On Thursday, as part of our staff professional learning activities, we welcomed representatives from the Lutherville Black Legacy Committee, Charlene Graham, Celeste Adams, Margaret Selby, and Emily Stills, to present their lived experiences attending segregated schools and integrating schools in Baltimore County, including Ms. Still's experience of integrating Lutherville Elementary. We were honored and grateful for their time, memories, and wisdom and grateful to Ms. Conley for helping us to get connected with the Committee, as some of them are her family!
The presenters shared the deep sense of family, community, and wholeness that they felt at Lutherville Colored School #24. They also impressed upon us the challenge that was put on them as children to integrate white schools, and the strength and courage it took to do so was clear. One of the presenters spoke to her experience when attending high school of having to catch a bus at 6am that traveled all over western Baltimore County to pick-up students attending Carver School, one of only 3 secondary schools for Black children in Baltimore County at the time. The difference in attending schools where they were seen and supported was evident. In addition to Ms. Conley, some other staff in the room learned of nieces, nephews, and children of presenters that they had taught over the years, a reminder that some of the students our staff has had the opportunity to teach are only one generation removed from these distinguished presenters.
