Letter: Exhibit kindles memories
In one more month, we will mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King would be proud to know that today an African-American is a viable candidate for the presidency of our great country. I am pleased that Salisbury now has a street named in Dr. King’s honor. I am also pleased that Rowan Museum is hosting an exhibit devoted to displaying artifacts from members of our local black community.
I was swept up by a wave of nostalgia when I observed such items as a clock from my old school, Monroe Street School. The Price High School display brought back memories of tales told by my father. Dad talked about the great Price football teams my Uncle Walt played on. Price was coached by the legendary Spencer Lancaster, the finest coach in Rowan County history, according to my father.
My most poignant memories were invoked when I saw former neighbors and teachers like Mr. and Mrs. Fred Evans, Mrs. Evelyn Clayborn, Mrs. Eliza Miller, Mrs. Nora Robinson and Mr. and Mrs. W.O.T. Fleming.
I left the exhibit with a sense of sadness because, although children of the 21st century have computers, iPods, Blackberries etc., this generation will miss an era when teachers taught and students learned, a time when neighbors were surrogate parents, a time when children actually respected adults.
The African-American Legacy exhibit celebrates Black History Month, but Rowan Museum, to its credit, will host the exhibit until May. Every Rowan native or visitor will enjoy this exhibit.
ó William Alexander
East Spencer