coverage of civil rights in their courses; and the creation or expansion of student travel to Mississippi. Especially in light of these exciting results, we are sorry to announce that the NEH has cancelled their Landmarks programs for community college faculty after the summer of 2012. Because we had decided to take a brief hiatus in 2012 to revamp the program, this past summer was our final Landmarks program. We are pleased to end the program on a high note, but disappointed not to translate our new discoveries into a new workshop in 2013. Please allow us to thank the dedicated Hamer family of visiting scholars, our Hamer staff, our oral history panelists, and our great friends and collaborators at Rhodes College. It has been a great run and all of you were key reasons we were one of NEH’s most successful Landmarks programs!