Students Explore History and Culture of American South
Historically important sites, including the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, University of Mississippi and National Civil Rights Museum, offered six upper school students the opportunity to learn about the American South during a spring break trip to the region.
The weeklong trip included the Masters School tradition of performing community service in Jonestown, Mississippi. While students have been traveling to Jonestown for more than 20 years to perform service over spring break, this year, the trip was expanded to include visits to historically important areas.
Madison Blake ’22, Caleb Jakes ’22, Patrycja Palmowska ’20, Lina Philizaire ’20, Sophie Ruehlmann ’20 and Sophia Van Beek ’22, the students who participated in the trip, had the opportunity to consider issues such as how the music and cotton industries influenced the region, and how educational opportunities impact communities. Matt Browne, upper school history teacher and a trip chaperone along with upper school chemistry teacher Rene Hurley, said that “The goal of this trip was to perform community service in Jonestown, as has been a Masters tradition, but also to broaden the scope of the trip so that students would see a fuller picture of the South and particularly African American life in the region.”
Madison Blake ’22, Caleb Jakes ’22, Patrycja Palmowska ’20, Lina Philizaire ’20, Sophie Ruehlmann ’20 and Sophia Van Beek ’22, the students who participated in the trip, had the opportunity to consider issues such as how the music and cotton industries influenced the region, and how educational opportunities impact communities. Matt Browne, upper school history teacher and a trip chaperone along with upper school chemistry teacher Rene Hurley, said that “The goal of this trip was to perform community service in Jonestown, as has been a Masters tradition, but also to broaden the scope of the trip so that students would see a fuller picture of the South and particularly African American life in the region.”
The group had a full schedule, beginning the trip with a service at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church and a visit to the Cotton Exchange Museum. They then spent two days participating in a community service project in Jonestown, painting the interior of a local family’s house. Students spent the following days at various historic places across the region, including the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, University of Mississippi, the National Civil Rights Museum and Lorraine Motel.
“There were so many highlights,” said Jakes, who described many of the experiences to cultural centers and museums as “powerful.” Regarding the community service the group completed in Jonestown, Jakes shared: “It felt good that we painted the house. There was new energy in the room [we painted].”
By participating in the trip, Browne said, “I hope that students gained some insights into both the continuing challenges in the South with regard to race, and also the inspiring achievements of African Americans in the South despite a history of tremendous adversity."
“There were so many highlights,” said Jakes, who described many of the experiences to cultural centers and museums as “powerful.” Regarding the community service the group completed in Jonestown, Jakes shared: “It felt good that we painted the house. There was new energy in the room [we painted].”
By participating in the trip, Browne said, “I hope that students gained some insights into both the continuing challenges in the South with regard to race, and also the inspiring achievements of African Americans in the South despite a history of tremendous adversity."
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