In Relentless Pursuit of an Education:
African American Stories from a Century of Segregation (1865 - 1967)

In Relentless Pursuit of an Education is local history at its best.  In their own words, residents of St. Mary's County, Maryland, tell of the separate and unequal black schools that existed until the county finally complied with Brown v. Board of Education in 1967.  This generation displays no nostalgia for segregation, but they do recall how their daily life was marked not only by inequality, but also by determination, caring, even fun.  One hundred years from now, their voices will be a priceless resource for historians yearning to understand, "What was it like?  What was it really like?"
                                                                                       James W. Loewen, author
                                                              Lies My Teacher Told Me and Sundown Towns
 

If you don't know your history, you're destined to live it again.  People made great sacrifices for this country to be where it is today.  And, it's a universal sacrifice on both sides of the fence.  Bun unfortunately, our history has reflected more of one side than another.  People need to understand the contributions that have been made to make this country what it is. 
                                                             Alonzo Gaskin, St. Mary's County Resident

We can best project where we're going if we first reflect on where we've been.
                                                  Ralph Ignatius Butler, St. Mary's County Resident

Excerpts from In Relentless Pursuit of an Education ...   The black schools were pitiful because we got all the cast-offs, the junk, the broken-down desks, the bench - I mean, the books with pages tore out.  You got no sports equipment. You got blackboards tat was chipped.  You got erasers that was wore out.  You did not get any new equipment in black schools.  You know, the only thing new there was if you brought a tablet or a pencil of your own.  Everything else was hand-me-downs and stuff that a lot of it should have been thrown in the dump.  But here again, it was better than what we had because without that we had nothing.  That, to me, is a hell of a way to have to try to get an education, but you done what you had to do. Clarence Carroll Smith (b. 1932)   We used to get our checks once a month.  When I got married, I got my check three days earlier than everybody else, and they didn't believe me.  I had to bring my check to work and show it to them.  My maiden name was Smith.  Gaskin just had to be a white person.  So the sent me my check all year long with the white teachers.  They didn't know any better.  Then at the end of the year, when I went to carry my register - we had these darn registers ... and she said, "You're Miss Gaskin?"   I said, "I am."   I didn't get another check early. Elvare Smith Gaskin (b. 1919)   Our teacher, Mrs. Statesman [Carrie Statesman], she was a sweet lady.  I wish she was around here.  She could really tell you something.   In cold weather, Mrs. Statesman, and I know she bought it out of her own pocket, which I know they weren't paying her that much, would bring this cocoa, you know, and make it so the kids would have something hot to drink. Frances Jane Armstrong Morgan (b.1929)

Black Institutes by Janice Talbert Walthour Walls torn down Buildings structures Destroyed demolished Ruins whisked away The spirit of heritage Lurking No place to nurture Young black Hearts   souls   minds Though demolished Soul filled memories Once housed within Bring pride   nostalgia Bring joyful thanksgiving From those once Loved nurtured Educated empowered with religion Motivated in black institutes Let not those memories Be whisked away Like these structures designed To create success Build! Build monuments within That reflect heritage That create vision Build monuments that Sing praises of love Encouragement   to ourselves Build monuments that solidify Dignity self-esteem Monuments that embrace the Strength and unity of black institutes Dedicated to Brenda Thompson Coates and the Catholic community who supported the erection of a monument in memory of Cardinal Gibbons Institute, the first black institute in St. Mary's County, Maryland.

In Relentless Pursuit of an Education: African American Stories from a Century of Segregation, 1865 - 1967 (Lexington Park, Maryland: Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions of St. Mary's County, Incorporated, 2006)

117 pages, soft cover, indexed, over 200 photographs, 8½" x 11": $15 + $5 shipping

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