The African American Student Social Work Association, successful concern with the Department of Social Work Education astatine Fresno State, volition big the inaugural Taste of Freedom event, lauded arsenic Fresno’s First African American Living History Day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at Fresno State.
The free, nationalist lawsuit is unfastened to each members of the community. It volition beryllium held connected the writer tract northbound of the Fresno State Aquatic Center and adjacent to Margie Wright Diamond (near Cedar and Barstow avenues). The lawsuit volition observe the contributions of African Americans and Buffalo soldiers successful the Old West – from the precocious 1800s to the aboriginal 1900s post-Civil War.
Attendees volition person the accidental to get up adjacent and idiosyncratic with surviving historians and reenactors portraying humanities and notable figures of that time, including Cathay Williams, the archetypal African American pistillate to enlist successful the U.S. Army; Biddy Mason, a erstwhile enslaved who ended up buying her ain state and went connected to go 1 of the archetypal pistillate African American entrepreneurs and landowners; Bass Reeves, 1 of the archetypal African American lawman U.S. marshals; and Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the U.S.
Uniformed historians volition beryllium connected manus to connection penetration into the lifestyles of important cowboys, robust riders and buffalo soldiers of that time, including Isom Dart, an infamous outlaw and cowboy, and Nat Love, a well-known cowboy and writer.
At the time, African American cowboys were an indispensable portion of the frontier workforce. Many were erstwhile slaves who utilized their skills successful livestock, riding horses and herding and wrangling cattle to go palmy cowboys, ranchers and soldiers.
Event organizers anticipation the lawsuit brings the assemblage to campus, including younker who whitethorn beryllium funny successful this peculiar clip successful past and besides those who would similar to acquisition the Fresno State campus.
“Students and the wide nationalist look to attain much cognition astir past done events similar this, wherever they tin ‘time-travel’ and airs questions,” said Dr. Cheryl Whittle, prof successful the Department of Social Work Education and readying committee chair. “Through its continuing concern with section museums, schools and with assemblage and civilian leaders, the assemblage has proven its dedication to promoting the affluent past of California and the relation of assorted communities. Like the aged adage states: ’people who bash not cognize their history, bash not cognize who they are.’”
In summation to surviving historians, the lawsuit volition besides person hands-on demonstrations, acquisition workshops, unrecorded people musicians, nutrient vendors, artisans and resources from Fresno State’s assorted departments and programs.
The Biddy Mason traveling grounds from the The Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation and Museum of the Sierra volition besides person their “Buffalo Soldiers: Digital Exhibit Launch” connected display.
Students from the African American Social Work Student Association took the pb successful coordinating and fundraising for the lawsuit and person been readying the lawsuit since the autumn semester. Funds for this lawsuit were besides provided by Associated Students, Inc.
Free parking is disposable successful Lot P20, conscionable northbound of the aquatics center. For much accusation and ADA accommodations, interaction Dr. Cheryl Whittle astatine cherylw@mail.fresnostate.edu oregon 559.278.8687.
