Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g1RK9Bu05337; Wed, 27 Feb 2002 15:09:11 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 15:09:11 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.2.20020227114144.0239a9e0@mail.pcc.edu> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Carol Mazer <cmazer@pcc.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:806] Re: COABE plantation tour X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: multipart/alternative; X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1 Status: O Content-Length: 19308 Lines: 392 --=====================_1991313==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Thank you, Janet, for bringing this to our attention and providing a well thought and informed response to the issue. As educators, our modeling of critical thinking, questioning and speaking out are even more important than the lessons we plan. Please feel free to add my name in support of your letter should you care to. Best, Carol Mazer Carol Mazer Family Literacy Programs Coordinator PCC Literacy Center of W. Washington County 1001 S.W. Baseline Ave. Hillsboro, OR 97123 503 693-3237 fax: 503 648-4175 cmazer@pcc.edu At 11:49 AM 2/27/2002 -0500, you wrote: > Colleagues, > >I'm sending you copies of a message I sent to COABE and the response that >I received from them about a tour they've included amongst their offerings >(f tours/trips) during their upcoming conference. My intention here is >not to malign COABE necessarily, but to bring to our collective attention >the fact that an important learning opportunity risks being neglected. I >have never organized a national conference, and can't imagine the level of >detail that such an event necessitates. Nonetheless, it feels important >to be mindful of learning opportunities -- found and neglected -- and it >is in this spirit that I offer the following, with apologies to those to >whom this will be cross posted. > >Janet Isserlis > >[my letter to COABE] To whom it may concern: > > I received your brochure yesterday and was startled, angered and > saddened at the description of the Boone Hall Plantation tour you provide > therein. Your text: > > Boone Hall Plantation Tour > > Go back in time to the antebellum days when plantation life in the South > was self-sustaining and held a charm all its own. Arrive at Boone Hall > Plantation through the famour three-quarter mile "Avenue of Oaks." Boone > Hall was granted to one of South Carolina's first Settles, Major John > Boone, in 1676. Originally a cotton plantation, Boone Hall spread over > 17,000 acres. Hand-made brick and tile were also manufactured on the > plantation. These same brick [sic] have been identified in the mansion, > garden walls, slave cabins and many of Charleston's oldest and most > historic buildings. This plantation has been used in the filming of "Gone > with the Wind," and more recently, "North and South." Enjoy a guided tour > of the grounds followed by a guided tour of the mansion. > > > Your narrative completely obliterates any possibility of > problematizing issues of race and racism inherent in slavery as it was > practiced on the plantation, thereby reducing what could be viewed as a > powerful opportunity to witness a terrible force in history to an > attractive side trip, part of the local color. I am deeply saddened that > a group of educators would not be more attentive to the implicitly racist > point of view given in your text. Where we have an opportunity to > educate ourselves, and by extension, those with whom we learn and teach, > you have done nothing to promote a critical stance, or even the asking of > important questions. Instead, your text promotes a romanticized, > sanitized glimpse of the backdrop to "Gone with the Wind," itself a film > that is open to discussion. I fervently hope that you consider writing a > more appropriate description as an insert to the brochure and create > links on your web site that facilitate a more educational exploration of > our history. > > The following two excerpts provide examples of ways in which a more > critical stance might be developed so that a trip to the plantation might > result in more than the acquisition of local color and could, instead, > provide an impetus for those present to reflect upon and/or reconsider > not only their own understanding of slavery and racism in this country, > but also the ways in which those things are taken up in the educational > contexts in which they work. > > Another account, written by a student > http://www.scriptllc.com/oudc/thetrip.html > > During our visit to Charleston, we went to the Boone Hall Plantation. > I was overcome with emotion and found myself crying uncontrollably. > It was as if all the slaves who lived there came to me at once to > tell me their horrible tales. The experience was overwhelming. The > entire tour of the plantation was conducted without a single mention > of slaves. The tour guide discussed the architecture and the > furnishings in the house extensively including the floors, tables, > china and silver. The trees were mentioned many times. But the > people who built the plantation, the people who lived there, some of > whom died there, the people who worked from sunrise to sunrise, > these people were never mentioned. > > As an African-American, it was not surprising that the plantation > evoked profound feelings and emotions in me. My Jewish peers, > however, were also moved and were as outraged as we African- > Americans. They questioned the tour guide about what they understood > to be a humiliating oversight. We all learned a great deal from the > experience. Even though we may not have entirely understood one > another, we learned that it is important to be sensitive to other people > and to respect one > another's feelings. This trip taught us how to be tolerant. I have > learned one very important lesson: we African-American people must > learn to love ourselves. We must learn about ourselves in order to > stand strong with others. And we must all know about each other in > order to understand. After the summer trip, my commitment to > enlighten others and to learn are considerably stronger. I had a > chance to get to know the other students better; I also learned