#25 The “GHETTO” Had Culture Too!

THE STORY OF OUR MAY QUEEN AND COURT

By

Vernon M. Herron

Ghetto is defined as a deprived quarter of a city in which members of a minority group are required to live, especially because of social, legal or economic pressure. I was born and reared in the Second Ward community of Charlotte, NC. Other Blacks lived in the First Ward, Third Ward, Cherry, Blue Heaven, Biddleville or the Greenville communities. A startling reality is that I did not know the community of my birth and childhood development was designated as a “ghetto.” I did know that our community consisted of doctors, lawyers, school teachers, administrators, tradesmen, mechanics, painters, designers, ministers, funeral directors, printers, business, food service, etc.

Shot-gun Houses

 700 block of E Boundry Street

I also was imbued with a self-sustaining philosophy which said:

            Hold your head uprightly

Stand straight and tall

Be clean; be somebody

Learn all you can; then no one can take it from you.

Be honest; learn to save; spend wisely

Trust God for all things

And that philosophy never ended.

The point I wish to make is that the “ghetto” in which I lived had “culture” which took many forms. We had accomplished musicians, singers, instrumentalists, athletes, dancers and even queens.

For example, in 1942 Second Ward High School nominated a “May Queen and Coat” which bring pleasant memories. The story is told by the queen herself, which defies “ghetto” if it means negativism. 

Words by Margaret G. A. Alexander

As long as memory lives, I’ll always remember the privilege and honor of being the 1941 and 1942 Second Ward High School May Queen.  Beyond my expectation, the film became a Documentary, “There Was a Colored School*”, in the year 2000. [*Visit http://www.unctv.org/acoloredschool/resources.html for more information].

I recall the 1941 May Queen election as a competitive contest and school fundraiser.  An official ballot appeared in the school newspaper, “The Herald”.  Students were encouraged to sell “The Herald” and use the ballot to support a contestant of their choice.  A contestants name was written on the ballot and placed in a designated sealed box during the school day.  At a specific time and place votes were counted. 

The contestant with the highest number of votes became the “May Queen”.  The next contestant with the second highest number of votes became the (Maid-of-Honor).  The following six highest numbers of votes were Attendants.

The 1942 “May Queen and Court” were nominated by the student body, voted on and elected in one school day.  They were:  Margaret Alexander (May Queen), Jennie Richardson (Maid-of-Honor), Helen Phillips, Inez Miller, Annie Mae Ivey, Venus Smith, Bobbie Thompson and Ruby Coles.      (See The Court on next page.)

Presently, I am blessed to be 84 years young (Born 9/20/1924).  Unfortunately, I do not know the whereabouts of Jennie Richardson, Venus Smith, Bobbie Thompson or Ruby Coles.  Helen Phillips and Inez Miller are deceased.  Currently, Annie Mae Ivey resides in Charlotte, NC.  She’s well and looks great.

Throughout the years, I’ve frequently heard numerous positive comments regarding “There Was a Colored School”.  It is indeed my privilege to be a 1942 graduate of Second Ward High School.  There were many wonderful experiences at SWHS.  The curriculum consisted of basic courses, as well as, a multiplicity of extracurricular classes and activities.  Upon graduation, we were prepared academically for college or the workforce.  Also, we learned something about social graces, esthetics, the community and the government.

I matriculated at North Carolina College for Negroes (Now NCCU, Durham, NC) graduating June 3, 1946 with a B.S. in Commerce & a minor in Education.  Married Kelly M. Alexander (April 21, 1946).  He died April 2, 1985.  We produced two sons:  Kelly M., Jr. (Born 1948) & Alfred L. (Born 1952) /wife, Helen Anthony; three grandsons:  Nathanael M., Kelly M., III & Desmond Phifer.

Humbly, I am sincerely appreciative and thankful for all the blessings bestowed upon me and mine.  “Cherishing happy moments make a fine cushion for old age.”

