In Jacksonville, the African American Summer Writing Institute offers local high school students an opportunity to study the city's African American history. This year, around sixty students conducted research on important locations and figures, including James Weldon Johnson, the Gullah Geechee culture, and the history of LaVilla. Their work resulted in educational materials that will be used in the district's curriculum during the school year.
The importance of such an endeavor was not lost on the participants, including Jarrett Kelley, a second-time attendee and rising senior. "You often drive past places...and you have no idea what happened there, here in your own city," Kelley expressed in a statement obtained by the Duval County Public Schools. He continued, "It was an amazing experience...when it comes to getting a chance to learn about the local history right here in Jacksonville that is often overlooked." Kelley, among his peers, worked diligently to breathe life into the stories and legacies that have shaped their community.
The culmination of these weeks of study was a showcase at Matthew Gilbert Middle School, where students presented their final projects. The event served as more than just a presentation; it highlighted the potential ripple effect these students' contributions can have on their peers' engagement with history. Teachers viewing the presentations hailed the institute as a valuable repository, offering them access to locally relevant and student-created historical resources.
