Our Storytelling Trek Blog # 7

NABS Talking: On The Road with Ilene and Queen

Black Appalachian Storyteller Fellows Road Trip

By: Ilene Evans

Editor: by Karen "Queen Nur" Abdul-Malik

Dr. Tee, Trevellya Ford, MidAtlantic Arts Recipient Reclaiming Black History in Athens, OH

An example of the importance of naming and reclaiming Black Geography.

May 4^th we arrived much later than planned, due to the crazy GPS directions that took us on every back road it could find. We were late for some of the wonderful connections that Dr. Tee had arranged. She was ready with a plan for us to meet and greet some of movers and shakers she has been working with to build a coalition to keep Black Appalachian stories in Athens from being erased. The Black Heritage Tour of Heritage Square began as soon as we pulled up to her house.

No sooner had we hugged, apologized for being late, and switched gear into her car, were we whisked off. We headed over to the Mount Zion Preservation Federation office where we met one the Board President and longtime civil rights activist, Ms. Ada Woodson. Adams is the lead historian and preservationist on the restoration project at the old Baptist Church. Raising funds means telling the story of this building and its meaning to people who have the means to make it happen. To that end, Dr. Tee has lent her storytelling skills.

By far, Dr. Tee is the most energetic, engaged, activist I know. You would not know she is retired from thirty-year calling at West Virginia State University and Ohio University in Athens' Upward Bound Program. Her work, now, is rebuilding and retelling the stories of the Black Appalachian heritage found in Athens. Her stories include the politics of place and the financial investments of Black millionaires and inventors. In her walking tour, Dr. Tee illuminates the churches, the schools, the residences and the ingenuity of the Black entrepreneurs, ministers, and educators. She begins with where the Berry Hotel, Black built, owned and operated by Ed and Mattie Berry once stood. The Berry's were among the first millionaires to arrive in Athens after the Civil War.

The Berry Hotel stood as a model and symbol of Black Excellence until it was demolished to build a parking lot in 1974. Now, in its place is the HangOver Easy, a local diner that honors the history of the place it occupies with a mural on the outer edifice that pays homage to the historical prominence of "The Berry."

For 72 years it served as the shining star and beacon for travelers as they a made their way across the nation. Until 1974, it was one of the few examples still remaining of Black American architecture.

An ingenious virtual tour is available from right across the street thanks to one of Dr. Tee’s students. Brian Koscho created Invisible Ground, an augmented reality and audio storytelling that comes alive when you grab the QR code and point your smart device toward where "The Berry" once stood . You can see the origial building in all its glory!

Through the BASF Award, Dr. Tee has widen the community of artists she can support in telling stories of community projects. The walking tour is travelled in a square, but we were enjoying a driving tour. The next story was coming up. We drove over to t the Mount Zion Baptist Church, which is undergoing a complete reconstruction to restore its historic magnificence and create a cultural center. The stained glass windows are temporarily replaced by historical murals, the work of muralist Keith  Wilde.

Murals by Keith Wilde

 Fundraisers for the Mount Zion Preservation foundation have won friends and supporters because of the compelling stories that Dr. Tee tells. She has a team of dedicated activists. Stories have real power, power to change the world. As a philanthropist, Dr. Tee believes that so deeply that she prioritizes time to raise money and research the stories that need to be preserved. She has helped to leverage millions of dollars to that end.

Murals by Keith Wilde

The replacement murals tell the story of the people who worked in the community while the church was an important social center for freed and newly freed Athens residents. Each story of reslience is told during the tour. The original stained glass will be refitted once they are refurbished. 

We had the pleasure of meeting the masterful artist as we continued the tour through the historic neighborhoods. He was creating yet yet another mural to beautify Athens.

Dr. Tee loves to tell stories about the people of today as well as yesterday.  As she shared the tale of Booker T. Washington carrying his bride over the threshold of their new home in the section of Athens known as Little Africa, she also shared the surprised wide-eyed reactions of the students now residing in the home after she told of the American hero's remarkable place in history. Throughout the tour she also made sure to tell stories of contemporary civil rights activists like Dr. Francine Child, the the first tenured black professor at Ohio University.  Arriving at the last stop on the enriching tour, we pause and take breath at the historial marker of Christopher Davis to read, remember and reflect on stories that still must be told.

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Back at Dr. Tee’s home we sat down for the BASF interview. What a delight. We heard stories, about her growing up in Ward, West Virginia, a coal town included in the long list of erasures that once held Black life and prosperity. Sharing treasured photos as she reminisced about her sister being a member of the 6888th Infantry, told of her family's support of her growth and education, and shared books her grandchildren gifted, to make sure that her story gets passed on. Dr. Trevellya Ford's legacy is alive and well.

How grateful we were to spend the night at Dr. Tee's home and have the best breakfast we had for the whole week. Such warmth and hospitality. What a great send off!

My takeaway from our visit with Dr. Tee:

Mission: Salvage Black geographies and histories

Message: We are here, we have been here, we are still here and we ain’t going away

Motto: Courage – keep stepping!

3, 6, 9 - What’s on your mind? Black

Appalchian Storytelling Fellows are blowing my mind!