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CBC
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
This artist is transforming a Greyhound bus into a museum about Black American migration
Growing up, historian and preservationist Robert Louis Brandon Edwards would hear stories from his grandmother Ruby Mae Rollins about her life in Fredericksburg, Va., before she moved to Harlem, N.Y. "She experienced so much segregation and discrimination, having to work in diners where she had to enter through the back … and also sitting in the balconies of movie theatres and wanting a better life for her girls," Edwards told As It Happens host Nil Köksal. Though he didn't fully appreciate her stories at the time, Edwards says he's been able to dig deeper into his grandmother's history, thanks in part to a project he's working on for his doctoral thesis at Columbia University. Edwards is restoring a classic, 1947 Greyhound bus, working with a Cleveland-based performing arts centre to turn the vehicle into a mobile museum highlighting the Great Migration. Sometimes called the Great Northern Migration, the term refers to the movement of approximately six million Black Americans from the Jim Crow South for better opportunities in northern, midwestern and western states between roughly 1910 and 1970. "[In preservation work], we tend to stick to just buildings and sites, so by me honing in on an actual mode of transportation, I want people to be transported into time back into the 1940s and '50s," said Edwards. "I want them to not only experience that transportation, but I also want them to experience this object, this moving object as a space, and then I want them to be prompted and experience some of the experiences that an African-American traveller would have had to face." Museum will touch on key historical moments Once the project is completed, museum visitors will be able to don virtual reality goggles and experience what it was like for a Black traveller back when the bus still ferried passengers. Visitors will even be prompted with different virtual experiences depending on where they choose to sit on the bus — a decision that for many Black Americans was the difference between safety and great danger. As a result of segregated spaces on public buses and trains, Gretchen Sorin – author of Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights – says that Black Americans during the Jim Crow era didn't necessarily think of spaces like buses and trains as fully safe. "Companies that owned the trains, owned the buses, often [segregated] African-Americans either into a 'Negro' car or they segregated them to the back of the bus," said Sorin, also director of the Cooperstown Graduate Program at SUNY Oneonta. "While those vehicles did represent the ability to get out of the South, they were also segregated." Instead, Sorin said that Black Americans who could afford it preferred to travel in their own vehicles. "With your own automobile, you are in your own private space, and that space was controlled by you," she said. Understanding the migrant experience Most people are familiar with the history of Rosa Parks, a Black American woman who was arrested in 1955 after challenging racial segregation laws when she boarded a bus in Montgomery, Ala., and refused to give up her seat to accommodate a white passenger. Parks's protest sparked the larger Montgomery bus boycott – culminating in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling finding that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional. Edwards acknowledges that Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders — civil rights activists who travelled by bus to the American South to challenge racial segregation years later — are usually the top results whenever anyone Googles the topic. Nonetheless, he wants visitors to his museum to learn about events like the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation — sometimes called the First Freedom Ride — led by Bayard Rustin, as well as other activists who advocated for civil rights. "I want people to think about people like Irene Morgan, who was arrested on a Greyhound bus in Virginia," said Edwards. "But I also really want people to think about the everyday African-American traveller, like my mom, like my aunt, like my grandmother, who migrated to these different cities just in search of freedom and better opportunities and a piece of the American dream." Edwards believes people who visit his museum will better understand what it means to be a migrant. "Migrant has become such a nasty word that no one wants to associate themselves with but a lot of us, most of us, all of us are products of migration and it's not a bad word," he said. "It's actually what brings us all together." The bus is currently parked at the Greyhound Bus Station in Cleveland — an active transit hub that still receives travellers. Edwards hopes he can take his bus on the road, stopping at historic locations along the Great Migration's path. In the meantime, he says his bus is already causing a stir among passengers who arrive in Cleveland, curious about Edwards' project — with some mistaking it for the Rosa Parks bus that's actually at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Mich. "A lot of people have said, 'I've never thought of how my ancestors got to Cleveland, got to Detroit, Chicago, New York,'" said Edwards.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Founder of planned whites-only Arkansas community insists his ideas don't make him a supremacist
