Eighteen current and future members of Alpha Mu Chi, Phi Theta Kappa’s chapter at Northeast Texas Community College traveled to Greenwood Rising Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 7-8. The trip was paid for by funds from a Mellon Foundation Grant that the chapter received.
On the very site where Black Wall Street used to stand and after a century of silence, the Greenwood Rising Museum tells the resilient story of Greenwood and its community by using projection mapping, holographic effect, and environmental media. The experience brings to life the memories of the past and the triumph of the human spirit while encouraging dialogue.
At the beginning of the tour, students were introduced to the beginnings of Black Wall Street, iconic milestones and successes. Then the museum transitions to tell of the “Arc of Oppression” and the trials and tribulations that were endured through the lens of a centuries-long period of anti-Blackness in America. Visitors experience the destruction and violence of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in an exhibit that is projected onto multiple surfaces and uses environmental motion graphics. One thing that most resonated with students during the exhibit was listening to the recorded voices and memories of some of the survivors.
“The massacre was the most shocking part for me,” recounted Jordan Chapin, chapter Vice President of Fundraising. “Can you imagine being at home enjoying a peaceful night and then all of a sudden you see torches and hear shouts coming from outside your house? The dropping feeling of knowing you’re about to lose all of your freedoms and possibly die just makes me sick. One of the voices from the video said that she saw birds, but they were actually bullets falling from the sky.”
The chapter visited the museum as part of their Honors in Action Project and was able to film the tour of the museum, as well as the immediate reactions from the students. Honors in Action (HIA) combines academic research, problem-solving, and action-oriented service to address real-world challenges in our communities. This year’s project theme explores how narratives of life and death inspire commitment to preserving inheritances and building legacies. After learning that there are very few scholarly historical accounts on the African American families in our community, the chapter decided to actively help fill this gap by conducting oral history interviews to ensure that each voice is heard and recorded for future generations. The trip experience helped to show how the project and the idea of preserving each voice would create a lasting impact for our community, as well as opening up the discussion as to why it is important to acknowledge and preserve the past.
“Without awareness of historical events and realizing the buildup, we never know if that same situation will happen again. I am appreciative of the opportunity and passion behind the museum; it has inspired me to document and seek stories to spread awareness about a platform that I’m passionate about, human trafficking and modern-day slavery,” said Jessie Parchman, chapter Vice President of Leadership.
To learn more about Greenwood Rising Museum, visit greenwoodrising.org. To provide accessibility to all, admission is free for the first year of operation.
Phi Theta Kappa has a presence on almost 1,300 community college campuses in 11 nations and more than 3.5 million students have been inducted since 1918. To learn more, visit ptk.org. If you would like to learn more about the HIA project or are inspired to share your story, please contact Chapter President, Brian Ramirez at bramirez839@ntcc.edu.
