A Walk Through Harlem

Bessie and Hap's dentist office was at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 135th Street. This is very near to James Weldon Johnson's home. James Weldon Johnson grew up in Florida and became a lawyer. He moved to Harlem to practice law. While in Harlem, he became the executive director of the NAACP for 11 years. He became a famous author of many books as well as writing over 200 songs. James Weldon Johnson was a patient of Bessie's and gave her an autographed copy of one of his newly published books of poetry. Bessie and Sadie's apartment in 1926 was at 219 West 121st Street. This is near to the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Bessie and Sadie probably walked past this church  but most likely never went in because they were Episcopalian. In 1919, Bessie and Sadie were living at 2505 Seventh Avenue at the corner of 145th Street with their siblings. This apartment was about six blocks away from Striver's Row which, in 1919, became home to many wealthy African Americans. Madam C.J. Walker's Beauty Salon was located at 108 West 136th Street, about a block away from Bessie's dental office. The Delany sisters probably never bought any of Madam Walker's hair products for African American women because they liked their hair. They most likely heard of it often after Madam Walker died in 1919 and the salon became a safe place for artists and writers.

Expressions in Art by Tom Feelings

This painting by Tom Feeling shows how horribly slaves were treated on the trip across the Atlantic Ocean. The slaves were beaten and as it portrays in the painting, some were even hung. This reminded me of when Bessie was almost lynched at the train station for speaking to a white man in a "disrespectful" manner. It hurts to look at pictures and and read about how horrible some people could treat others who are just like them in such a way. It makes me almost as mad as when someone says they don't believe in God. Something that is so commendable is how the slaves and then after the war the free African Americans kept their faith even when all these bad things were happening to them. Just like Sadie and Bessie kept their faith even when they were put in bad situations.

Having My Say

I was watching the news a while ago and saw that the Illinois Senate is trying to pass a bill that forces all non-public school students to register with the state. This bill would exclude students in private schools so the only people this bill would affect  would be homeschooled students. The reasoning behind this bill is that the state would be able to keep tabs on all students, especially students of families who are having trouble. Thing is, this bill would cost the state a lot more money than it has. I can tell that this bill was proposed by people who have never been in contact with a homeschooled child. For families to homeschool their children, they need to have the money to do so. The bill is set up to help children whose families are "falling through the cracks" because the senators think those kids are being homeschooled. Those children are already being sent to public schools to get free education and a free meal. Being a former homeschooler, I am a big advocate of parents teaching their children at home. Not everyone is capable to teach their kids at home and it's only parents who want to have an integral part in their children's education that take the initiative to homeschool their kids.