Hilsman unveils mural commemorating East Side history
When De’Treviunte Cooper’s grandparents attended Cedar Shoals High School in 1973, the walls were paper thin. Built in two months to offer an education for students on the East side, the building reflected the meager budget and care afforded to these students at the time. 52 years later, with a new building inaugurated in 2001, the school’s facilities offer opportunities that would never have been possible for Cedar’s first students.
“The building in the middle of the mural is the old Cedar Shoals building. My father went to this building, my grandfather went to this building. The building has a lot of legacy,” Cooper said.
Over the past year, Cooper, a Cedar Shoals alumni, has worked with Hilsman Middle School students and local artist Broderick Flanigan to commemorate the rich history of education, integration and the Black community on the East side in the form of a mural in Hilsman’s cafeteria.
On Feb. 7 Hilsman hosted a reception to celebrate the unveiling of the East Side Integration Mural. Guests from across the community were invited to speak about the history of Black education in Athens. Speakers included Annie Matthews, Athens High and Industrial School Class of 1964, who spoke about the Historic Chestnut Grove Schoolhouse which she’s worked to preserve and Cedar Shoals alumni Randy Watkins, who shared his experiences integrating into an all-white school and being one of Cedar’s first students.
After the reception, seventh grade students working on their National History Day projects were able to interview these attendees. Even for students who did not participate in the creation of the mural, having a piece commemorating their local history is important, according to Cooper.
“The mural gives students representation daily. The history of their community adds a sense of belonging and a more personal connection, because they can see it. You can literally touch this wall. In that way, the mural has an impact. One, it upholds a legacy and makes students care about history. Two, it adds to that history in a positive way,” Cooper said.
Photos by Eva Lucero and Julianna Robledo-Briseno