a > great deal about myself. > > And this, an account of a tour taken despite the NCAAP boycott in 2000 > http://www.inform.umd.edu/News/Diamondback/00-02-29/news1.html > > At about 3 p.m. the bus stopped at the Boone Hall Plantation, a > 17,000-acre farm when it was established in 1681, according to > brochures. Three hundred years later, the farm has shrunk to 738 acres. > The tour bus drove down the half-mile dirt drive shrouded by Spanish > moss-covered oak trees. Jason Wiles, a senior entertainment > management major, said he could feel the reminders of slavery. > "As soon as I got off that bus, I knew where I was," he said. > Lined a few yards from the street were nine slave houses, three > unrepaired after damage done during Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The > buildings were cloaked in the original brick, made at the plantation, > with shells still stuck in the cement between the bricks. > > The group headed to the main house for the tour and was greeted by a > blonde young woman in an old-fashioned blue dress, complete with > hoops to flare out the skirt. They met the tour guide, who then > focused the tour on the antique furniture and mentioned little > about slavery. > > Belcher said he was upset because the slaves were referred to as > "craftsmen" and "they" instead of overtly recognizing the enslavement. > "It was a wonderful demonstration of erasing history," Belcher said. > Many others said they were upset with the production. "It was like > they knew what happened but they were hiding it," said Taiwo Oladapo, > a junior chemical engineering major. > > After the tour Belcher sat on a bench outside the plantation while > the others either did handstands in the backyard or lounged around > the ancient oak trees, many taller than the main house. Belcher said > he found racism in the reconstruction after the hurricane. > > "The slaves' quarters were destroyed but the gardens were maintained," > he said. > > The plantation does offer another tour, led by a historian who takes > the group through the slave quarters, said Julie Rose, Boone Hall > office manager. "[The tour] is all about how the slaves would have > lived," she said. > > I thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to > your response. > > Janet Isserlis, joined by Heide Spruck Wrigley, Elsa Auerbach, Andy > Nash and Mary Ann > Florez, Maria Elena Gonzalez and Judy Titzel > > >COABE's response: > >COABE 2002 offers the tours described in the registration brochure for the >pleasure of conference participants. The tour description is the one offered >by the tour company and the Charleston Visitors Bureau. > >[me again, to this list] Again, finally, my intent here is not to >embarrass or malign anyone, but to make us all aware of a learning >opportunity -- not only in terms of the way in which the tour is >described, but in the fact that such a tour could provide either a strong >learning experience or render us, again, complicit in disappearing this >country's history of slavery and in perpetuating an insidious form of >racism in so doing. --=====================_1991313==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html> Thank you, Janet, for bringing this to our attention and providing a well thought and informed response to the issue. As educators, our modeling of critical thinking, questioning and speaking out are even more important than the lessons we plan. Please feel free to add my name in support of your letter should you care to.<br> Best, Carol Mazer<br><br> <font color=3D"#008080"><i>Carol Mazer<br> Family Literacy Programs Coordinator<br> </font><font color=3D"#800000">PCC Literacy Center of W. Washington County<br> 1001 S.W. Baseline Ave.<br> Hillsboro, OR 97123<br><br> </font><font color=3D"#800080">503 693-3237<br> fax: 503 648-4175<br> cmazer@pcc.edu<br><br> <br> </i></font>At 11:49 AM 2/27/2002 -0500, you wrote:<br> <blockquote type=3Dcite class=3Dcite cite> Colleagues,<br><br> I'm sending you copies of a message I sent to COABE and the response that I received from them about a tour they've included amongst their offerings (f tours/trips) during their upcoming conference. My intention here is not to malign COABE necessarily, but to bring to our collective attention the fact that an important learning opportunity risks being neglected. I have never organized a national conference, and can't imagine the level of detail that such an event necessitates. Nonetheless, it feels important to be mindful of learning opportunities -- found and neglected -- and it is in this spirit that I offer the following, with apologies to those to whom this will be cross posted.<br><br> Janet Isserlis<br><br> [my letter to COABE] To whom it may concern:<br><br> I received your brochure yesterday and was startled, angered and saddened at the description of the Boone Hall Plantation tour you provide therein. Your text:<br><br> Boone Hall Plantation Tour<br><br> Go back in time to the antebellum days when plantation life in the South was self-sustaining and held a charm all its own. Arrive at Boone Hall Plantation through the famour three-quarter mile "Avenue of Oaks." Boone Hall was granted to one of South Carolina's first Settles, Major John Boone, in 1676. Originally a cotton plantation, Boone Hall spread over 17,000 acres. Hand-made brick and tile were also manufactured on the plantation. These same brick [sic] have been identified in the mansion, garden walls, slave cabins and many of Charleston's oldest and most historic buildings. This plantation has been used in the filming of "Gone with the Wind," and more recently, "North and South." Enjoy a guided tour of the grounds followed by a guided tour of the mansion.<br><br> <br> Your narrative completely obliterates any possibility of problematizing issues of race and racism inherent in slavery as it was practiced on the plantation, thereby reducing what could be viewed as a powerful opportunity to witness a terrible force in history to an attractive side trip, part of the local color. I am deeply saddened that a group of educators would not be more attentive to the implicitly racist point of view given in your text. Where we have an opportunity to educate ourselves, and by extension, those with whom we learn and teach, you have done nothing to promote a critical stance, or even the asking of important questions. Instead, your text promotes a romanticized, sanitized glimpse of the backdrop to "Gone with the Wind," itself a film that is open to discussion. I fervently hope that you consider writing a more appropriate description as an insert to the brochure and create links on your web site that facilitate a more educational exploration of our history.