Our February Cultural Leadership meeting took place at St. James African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church on Sunday, Feb. 17, which is the church home to one of my fellow Cultural Leadership friends, Mimi Brown. Mimi explained the history of the church and the historic places around it that are located in the Ville Neighborhood of St. Louis. The church has made a positive impact on the community through its long-standing influence. Some of the historic places mentioned were Charles Sumner High School and Annie Malone Children’s Home. Each institution represents the sole support of its kind in the Ville in the early years of African American history in St. Louis. Many St. Louis students attended Sumner High School which was at one time the only school African Americans in the St. Louis region could attend. Annie Malone was known as the only place for African American “orphans.” Both of these institutions along with St. James were the foundation of the community.

The guest speaker was Dr. Jonathan Smith, who can best be described as a very intelligent man who was knowledgeable about the history of African Americans. We started by selecting a slip of paper with a list of African American names. As a name was chosen, we had to be able to tell Mr. Smith who these people were. Some of the names listed were Marian Anderson, Mahalia Jackson, Carter G. Woodson and Mansa Musa, just to name a few. The point of the exercise was that African Americans do have a history no matter what you may have heard and that we should not let anyone allow us to think otherwise.

Dr. Smith was able to prove that to us through his intellect and visually by his wonderful Power Point presentation. He went into great detail about the history from the location of Africa through present day events. He discussed how African Americans survived through all that they have been through.

Dr. Smith gave an in-depth view of the Middle Passage and what it must have been like to be transported on a slave ship to an unknown destiny. He asked questions in a way that provoked me to think outside the box. I have seen a replica of a slave ship at a museum but it is hard to visualize what this must have been like. Dr. Smith brought the image closer to reality.

Dr. Smith encouraged us to read to educate ourselves further. One of the books he suggested was, The Souls of Black Folks written by W.E.B. DuBois. The book contains essays on race through W.E.B. DuBois’ experiences. DuBois was a contributor on a global level to thought about Africans and Africans in America. He even had a home in Ghana that is still standing today.

I felt that the presentation by Dr. Smith was very beneficial. It allowed me as an African American to learn more detail about my history. I think that it was also a good experience for my Jewish friends to understand the history of African Americans possibly in a way that they had never experienced before.

Another noteworthy activity that seemed small though actually important was when we all learned and sang the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. As we were singing, I thought about how there was a time where you would never see people of different cultures and races singing that particular song. It was a reflection of Dr. King’s, “I Have a Dream,” speech which set the tone for the Civil Rights Movement. I left feeling that through continued shared experiences, we may one day be judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin.

We all bleed red blood.

Jillian Lynum is a junior at Cardinal Ritter College Prep and a participant in Cultural Leadership.