On, September 30, 2015, and I saw the documentary “Rosenwald.” My thoughts went to my Aunt Odessa “Dessa”
Glenn Wilson who was one of the elders that pulled a shade down on her thoughts
and memories of growing up in Saluda and Greenwood Counties, South Carolina
from 1898-1916. The story as I
remember as a young child that her father, Rev. George “Papa” Glenn was a
wonderful man and an itinerant preacher in the Fire Baptized Holiness Church. Aunt Odessa was oldest girl and her
role was to work along with her oldest brother George “Hamp” Glenn. In 1916, Odessa and Uncle Hamp were sent North to pave the
way for the family including 6 younger siblings to migrate to Philadelphia.
(1917)
Later in the 1980’s and Aunt Odessa was in her 80s I got a
different story. I am a teacher
and would stop by after school to check on Aunt Dessa at her apartment in the
Robert Norris projects here in Philadelphia. Her younger sister, my grandmother Aunt Lee, lived down the
street. (Aunt Lee’s role in the
family was mother, aunt,
grandmother, and great-grandmother to 4 generations of Glenns) The new story told with disdain that Papa
took her (Aunt Dessa ),at the age 13, out of school to work. Aunt Dessa said she was a
student at Brewer Normal School and planned to be a teacher. She was so proud on me, "My niece the teacher." Aunt Dessa said, “I was smart, I was
good with my letters and numbers.”
Brewer Normal School was not a Rosenwald School but founded and
supported by the American Missionary Society.
I believe Aunt Dessa’s mother, Fannie Tribble Glenn, made
the decision to move North…..that the younger siblings and the future
generations would have an education.
The “real” family story is Uncle Hamp was a ladies man and Mama did not
like white people. Mama pulled a
knife on a white overseer, when she brought out lunch to her husband who was
working in the field and the overseer said for Rev. Glenn to keep working. Mama did not take too kindly to
that. In the end, everyone in that
Glenn family was in Philadelphia by 1917 never to return South.
Mama’s dream and goal did come true. Aunt Dessa's younger sister Aunt Vick
graduated from high school. The
next generation, my Mom’s generation, all of her first cousins graduated from
high school. They were able to
obtain those “good” government jobs.
My generation the elders decided we were smart and were going to
college. Notice it was no
discussion. Even when I had my
daughter in college, it was decided the elders would take care of the baby and
I would finish school.
Today as I look at that picture of Brewer Normal School I
wonder is Aunt Dessa in that field.
I am grateful for their sacrifice all those $5 during college but most
of all the encouragement, life lessons, and support. They taught me to wear my crown, nobody can ride your
back….”stand staight girl and wear your crown”. “Get a good education, you can take care of yourself, if you
get a good man you can help him but if not you can take care of yourself and
the children.” " You are too smart nothing but an A; a B+ is not acceptable" "You can be slow but not bad"
Wear your crown children of today and get a good
education…and mothers and fathers it is your responsibility to make sure that
happens. Teach our children their
history and legacy.
Ashay
Regina Binta Vaughn
October 1, 2015
The Four Glenn
Sisters (@ 1988)
left Aunt Inez, Aunt Lee (sitting) Aunt Vick (behind Aunt
Lee)
Aunt Dessa on the right in her apartment in the Robert
Norris Homes