<br><br> The following two excerpts provide examples of ways in which a more critical stance might be developed so that a trip to the plantation might result in more than the acquisition of local color and could, instead, provide an impetus for those present to reflect upon and/or reconsider not only their own understanding of slavery and racism in this country, but also the ways in which those things are taken up in the educational contexts in which they work.<br><br> Another account, written by a student<br> <a href=3D"http://www.scriptllc.com/oudc/thetrip.html"= eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.scriptllc.com/oudc/thetrip.html><br><br> During our visit to Charleston, we went to the Boone Hall Plantation.<br> I was overcome with emotion and found myself crying uncontrollably.<br> It was as if all the slaves who lived there came to me at once to<br> tell me their horrible tales. The experience was overwhelming. The<br> entire tour of the plantation was conducted without a single mention<br> of slaves. The tour guide discussed the architecture and the<br> furnishings in the house extensively including the floors, tables,<br> china and silver. The trees were mentioned many times. But the<br> people who built the plantation, the people who lived there, some of<br> whom died there, the people who worked from sunrise to sunrise,<br> these people were never mentioned.<br><br> As an African-American, it was not surprising that the plantation<br> evoked profound feelings and emotions in me. My Jewish peers,<br> however, were also moved and were as outraged as we African-<br> Americans. They questioned the tour guide about what they understood<br> to be a humiliating oversight. We all learned a great deal from the<br> experience. Even though we may not have entirely understood one<br> another, we learned that it is important to be sensitive to other people and to respect one<br> another's feelings. This trip taught us how to be tolerant. I have<br> learned one very important lesson: we African-American people must<br> learn to love ourselves. We must learn about ourselves in order to<br> stand strong with others. And we must all know about each other in<br> order to understand. After the summer trip, my commitment to<br> enlighten others and to learn are considerably stronger. I had a<br> chance to get to know the other students better; I also learned a<br> great deal about myself.<br><br> And this, an account of a tour taken despite the NCAAP boycott in 2000<br> <a= href=3D"http://www.inform.umd.edu/News/Diamondback/00-02-29/news1.html"= eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.inform.umd.edu/News/Diamondback/00-02-29/news= 1.html</a><br><br> At about 3 p.m. the bus stopped at the Boone Hall Plantation, a<br> 17,000-acre farm when it was established in 1681, according=20 to<br> brochures. Three hundred years later, the farm has shrunk to 738 acres.<br> The tour bus drove down the half-mile dirt drive shrouded by Spanish<br> moss-covered oak trees. Jason Wiles, a senior entertainment<br> management major, said he could feel the reminders of=20 slavery.<br> "As soon as I got off that bus, I knew where I was," he said.<br> Lined a few yards from the street were nine slave houses, three<br> unrepaired after damage done during Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The<br> buildings were cloaked in the original brick, made at the plantation,<br> with shells still stuck in the cement between the bricks.<br><br> The group headed to the main house for the tour and was greeted by a<br> blonde young woman in an old-fashioned blue dress, complete with<br> hoops to flare out the skirt. They met the tour guide, who then<br> focused the tour on the antique furniture and mentioned little<br> about slavery.<br><br> Belcher said he was upset because the slaves were referred to as<br> "craftsmen" and "they" instead of overtly recognizing the enslavement.<br> "It was a wonderful demonstration of erasing history," Belcher said.<br> Many others said they were upset with the production. "It was like<br> they knew what happened but they were hiding it," said Taiwo Oladapo,<br> a junior chemical engineering major.<br><br> After the tour Belcher sat on a bench outside the plantation while<br> the others either did handstands in the backyard or lounged around<br> the ancient oak trees, many taller than the main house. Belcher said<br> he found racism in the reconstruction after the=20 hurricane.<br><br> "The slaves' quarters were destroyed but the gardens were maintained," he said.<br><br> The plantation does offer another tour, led by a historian who takes<br> the group through the slave quarters, said Julie Rose, Boone Hall<br> office manager. "[The tour] is all about how the slaves would have lived," she said.<br><br> I thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to<br> your response.<br><br> Janet Isserlis, joined by Heide Spruck Wrigley, Elsa Auerbach, Andy Nash and Mary Ann<br> Florez, Maria Elena Gonzalez and Judy Titzel<br><br> <br> COABE's response:<br><br> COABE 2002 offers the tours described in the registration brochure for the<br> pleasure of conference participants. The tour description is the one offered<br> by the tour company and the Charleston Visitors Bureau.<br><br> [me again, to this list] Again, finally, my intent here is not to embarrass or malign anyone, but to make us all aware of a learning opportunity -- not only in terms of the way in which the tour is described, but in the fact that such a tour could provide either a strong learning experience or render us, again, complicit in disappearing this country's history of slavery and in perpetuating an insidious form of racism in so doing.<br> </blockquote></html> --=====================_1991313==_.ALT--
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