The founder of a whites-only community under construction in Arkansas has claimed in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail that he's no supremacist after his plan sparked outrage. 'The communities that many of us grew up in have changed in our lifetimes. The places that used to feel like home no longer feel that way,' he told the Daily Mail. 'A lot of people who have come into our communities feel hostile. Some foreign populations that are entering the country are not loyal to the country and don't think well of white Americans.' Orwoll, 35, spoke to Daily Mail after he posted a video on X last weekend. 'If you as a white American feel more comfortable around other white people, there is nothing wrong with that,' he said in the video. 'If you want to raise your children in the company of other whites who have shared in a common civilizational project for thousands of years, and if that shared identity means something to you, then you're well within your right to act on that and have your own community for your own people.' Orwoll is president of the group that is planning 'Community 1' or 'The Settlement', a 160-acre tract near Ravenden in northeast Arkansas. They hope it will be the first of a string of all-white, members-only communities nationwide. Orwoll and his organization, Return to the Land, have in the past few weeks been slammed mainly by Jews who see their efforts as white supremacist, antisemitic and illegal – a dangerous Trump-era rebirth of segregation-era ideology. He sat for an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail on Wednesday to explain how he came to lead the movement and set the record straight on points he says the critics are getting wrong. Blond-haired, blue-eyed and 6-feet-tall, Orwoll personifies the northern European Übermensch idealized in Nazi Germany. He understands the power of that image, especially among people seeking a way out of what he calls 'the mainstream anti-white system.' He grew up in a working-class family in La Mirada, then and still a majority Hispanic community in southeast Los Angeles County. His whiteness and the minority status it gave him, he says, 'Informed the beliefs that I developed'. As a French horn performer, he attended the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, then turned down a graduate program in music at the University of Wisconsin to join Shen Yun, the traveling ballet and symphony ensemble. The group is led by Falun Gong, a culture of spiritual followers the Chinese government has labeled a cult. He wasn't a 'cultist', as he describes most troupe members, and didn't fall in line with the spiritual beliefs they shared. Still, he says his six months with Shen Yun made him appreciate the power of 'having a group of people working on things together', and convinced him that he wanted to found a community. Orwoll moved to New York, Arkansas, Hawaii, California and back to New York, searching for opportunities while working white collar jobs in a field he's still in, but refuses to identify for unspecified reasons. Meanwhile, the self-described Christian Platonist philosopher built up an audience through two YouTube channels – one about understanding Plato and the other delving more into his cultural and political beliefs. Those ideas generally revolve around 'white identitarianism,' a movement centered on the preservation of white European identity, which followers claim is under threat from immigration, multiculturalism and globalization. He takes care to distinguish that idea from white supremacy, the belief that whites are superior to non-whites, and white nationalism, a desire for white political and social dominance – both labels that critics have tagged on him unfairly, he says. He moved to northeastern Arkansas, then, when COVID hit, to southern Missouri with his growing family, which now includes four kids under 10. In 2023, a group of his YouTube audience members started meeting online weekly to discuss using land he owned in Southern Missouri to build a school and media center to push their ideological values. When their plans grew to include a residential community, the group collectively bought the 160 acres in nearby northeast Arkansas. Return to the Land's limited liability corporation's operating agreement indicates the group had eight unidentified founders who pitched in between $10,000 and $90,000 each in startup funds. By doing so, they become eligible to buy membership units or shares in the company that holds ownership of the acreage. Because they're selling memberships, not land, Orwoll and co-founder Peter Csere assert, they can restrict who lives there while sidestepping the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin or disability. Based on applications and interviews requiring prospective residents to verify their 'ancestral heritage,' the group grants membership only to white people of European heritage who identify as either Christian or pagan, according to one of its postings on Substack. It bans blacks, Hispanics and Asians, as well as Muslims and Jews, even those who are ethnically European. People it deems to be 'militant atheists' or LGBTQ leaning also don't qualify. Asked if any people of color live there or have visited, Orwoll responded, 'I mean, some members have tans.' Most minority and civil rights groups have stayed mum about the project. But scores of Jewish American, alarmed by what they see as blatant anti–semitism, have lashed out at the movement on social media, calling members everything from 'a bunch of ignorant hillbilly crackers' to 'murderous Nazi scum.' 'Just because something is private does not mean you can discriminate illegally: see restaurants,' one Reddit poster wrote. 'F%ck that! I'm going to train my space laser on that community as soon as it's fully occupied,' posted another. The Anti-Defamation League said in a statement that, 'Residents of Northeast Arkansas should be deeply concerned about the community.' 'We believe this development not only revives discredited and reprehensible forms of segregation – it should also be illegal under the Arkansas Fair Housing Act, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, as well as other federal and state civil rights laws. 