Courtesy photo
Students, Beapers and faculty stand with Miss Central Mississippi.
Grambling State University members of Pi Gamma Mu and Black Empowerment Apprenticeship Program (BEAPers) attended the Fifth National Civil Rights Conference held June 21-24 in Meridian, Miss.
The conference kicked off Sunday, June 21 with a 51st anniversary commemorative service for three Civil Rights workers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, killed while helping Blacks in Mississippi register to vote. The service was held at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, Miss.
The BEAPers, along with members of Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences, attended the Monday session at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Meridian. BEAPer, Madison Kennedy of Rayville, represented Grambling with a selection. The GSU participates attended group sessions, workshops and listened to others discuss projects worked on throughout the year.
On Wednesday, GSU held an Intergenerational Roundtable Discussion of films such as Standing on the My Sisters’ Shoulder, The Ruby Bridges Story, Selma and The Untold Story of Emmitt Till.
Conference members journeyed to Selma, Ala. to tour the Museum of Slavery and Civil Rights.
Preparation for the conference began months before for GSU. Films were viewed and papers were researched and written. The BEAPers viewed Selma, the Untold Story of Emmett Till as well as Standing on My Sister’s Shoulders.
The BEAPers talked about the impact the movies had and the strength gained from watching the women endure the struggles for their right to vote.