To launch the exhibit, the HU Museum welcomes Messick on June 5 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.  The opening reception will feature Messick’s documentary, “Corapeake,” and the artist will be available to greet guests and answer questions.

Kendall Messick is an artist who constructs installations of still photography, film, video and an ever-evolving assemblage of two and three-dimensional media to capture stories that would otherwise go unheard.  Drawn to the stories of aging individuals often overlooked today, Messick became inspired after meeting Brenda Parker Hunt and hearing her recollections of the elderly residents of her hometown, Corapeake. These remembrances became Messick’s award-winning film “Corapeake” and eventually became an exhibition that has traveled nationally.

Corapeake, N.C., is both unique and fundamentally representative of small towns all over the South.  Located in Gates County, Corapeake is geographically, economically and socially as isolated as any part of rural America.  Bounded to the north by the Virginia state line and to the west and south by the Chowan River, the area’s most distinctive feature is the large National Wildlife Refuge to the east, aptly named the Great Dismal Swamp, consisting of 107,000 acres of forested wetlands.

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• Deborah Miller, a junior broadcast journalism major from New Castle, Del. Her career goals include becoming a writer and publicist.

• Krystina Muhammad, a junior print journalism major from Newark, Del. Her career goals include to become a reporter/writer and to create her own magazine.
• Desiree Williams, a junior public relations major from Dover. Her career goals include to become a magazine writer.

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Trustee Hank Thomas travels as the national spokesperson for the Freedom Riders

Talladega, Alabama—It has been an eventful year for Talladega College Board of Trustee member Henry “Hank” Thomas as he relives what he did at the tender age of 19 before national audiences. Often when Mr. Thomas, an original and National Spokesperson for the Freedom Riders, is asked why he got on the bus, he replies, “We saw something wrong and we decided to do something about it.”

Trustee Thomas dazzled the Talladega College Commencement audience with this statement and other kind words in appreciation of his standing ovation when he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from TC during the College’s 136th Commencement Exercises May 1st. TC President, Dr. Billy C. Hawkins, asked the audience to stand and celebrate this commendable man who he called, “a veteran civil rights foot soldier, who changed history and made it possible for all of us to be here today.” But the accolades didn’t begin or stop there. Mr. Thomas was honored as an American Hero by Oprah Winfrey during The Oprah’s Tribute to Freedom Riders’ show on May 4th. Trustee Thomas appeared on the show along with 177 survivors from the Freedom Rides. 2011 is the golden year, 50th celebration of the Freedom Rides that began in Washington, DC in May 1961 and culminated in the desegregation of interstate bus and train travel in the United States. The movement had encompassed the efforts of whites, blacks, Jews, Protestants, and ordinary every day citizens that risked their lives to defy the status quo. He has received many accolades for his bravery by participating in this historic event 50 years ago that changed the lives of most Americans. Last Sunday, The Washington Post, Washington D.C.’s oldest newspaper, featured Trustee Thomas on the front page. In March 2011, a resolution honoring Thomas was presented to him by Mississippi State Senator John Hohrn at the capitol in Jackson for his unwavering spirit and toil during the Freedom Rides. The city of Anniston, Alabama hosted a jam-packed series of events on May 12-14 in honor of the 50th Anniversary where Mr. Thomas was the keynote speaker. He is one of the two existing survivors of the Greyhound Bus that was attacked in Anniston. The Anniston Star produced a commemorative piece in their paper entitled “The Ride,” which depicts photographs, interviews, and a listing of events that were held in commemoration of the Anniston bus attack 50 years ago. In The Ride, Hank Thomas stated,“The civil rights movement was all about removing the Jim Crow laws that would cause people to want to kill me for wanting to sit on the front seat of a bus. Our sole function was to change these kinds of things. Well, we did.” “The Freedom Riders, an American Experience,” documentary aired Monday night on PBS.

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“This is a great achievement,” said Catrena Norris-Carter, associate publisher of Who’s Who in Black Alabama. “We have published Who’s Who in Black Birmingham for the past three years. It is exciting to have a statewide publication celebrating high-achieving African Americans from across the state.”

A photograph and short biography was published for President McNealey who has a long and distinguished career as an educator, artist and champion for the common good. Also featured in the publication was Dr. Linda Beito, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor of Social Sciences; Dr. Rosianna Gray, Chair of the Department of Natural Sciences and Assistant Professor of Biology; and Dr. Gregory McPherson, Assistant Director of Bands and Director of the Institute for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Though the reception took place in Birmingham, the Who’s Who in Black Alabama projec READ MORE

Concordia College students Kendrick Wright and Marla Arrington count some of the donations left after their school’s chapel service Friday. — Desiree Taylor

Students from Concordia College-Selma collected monetary donations and care packages of bottled water and non-perishable food items Friday afternoon to deliver to victims of Wednesday’s tornado devastation. Concordia’s Spiritual Life group and Student Government Association spearheaded the cause, helping students from Concordia with ties to the area, and sending out prayers to other affected families. The group will collect donations every Monday, Friday and Sunday until mid-May.

Russell Elser, with the SGA and Mr. Concordia College 2011, said the destruction in northern Alabama hit home for Concordia students.“Students here had missing cousins and other family members’ whose homes were damaged,” Elser said. “It’s just mindboggling to see this happen to people you know and talk to everyday. I’m overwhelmed.”

Elser also said his organization has partnered with FEMA and other Lutheran organizations to collect as much as they can for tornado victims. “We’ll make a quick trip today and then we’ll continue to go back in the future to bring clothing, blankets and other necessities,” Elser said. “We want to do as much as we can for who we can.” Christine Weerts, director of development and communications, said students started seeking donations from the community Thursday and the effort has been inspiring.

“We’re asking faculty, staff and students to give donations to show the demonstration of faith and God’s love for people in need,” Weerts said.

The group left around 2 p.m. Friday. They will continue trips to Tuscaloosa for the next couple of weeks. For more information on how you can help the efforts call 874-5700.

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