May Queen Court

First Row: Annie Mae Ivey, Jennie Richardson (Maid-of-honor), Margaret Alexander (May Queen), and Helen Phillips.

Second Row: Venus Smith, Bobbie Thompson, Ruby Coles, and Inez Miller.

#24 The Medulla Oblongata Overlay

# 24 The Medulla Oblongata Overlay

(The Herron Knowledge Bump)

By

Brother Edward Robinson, Ph.D.

With introduction

By

Vernon M. Herron

Introduction:

When visiting my paternal never-before-seen relatives in Pittsburgh, PA in 1950, a cousin Waddell Herron, Sr. demanded a quick examination of my head to determine whether a “Herron Knowledge Bump” was present at the base of the skull. According to family tradition, this was the “mark” of all true male Herrons. While family members accepted this tradition as a jovial tongue-in-cheek gesture and with some degree of pride, the truth of the matter is that which we called the “Herron Knowledge Bump,” is in fact the “medulla oblongata overlay.” Let us turn to Dr. Edward Robinson of Philadelphia for further enlightenment:

Dr. Edward Robinson

(click below to enlarge and read entire document)

#23 A DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITION OF THE HERRON COAT OF ARMS

#23  A DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITION

OF THE HERRON COAT OF ARMS

by

Ione  D. Vargus, Ph.D.

and

Vernon M. Herron. D. Min.

A DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITION

OF THE

HERRON COAT OF ARMS

AS FOUND IN

BURKES’S GENERAL ARMORY

AND AS RECORDED IN

ANCIENT HERALDIC ARCHIVEST

The McPherson-Harris-Herron family had a description and definition of the Herron coat of arms as found in Burke’s General Armory and as  recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Taking the crest very seriously, the fifth family reunion in 1992, commissioned African American modification of the Herron coat of arms. They took parts of the white family coats of arms, maintained their motto, but superimposed shields with the continent of America and the continent of Africa. A broken chain shows that they are no longer enslaved. Crossed quills and ink represent a continuing quest for knowledge and the flaming torch is a symbol of enlightenment. Then they added representation of a free farmer which was the family’s occupation after enslavement and roots of the past and a graduate student designating today’s accomplishments in higher education and roots of the future.¹   A thirteen-page booklet contains the description and definition of the Herron Coat of Arms as recorded in Ancient Heraldic Archives and the African American modification as approved by the family.

(Illustrations Follow)

<sup>1 Document from Vernon Herron, Family Griot. McPherson-Harris-Herron Family. 


Please click each image to see entire image (including text).</sup>

# 22 MEET THE MOTHER OF FAMILY REUNIONS

# 22 MEET THE MOTHER OF FAMILY REUNIONS

DR. IONE D. VARGUS

In June 1990, Claude Lewis editorial writer of The Philadelphia Inquirer Newspaper wrote, “If Alex Haley can be called the Father of Family Reunions, Dr. Ione D. Vargus can be called the Mother of Family Reunions.” In that same year, The Family Reunion Institute emerged because of the many requests for information after two previous African American Family Reunion Conferences. The conference planning committee recognized from the responses and from requests for service and information, that it could begin to work with families outside of traditional family agency structures. However, it would need to have a more organized and permanent existence. Thus, the Institute was formally established at the School of Social Administration at Temple University. Its administrator was Dr. Ione D. Vargus, Professor Emeritus, formally the acting Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Temple University, the School of Social Administration for a total of seventeen years.


She was Temple’s first African American as well as the first female academic Dean. Dr. Vargus now serves as a volunteer to the organization.


Dr. Vargus began her research on African American family reunions in 1986. She traveled the east coast, north and south to attend family Reunions for Conferences on African American Reunions. She continues collecting information about families and their reunions.


Dr. Vargus has published a number of different topics and has been profiled and/or quoted in many local and national magazines and newspapers.

Links:
http://www.temple.edu/fri/familyreunion/founder.html
http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=1413&category=Educationmakers