posted by Amy Hillier

on March 6, 2008

March 5th was an exciting day for the Mapping Du Bois project. We organized a lunchtime lecture and discussion with Haverford College historian Roger Lane. Professor Lane is author of many books, most notably The Roots of Violence and William Dorsey's Philadelphia and Ours. He spoke about the "First Golden Age of Philadelphia Black History," the late 19th century. He described it as a golden age because most blacks were employed, demonstrating strong academic capacity, and supporting a wide range of self-help organizations, despite the rampant economic discrimination. He described the 1950s--when factory jobs had opened up to blacks but before they all left the city--as the 2nd golden age. With humility and humor, he laid out some of the problems caused by racial discrimation today. We organized this event as part of the Bates Seminar Series on the History of Nursing with support from the Leonard David Institute of Health Economics.

Wednesday evening marked the first community discussion about the mural of Du Bois at 6th and South Streets. The Fire Commissioner agreed to have the mural painted on the first station at 6th and South Streets, which is right next to the street where Du Bois lived when he first came to Philadelphia. The mural will also commemorate the historically black firehouse, Engine 11, on South Street. We didn't have many people at the meeting at the fire station, but we did have a lively conversation. Muralist Willis Humphreys has been assigned to the project. He's just finishing a fabulous mural on the African diaspora at 57th and Woodland. We'll have several more community meetings--Thurs. 3/27 to discuss more design ideas, Wed. 4/9 to see the design, and then Saturday 5/3 for a community paint day--all at the fire station at 6th and South Street. The Mural Arts Program will be involving their youth from their ArtWorks! project so that there is an educational component.