'We urge the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission, local elected officials, and law enforcement to act swiftly to ensure that Northeast Arkansas remains a welcoming and inclusive community, not a refuge for intolerance and exclusion,' the group posted Tuesday on X. Orwoll fired back on X, blaming the backlash on "Jews on Reddit," claiming they're upset over his plans - even though, he argued, they can have their own country and nuclear weapons, but somehow an all-White community crosses the line The co-founder of Return to the Land, Peter Csere, 36, has been living on the property for two years in a cabin he built there for his family So far, Return to the Land members have collectively cleared trees, drilled wells, installed septic systems, built roads, a few cabins and at least one full-size house on the property. The community has about 30 residents at any given time, says Orwoll, who is in the process of building a home there for his family. He says the homesteaders are generally friendly with neighbors living next to the property with the exception of 'one character in particular' who has no problem with their ideology, he says, but is furious about one member's sheep wandering on to his property. Csere, his co-founder, has been living for two years in a cabin he built there for his family. 'I've always liked living in rural areas and homesteading,' says the 36-year-old who works in the construction industry. 'The idea of living with people who share your views and want to raise families in similar ways, that's very appealing to a lot of families, and very appealing to me as well.' Return to the Land encourages families to have as many children as possible. Members also tend to be home-schoolers and are big on traditional gender roles. 'Masculinity for men and femininity for women we see as a virtue,' Orwoll says. The operating agreement for Return to the Land's LLC shows there are eight unidentified founders who contributed between $10,000 and $90,000 each in startup funds. Their investments made them eligible to purchase membership units – effectively shares – in the company that owns the land Although many members own firearms, he notes, 'We don't really make a big deal out of gun culture.' 'We don't have an organized militia or anything.' The project, he and Csere say, isn't just about building this neighborhood in the Ozarks, but also creating a prototype on which other groups can model their own all-white communities. Return to the Land offers business documents, community platforms and training for people to build such collectives. Orwoll notes that groups in Appalachia and the Pacific Northwest have expressed interest in launching compounds under Return to the Land's model, but declines to share details. Both founders expect – and even relish the prospect of – legal challenges to what the group calls its 'ethno-culturally homogeneous homeland.' They say their corporate structure should stand up to potential Fair Housing Act challenges, and that exclusion of certain groups falls under their First Amendment rights to freely associate and assemble. Such a legal battle could become the Masterpiece Cakeshop case - where a baker refused to create a cake for a gay wedding – of the 2020s. 'I think it's an important battle that needs to happen. We need to decide as Americans whether we have a right to go our own way or be forced by a model of community decided by the government,' Orwoll says. He tried, but failed to float this idea about a dozen years ago, but the timing wasn't right. Now, he says, 'more normal people' are involved, not just fringe, dragon-slaying Viking cosplayers. Donald Trump's second presidency and its heavy emphasis on abolishing DEI initiatives, affirmative action programs and so-called 'woke' ideology have emboldened whites to more publicly embrace Orwoll's brand of white identitarianism. Orwoll says that, although he personally doesn't identify as a white supremist or white nationalist, he would like to see the US population become more, not less, white. He also acknowledges that many who espouse more extreme views 'think what we're doing is a good thing.' Thomas Sewell, a neo-Nazi based in Australia, attended an online conference about 'intentional communities' that he held in January. White identitarians point to a number of threats they perceive over the past few decades. Among those are statistics showing that an overwhelming majority of white Americans support interracial marriage, a practice Return to the Land members fear will dilute the European white race. Other threats stem from white Americans becoming less fertile, less healthy and more addicted to screens, and therefore less likely to meet up and form communities in person. The greatest threat, Orwoll says, is that predominantly white communities have been targeted for increased diversity through DEI initiatives and other programs he says whites don't necessarily want. 'Do you think that once we get the right politician in office that suddenly backyard BBQs populated by blondes in sundresses and alpha dads will spawn?' he recently asked on X.
Wall Street Journal
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Dreamers Find Pam Bondi Standing in the Schoolhouse Door
After the Supreme Court declared school segregation unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Southern states came up with new tactics to keep segregation alive. The federal government came to black students' defense and helped them go to school where they wanted. Today, another guiltless group of students are having schoolhouse doors slammed in their faces: Dreamers, undocumented students who grew up in this country after their parents brought them here illegally. These students' circumstances are out of their control.
