by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“I came here tonight to encourage, empower, and enhance,” said Dr. Cary Holman, Franklin County Director of Schools and keynote speaker at the Feb. 24 Mount Sinai Baptist Church Black history program fittingly held at Townsend Cultural Center, Winchester’s school for black children in pre-desegregation days. The confluence of the energy in the room from the enchanting medley by saxophonist Ivan Bonner to LaNetra McLemore’s account of Franklin County black enlistees in the Union Army to the children’s illustrations depicting seven historically black Franklin County schools embodied the “encourage, empower, enhance” message. Remarked Bonner commenting on the restrictive implications of Black History Month, “We are history all the time.”

Introducing Holman, Franklin County’s first Black director of schools, Patricia Nimox said, “Cary Holman was born and raised in Franklin County, graduated from Franklin County High School, received degrees from several universities, and served as a teacher, principal, and college professor. He walks the walk and talks the talk. Cary Holman made history in Franklin County. He’s a brother, husband, father, and child of God.” Nimox paused. “He’s also my son.”

“People forget what you said and what you did, but not how you made them feel,” Holman said, crediting his mother and his fourth-grade teacher at Decherd Elementary School, Charlene Simmons, as mentors. But Holman’s praise came with a word of caution. “We expect the schools to teach our children everything. It’s not their job,” he insisted. “It’s your responsibility to stay involved in your children’s education, to stay in your children’s business.” Holman observed as an educator he saw parents twice a year, on the first and last day of school. Children of today are “internally traumatized,” Holman said, pointing an accusing finger at the cellphone culture. “It’s not the schools’ job to redirect them. As a community, you’ve got to do it together.” Holman stressed the importance of the historical connection. “Our children need to sit at the feet of the people who walked the halls of this school and hear their stories.” Holman advocated for a “giving campaign” to support the Townsend Cultural Center’s programming, to purchase a PA system, and to replace the antiquated heating system. He also proposed a Townsend Scholarship. In closing, Holman quoted Henry Ford. “‘Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.’ I don’t believe in problems. I look at every problem as an opportunity. I denounced worry a long time ago.”

Other highlights of the evening included Sundaydell Perkins solo rendition of black spirituals and an update by McClemore on efforts to memorialize the historically Black Asia school and her research on the Decherd contraband camp, detailed in her book “Franklin County, Tennessee, Black and Blue and Black and Gray Civil War History.” During the Civil War freed slaves flocked to Union troop encampments for protection. Many freed slaves at these contraband camps enlisted, those in Decherd forming the 12th Regiment which fought in the Battle of Nashville. McClemore’s book also looks at Blacks who joined the Confederate Army, some as adjuncts to their masters and some as free men.

Audra Reyes, School of Theology seminarian and master of ceremonies, encouraged attendees to pursue learning about their genealogy through DNA ancestry testing. Echoing Holman’s emphasis on instructing youth in black history, program coordinator Sandra Brown said, “If we don’t tell them, how are they going to know.” Franklin County Mayor Chris Guess honored two too-often uncelebrated black educators, Joe Lujan, teacher and coach, and Floyd Blackwell, Franklin County’s first black administrator. Syrenna Pattrick’s reading of the poem “Anyway,” attributed to Mother Teresa, resonated with the message of “the forgotten”— “The good we do will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.”

Prefatory to the final prayer, Mt. Sinai Pastor John Patton said, “Our forefathers struggled to make it easier for us. Let us work together to enhance what we have.”