Our school age youth have inspired me with their responses during “Q and A” sessions after my readings as a volunteer during African American History Celebrations and Read across America Celebration, too. Before this school year, I read to classes at Orchard Knob Elementary School and at Rivermont Elementary School, here in Hamilton County. Their answers to factual questions and also evident listening skills and creative thinking skills kept me excited me as retired educator for a while.
Just recently, on behalf of the Chattanooga Symphony Opera, I read “Marian Sang” at Brown’s Academy, here in our city to a class of fifth graders. The book also shared information about Ms. Marian Anderson being denied to perform at the Constitution Hall because of a “White Performers Only” policy. This decision led to a protest and as well as the support of the then first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt and mostly Washington, D.C. educators. As a result Ms. Anderson was invited by President F.D. Roosevelt to perform in front of over 75,000 citizens on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Ms. Anderson afterwards began to travel to many other countries where she performed and received many awards from Kings, Queens and other top leaders and organizations, before returning to the United States and receiving an invitation to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House.
The 20+ students who gathered for my reading along with some faculty members in the school’s library to listen and sang along with provided songs also in the book. When the students were asked some factual questions about Ms. Anderson experiences, they gave answers and their reactions to some of her struggles. In addition, when they were asked, “How do you think Marion Anderson felt when she was denied to perform at the Constitutional Hall in the United States because of segregation?” Their variety of responses included, she was, “depressed, upset, mad, angry, hurt, sad, etc.” Before concluding this enjoyable time with these students, one response was given to final question about Ms. Anderson reaction to her reaction and denial was “She felt determined.” This answer, for me could become a “lesson starter” and perhaps the prerequisite, itself. I know for sure it also instilled a period of “warmth” in my heart.
Eva Jo (Saddler) Johnson,
Retired Educator and Community Volunteer