Review by TeacherLana -- From Hill Town to Strieby
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TeacherLana
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Review by TeacherLana -- From Hill Town to Strieby
[Following is a volunteer review of "From Hill Town to Strieby" by Margo Lee Williams.]
In From Hill Town to Strieby: Education and the American Missionary Association in the Uwharrie "Back Country" of Randolph County, North Carolina, Margo Lee Williams chronicles the lives of her ancestors, the Hills and the Lassiters, founding residents of the town in rural Randolph County, North Carolina. Before the Civil War, Hill Town was a small settlement of Quaker and free African-Americans. Many people were illiterate, including former slave, the Reverend Alfred Islay Walden who left to pursue and education, ultimately graduating from Howard University and New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
Walden would eventually return to Randolph County to realize his dream of establishing a church and school. Together with American Missionary Society, he was determined to spread the gospel, fight slavery, and educate pupils. The missionary society paired churches with schools at a time when there was no public education. What distinguished Islay Walden's preaching and teaching was that he was a former slave, not a white man.
A multitude of photographs and census information included in this book brings to life the residents of Hill Town and Lassiter's Mill. They illustrate how we are all the product of previous generations who dreamed of future possibilities. Moreover, this book teaches us valuable lessons in achieving the American Dream. Today, it's easy to take getting an education for granted. Williams' research found that in the 1900's many school districts in Randolph County didn't even have schools. Buildings and classrooms were in poor condition. Many teachers had no more than an elementary school education. I believe in the power of education to change lives. In the words of Malcolm X, "Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."
Also included in the history is the inspiring story of Ave Lassiter, who was a student at Strieby School. She fondly remembers her school days and her teachers. She would walk through the woods to get to the building because black children weren't allowed to ride on the buses. The education she received allowed her to become a nurse working in Queens, New York. The Strieby Church and its school raised the standard of the community and its citizens, producing doctors, nurses, ministers and other professionals for the county. Williams' skill at combining a vast amount of research with personal stories makes this book a brilliant accomplishment.
Altogether, I was so impressed with the ability of this book to bring history to life. I'm giving it a well-deserved 4 out of 4 stars. Williams has a velvety, yet simple writing style that incorporates and immense of amount of detail in a compelling narrative. She draws the reader into the lives of the Hills and the Lassiters while at the same time teaching us how the communities of Randolph County flourished. From Hill Town to Striebyis well-edited and professional. It is a treasure trove of information that will appeal to historians and those engaged in genealogical study.
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From Hill Town to Strieby
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In From Hill Town to Strieby: Education and the American Missionary Association in the Uwharrie "Back Country" of Randolph County, North Carolina, Margo Lee Williams chronicles the lives of her ancestors, the Hills and the Lassiters, founding residents of the town in rural Randolph County, North Carolina. Before the Civil War, Hill Town was a small settlement of Quaker and free African-Americans. Many people were illiterate, including former slave, the Reverend Alfred Islay Walden who left to pursue and education, ultimately graduating from Howard University and New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
Walden would eventually return to Randolph County to realize his dream of establishing a church and school. Together with American Missionary Society, he was determined to spread the gospel, fight slavery, and educate pupils. The missionary society paired churches with schools at a time when there was no public education. What distinguished Islay Walden's preaching and teaching was that he was a former slave, not a white man.
A multitude of photographs and census information included in this book brings to life the residents of Hill Town and Lassiter's Mill. They illustrate how we are all the product of previous generations who dreamed of future possibilities. Moreover, this book teaches us valuable lessons in achieving the American Dream. Today, it's easy to take getting an education for granted. Williams' research found that in the 1900's many school districts in Randolph County didn't even have schools. Buildings and classrooms were in poor condition. Many teachers had no more than an elementary school education. I believe in the power of education to change lives. In the words of Malcolm X, "Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."
Also included in the history is the inspiring story of Ave Lassiter, who was a student at Strieby School. She fondly remembers her school days and her teachers. She would walk through the woods to get to the building because black children weren't allowed to ride on the buses. The education she received allowed her to become a nurse working in Queens, New York. The Strieby Church and its school raised the standard of the community and its citizens, producing doctors, nurses, ministers and other professionals for the county. Williams' skill at combining a vast amount of research with personal stories makes this book a brilliant accomplishment.
Altogether, I was so impressed with the ability of this book to bring history to life. I'm giving it a well-deserved 4 out of 4 stars. Williams has a velvety, yet simple writing style that incorporates and immense of amount of detail in a compelling narrative. She draws the reader into the lives of the Hills and the Lassiters while at the same time teaching us how the communities of Randolph County flourished. From Hill Town to Striebyis well-edited and professional. It is a treasure trove of information that will appeal to historians and those engaged in genealogical study.
******
From Hill Town to Strieby
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
