African American Communities is a Sociology class that is cross-listed with African American Studies and was taught by Professor Strmic-Pawl at the College of Charleston in the Spring of 2013.  With great thanks to an Innovative Teaching and Learning Grant provided by the College of Charleston, two classes were able to visit the Penn Center. The purpose of the field-trip was threefold: 1) students were able to engage directly with an African American institution that has both historic and contemporary significance; 2) students were able to apply their in-class readings from Sociology, African American Studies, and Landscape Studies to grasp the importance of preserving African American history as well as visiting such locations that do so; and, 3) the students benefited from the trip as a greater sense of solidarity and community was built among all who were involved.

Each blog post entry is a student’s submission.  After the field-trip, students were asked to create a photo collage, write a poem/lyrics, or craft a brief essay about the importance of education as well as write a brief accompanying statement about the visit and/or assignment.  We hope that you enjoy reading this blog and learning about our visit to the Penn Center.

We are extremely grateful to the Penn Center for creating a wonderful and memorable experience for us!

From the Penn Center website:

“Tucked in the heart of the South Carolina Sea Islands between glimmering marshes and deep water, nestled beneath the silvery moss draped limbs of massive live oaks, you will find the Penn Center – the site of one of the country’s first schools for freed slaves and one of the most significant African American historical and cultural institutions in existence today.

Located on St. Helena Island, one of the most beautiful and historically distinct of the South Carolina Sea Islands, Penn Center sits at the heart of Gullah culture, on the 50 acres of the historical campus of Penn School. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974, it is a part of the Penn School Historic District which is comprised of nineteen buildings related to and used by Penn School–Brick Church, Darrah Hall, one of the oldest buildings on St. Helena Island, old burial grounds, Gantt Cottage where Martin Luther King Jr. lodged, a Nature Trail, Chowan Creek, acres of pines, native flora and fauna.”