REIMAGINE
Extending The Philadelphia Negro
Through THE WARD, we have extended our teaching and learning about Du Bois, the Seventh Ward, and how racism continues to impact Black residents of Philadelphia. This reimagining has taken the form of storytelling, classroom teaching, along with gatherings and celebrations.
Kids from the Jubilee School play our board game during an exhibition of THE WARD at the 2012 conference celebrating the recognition of Du Bois as an Honorary Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies.
Oral Histories
What would Du Bois discover if he walked the streets of the Seventh Ward today? Stephanie Boddie collected oral histories from people who attended Mother Bethel AME and Tindley Temple United Methodist Church, two historic Black churches Du Bois described in his research.
Stephanie Boddie conducts an oral history.
Knowing your generational story firms the ground upon which you stand. It makes your life, your struggles and triumphs, bigger than your lone existence. It connects you to a grand plotline.
Cicely Tyson
Seminar on Du Bois’ Philadelphia
Amy Hillier teaches a First-Year Seminar in Penn’s Urban Studies program that invites students to engage with Du Bois and the Seventh Ward through archives and primary sources, walking tours, art, and interviews. Students learn to critically analyze historical sources and explore the concept of “belonging” as it relates to Du Bois, Black Philadelphians, and students’ own positioning vis-à-vis Philadelphia.
First-year Penn students engage with Du Bois through a visit to the Historical Society, Seventh Ward Walking tour, crafting, and a final project showcase.
Perspectives
V. Chapman Smith
V. Chapman Smith is an historian who worked for over 30 years in records administration and public history programming. For 15 years, she was one of the lead organizers for Philadelphia’s National History Day program.
Course for Philadelphia Public School Teachers
Teachers from the School District of Philadelphia joined Amy Hillier and journalist Dan Biddle on a tour of the Seventh Ward.
Amy Hillier led a course for 10 Philadelphia public school teachers about Du Bois and the Seventh Ward through the Teacher’s Institute of Philadelphia. Teachers received continuing education credit and a small stipend for participating and are expected to develop a curriculum to implement with their students.
High School Visits
We have visited numerous Philadelphia high schools, including Constitution, West Philadelphia, and Germantown, to implement our curriculum about Du Bois. Masterman High School was a long-time partner, with students in the 10th grade African American History course reading parts of The Philadelphia Negro.
Students from West Philadelphia High School and Masterman High School participate in lessons relating to Du Bois.
Celebrating Du Bois
We have used the occasion of Du Bois’ birthday, on February 23rd, to teach and learn from students about Du Bois, including students from the Jubilee School Masterman High School. These parties took place in Du Bois College House on Penn’s campus. In addition to eating cake, we enjoyed doing crafts and posing with our (larger-than-life) Du Bois cutout.
Children from the Jubilee School help celebrate Du Bois’ birthday with crafting and cake at Du Bois College House on Penn’s campus.