Washington Post
25-06-2025
- Washington Post
Dynamite outside a synagogue: civil rights stories imperiled by federal cuts
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — He came to historic Temple Beth-El to tell his story, which is also the congregation's story: How, during the early turbulence of the Civil Rights era, he helped to foil what would have been a devastating attack on their synagogue. Back in 1958, James Pruitt was an 18-year-old working as a janitor. He'd graduated from a segregated high school that soon would become the scene of marches and protests, in a city already nicknamed 'Bombingham' because of white supremacist attacks.
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Parents accuse Catholic primary school of 'segregating' pupils who didn't pay for fundraising event
Parents have accused a Catholic primary school of 'segregating' pupils who did not pay for a fundraising event. Christ the King Primary School in Llanishen, Cardiff, held a sports day event during school hours last month which required a minimum entry fee of £1. But 59 children who didn't pay were stuck in their classrooms, while the other 139 pupils were involved in the games which included axe-throwing and archery. The fundraiser amassed £2,224 in total and some pupils paid considerably more to fund prizes such as a £119 holiday camp with Sports Xtra, who ran the event. Furious parents said the schoolchildren who were not involved 'were not even allowed to sit on the field and watch'. 'There are people out there who haven't got the money,' said one parent. 'Children who didn't raise anything were segregated from the event, which was done within school hours. I think it's about pressure: if you don't send the money, your child will not get to do anything. 'Some parents actually did transfer the money but their child was still excluded because they were told it was paid too late in the day. Surely this goes against how schools should make everyone feel included?' After coming under fire the school has vowed to review 'how we can best be more inclusive'. Further concerns were raised by parents over a potential conflict of interest because Sports Xtra is co-run by the husband of the school's deputy head. But the school insisted any funds raised will not go to the company, but towards future 'enrichment activities' for children at the school which 'includes but is not limited to Sports Xtra'. A Sports Xtra spokesman said: 'We have recently provided a free session to support the school's fundraising event. 'In addition to not getting paid for running the activities, we also donated over £1,433 worth of prizes for the fundraising. These included 1-2-1 football sessions, football sessions and free places for a week at our summer camps.' A notice ahead of the event stated children could 'win the following prizes' depending on how much money they raised: £119 for a week-long holiday camp with Sports Xtra £50 for a one-to-one session with a sports coach £33 for a Sports Xtra 'holiday day' £29 to take home a football £9 for a football session One parent said: 'I don't feel that providing options to the children on what they can receive for different amounts they raise should be listed as this puts so much pressure on parents when children are told what they will receive depending on the amount.' Ahead of the fundraiser the school said all money raised 'will be used for the schools sports programmes except costs incurred.' They added that footballs were 'the only physical prize so that was the only cost incurred' and that 'the other prizes were donated by Sports Xtra for free'. Responding to claims that children were 'segregated' for an hour, Christ the King said: 'There was no timeframe given on the event because it was not known how long it would take. It took 30 minutes for each class to complete the activity.' However, the school's headteacher has reportedly responded to complaints by saying they are 'truly sorry'. A school spokesperson added: 'The fundraising event was a 30-minute optional session, delivered by Sport Xtra at no charge to the school. 'The annual event enables the school to raise funds to supplement the school's budget so that it can deliver a programme of activities throughout the year, in addition to sport provided through the curriculum. 'Those wishing to take part in the optional 30-minute session were asked to pay £1, and they could also raise sponsorship money if they wished to, the proceeds of which again went towards the funds to help the school pay for the all-year-round programme of extra-curricular sporting activities. 'There was no obligation nor expectation from the school for the children to take part in the 30-minute fundraiser, and the children not taking part continued to follow the timetable for the day as normal. 'We ensure that all suppliers and service providers used by the school give value for money and quality provision.' Addressing what the money would go towards, the school said: 'Enrichment activities are additional provision [beyond PE lessons] delivered by a range of experienced and qualified external partners. This includes but is not limited to Sports Xtra.' Sports Xtra said: 'We have worked at Christ the King School for over 10 years and before the school's current leadership team were in post. 'As is always the case with these types of events, we do not get involved in decisions regarding attendance or how the money raised is spent. Those are made by the school. 'Our role was to support the fundraising and encourage young people to get involved in sports and be physically active. Our understanding is that all children in the school will benefit from the money raised.'
