The mission of the Greenbrier Historical Society is to share the diverse history and culture of the Greenbrier Valley. We believe Black history is American History and should be integrated into everything we teach, and should be taught beyond just the month of February. We are offering a number of resources to teachers in Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, and Pocahontas Counties that can benefit students and give them a local perspective on Black history. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need additional resources.
Echoes of Slavery in Greenbrier County Exhibit
This exhibit is full of primary sources including newspaper articles, photographs, maps, and letters.
The first enslaved person stepped onto American soil in 1619 beginning a system of enslavement that would last for nearly 250 years. The United States would not exist without the contributions of a group of people that were defined by the color of their skin. African Americans were the basis of an economic system on which the wealth of a nation was built. Slavery was replaced with a series of laws and social codes that prevented African Americans from enjoying basic human rights. The legacy of oppression and its effects on American society are still felt today. This resilient group of people who faced cruelty and dehumanization, also show a history of resistance and perseverance by fighting for their freedom, rights, and humanity.
The Life and Work of Anthony and Fanny Carter Exhibit
The discovery of business papers and daybooks, dating from 1833 to 1844, shed light on an unexpected character. Anthony Carter was a freed Black businessman of Lewisburg. We know Anthony as a husband, a father, a cobbler, and a landowner through studying his papers and Greenbrier County court records. These resources allow a rare glimpse into a freed working-class Black family’s determination to thrive in a slaveholding society. Anthony Carter and his family were freed in 1837, nearly 30 years before the Civil War.
Black History Map
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Explore the Black history of the Greenbrier Valley. Discover historic Black businesses, schools, churches, and learn about the lives of significant individuals who made an impact on the region.
This map is a work in progress, so if you know of something you think should be added please send us an email and let us know! |
Classroom Activities
The Green Book
For nearly 30 years, a guide called the “Negro Motorist Green Book” provided African Americans with advice on safe places to eat and sleep when they traveled through the Jim Crow-era United States.
Use the Green Book in your classroom and have students recreate a Black family's Journey. The New York Public Library had a digitized collection of Green Books for you to use online
Use the Green Book in your classroom and have students recreate a Black family's Journey. The New York Public Library had a digitized collection of Green Books for you to use online
Resources
- Teaching Black History in Culturally Responsive Ways
- 20 Picture Books that Embrace Race
- 22 Free Resources for Teaching Social Justice in the Classroom
- Addressing Racial Injustice with Young Children
- Talking Race with Young Children
- 11-Step Guide to Understanding Race, Racism, and White Privilege
- Talking About Race-National Museum of African American history & Culture
The Greenbrier Historical Society offers links to a variety of sites maintained by third parties. In accessing these sites, you are leaving the Greenbrier Historical Society's website. These links are offered only for use at your own discretion.