“Mammy and Modernity: Narratives of the Faithful Slave in the Early-Twentieth-Century U.S.” Presentation by Professor Micki McElya

Sponsored by Department of Africana Studies and The School of Art at the University of Tennessee Date: Monday, October 2, 2006 Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. Place: 1210 McClung Tower & Plaza About the Scholar: Assistant ProfessorDepartment of American StudiesUniversity of Alabama If you want to learn more about this topic Professor McElya has a book forthcoming from Harvard University Press, 2007 entitled Clinging to Mammy. Experience: Dr. McElya's presentation entitled “Mammy and Modernity: Narratives of the Faithful Slave in the Early-Twentieth-Century U.S. ” began with her introduction by a professor in the Africana Studies department of UT. He described a week of events including slide shows and photography exhibits pertaining to Afro-Americans and the Diaspora. The photography show he described is one I will write about in another entry that I viewed both at the UC and the Downtown Gallery. Dr. McElya began by giving some background information about the roles many slaves played in the eyes of many in the 19th and into the 20th centuries as the "faithful slave." She narrows down examining the idea of the "faithful slave" by looking only at the mammy figure and how she was thought of or even referred to like one of the family. She raised two issues with this train of thought pointing out that it separates the female slave from her own family and ignores the fact that many of them were actually biologically family. Next, she began to look at the fiction of the mammy character, describing where the narrative began. She showed the example of the character in Gone With the Wind made in 1939, where a black actress was told to play the role and then rewarded for her execution. Then she began discussing her primary example of a created mammy figure, Aunt Jemima. In 1893, the World's Fair in Chicago featured the first "just add water" pancake mix. It was here that Nancy Green, an African American woman, was paid to play the role of Aunt Jemima at their stand where she would cook the pancakes, sing, and tell stories about happy memories of life as a slave on a plantation in the south and how she came up with her pancake recipe, promoting Mammy just as much as the pancakes. Her narrative spread across the country and stories were even published about her life and the many great things her pancakes did for the country, such as feeding hungry soldiers. Dr. McElya went on to describe later World's Fairs, like the one in Atlanta, where there might not have been a woman playing Mammy, but there were other clear divides and evidence of the "faithful slave ideology." At this fair there was a "Negro Building," which was located in what believed to be the exotic and less civilized area of the fair (contrasting with the technological inventions.) Inside the "Negro Building" two figures were exhibited, one representing the past and one the future. The figure of the past was one of a mammy figure and Frederick Douglas represented the future. Dr. McElya discussed the idea of Mammy representing the past, although she never really existed in the sense that is most well known, and she also points out the problem of the woman figure being left in the past while the Afro-American people depend on the black male figure to prosper in the future. Dr. McElya's talk was very interesting, and I might even buy her book next year. One problem I did have with her presentation is that sometimes it did not flow very well from one idea to the next making it hard to follow. She always brought me back into it, but I think because the subject matter is so complex, it was hard to stick to the point without bringing in many other facts or ideas. All in all, it was well thought out and she asked many great questions, not afraid to delve even deeper into these difficult and sensitive issue.

Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Date Visited: October 14, 2006 Contact Information: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia 22211 (703) 607-8000 http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/index.htm Hours: 8a.m.-5p.m. October through March 8a.m.-7p.m. April through September Admission: Free Small fee for parking Tourmobile line rates are: Adults $6.00 Children (3–11) $3.00 Senior Citizens (65 years or older) $5.00 History: Arlington is made up of 200 acres and it was designated officially as a military cemetery June 15, 1864, by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Veterans from every of the nation’s wars are buried in the cemetery, from the American Revolution through today’s wars. Experience: When I arrived at Arlington National Cemetery, I knew I would not want to take the touring buses, since I prefer to explore places on my own, especially a place like this. So, I went in the visitor’s center and got a map. The map was very easy to read and pointed out various spots of interest. I decided to first visit the graves of JFK and Bobby Kennedy. At JFK’s gravesite, the guard did a wonderful job enforcing everyone to be quiet and respectful. One woman was talking very loudly on her cell phone, and the guard was quick to respond. I was able to get a great shot of the quote engraved into the ledge of the monument with the Washington Monument in the background. The quote reads, “Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” The guard also had to inform a couple of individuals that they should not lean or sit on that ledge. These were not even kids, who naturally wouldn’t understand these rules, but adults doing these things. It’s amazing what people do in a place meant to pay respect to and honor the dead. Next, I visited Bobby Kennedy’s gravesite, which is right next to his brother’s. His resting place is very peaceful and almost seems remote. A simple white cross marks his grave and it faces a quiet fountain with a couple of his quotes. One of which reads, “It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance.” After I paid my respects to the Kennedys, I went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and watched the changing of the guard. The ceremony was performed with perfection. It is amazing to see what discipline the guards displayed in their movements, leaving no room for error. I then wondered up to the Memorial Amphitheater area and visited the memorials for the Challenger, the Columbia, and Audie Murphy’s gravesite. Afterwards, I just walked around enjoying the quiet and the scenery. Arlington is well taken care of even with the large number of tourists that come through.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN Date Visited: November 17, 2006 Contact Information: 615.244.3340 919 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203 http://fristcenter.org/site/default.aspx Hours of Operation: Monday-Wednesday 10:00a.m.–5:30p.m. Thursday-Friday 10:00a.m.–9:00p.m. Saturday 10:00a.m.-5:30p.m. Sunday, 1:00 - 5:30 p.m. (Cafe opens at noon on Sunday) Admission: 18 and under free Adults $8.50 College Students $6.50 Seniors $7.50 Military $7.50 *Free admission on Mondays with the donations of one non-perishable food item now until December 31, 2006. Facts: Mission Statement: “The mission of the Frist Center is to present and originate high quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities.” The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is relatively young, just opening in 2001. It is located in the former Main Post Office building constructed in the early 1930s. In the 1980s, a new main post office was built, leaving the majority of the building unused. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. worked with the city to set up a center for visual arts, and in 1998, the building was thought to be a perfect venue for the center and was transferred to the city’s ownership to be used for this purpose. My Experience: When I visited the Frist Museum, the featured exhibition was Extra-Ordinary: The Everyday Object in American Art. This exhibit will be at the Frist until February 11, 2007, and I highly recommend going to see it. It is a traveling exhibit from the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York featuring over seventy paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, and sculptures. The Frist did an excellent job on the arrangement of the works, clearly denoting the chronology of the development of artworks made from everyday objects. First, the exhibit features works from the Dada and Surrealist movements by artists like Man Ray and then works its way into the era of Pop art with works by big names such as Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, and Roy Lichtenstein. Claes Oldenburg’s famous Giant BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich), 1963 is included in the exhibit as well as Warhol’s Tomato, 1968. Highlighting the trend in the 1990s, photographs by David Levinthal and James Casebere of fictional scenes play on popular culture. I do not have any of my own pictures of the works because the Frist Center prohibits the use of cameras in the galleries. The one to the right of Warhol's Tomato, 1968 is from the Frist's website. The gift shop has a lot of great books, posters, magnets, and jewelry. I found things I would have liked to get for many of my friends and family members as they carry a wide variety. However, it got way too expensive to get something for everyone. Afterwards, my husband and I got a bite to eat at a restaurant called The Flying Saucer just across the street on 10th Avenue. It is much of a museum itself with its wall filled with plates with individuals’ names on them. The pub is in an old rail station and is a very entertaining place to eat.

Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor, MI Date Visited: November 24, 2006 Contact Information: University of Michigan 1610 Washington Heights Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-1700 Phone: 734-647-7600 Website: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/mbgna/home Hours of Operation: The Gardens and Trails are open everyday from 8am-dusk Admission: Free History/Facts: The Nichols Arboretum as well as the Matthaei Botanical Gardens were made possible by the University of Michigan in its 1817 Charter. The arboretum is located right next to the main campus and is made up of 123 acres of plants and trails. The layout of the gardens was designed by O.C. Simonds in 1906 and includes both plants native to Michigan as well as from other parts of the country and the world. My Experience: If you prefer a lot of color when viewing plants, November is not the best time of year to visit the Arboretum. The evergreen of the coniferous trees was beautiful but most of the deciduous trees had lost their leaves. My visit was still enjoyable, but I have to admit the two previous times I have visited the arboretum were much more aesthetically pleasing. However, I intentionally wanted to get a winter view of this place. The Nichols Arboretum is very important to me because it is where my husband proposed to me and also where we got married (see wedding picture above). My only previous experience in this living museum then was in the late spring and mid-summer. What is great about a place like this is the constant change as the plants go through their life cycles. What I love about this particular arboretum is that it has such a nice variety of dense trees and large open fields. Many benches are available to sit and enjoy the view, one of which is my particular favorite. It looks out over this long grassy field, which becomes a wonderful sight to see when the wind blows across the grass. It was at this bench that my husband proposed. Although the grass was not quite as green this time, it still danced for me and was very calming. The various trails within the arboretum are great for hiking and viewing the large variety of plants and trees. I not only have a favorite bench, but also a favorite tree, a large yellow oak. My husband and I got married under its huge branches. The tree is just above the Peony Gardens, probably the most famous of all the arboretum’s collections. I have yet to see the peonies in bloom but I have heard it is a beautiful sight to see. The best time to see them is in early June as shown in a picuture I found to the left. Another popular collection is one of many plants native to the Appalachian area. The arboretum is very well kept up and a great place not only for hiking, but also when it's warm enough, wading in the river. If you are ever in Ann Arbor, visit the Nichols Arboretum. Be sure to check out the events calendar, as many activities are held there throughout the year, including lectures and even theatrical performances. The Nichols Arboretum is a true treasure of Ann Arbor.

Antietam National Battlefield Date Visited: October 12, 2006 Contact Information: Antietam National Battlefield P.O. Box 158 Sharpsburg, MD 21782 Park Visitor Center(301) 432-5124 Park Headquarters(301) 432-7648 Fax (301) 432-4590 Admission: Free Hours: Open Year Round Memorial Day To Labor Day 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Labor Day To Memorial Day 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. *Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day History: On September 17, 1862 a battle broke out between the Union and Confederate soldiers that would lead to the "bloodiest one-day battle in American History." The battle marked the first time General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate soldiers invaded the north. As a response, President Abraham Lincoln sent General George B. McClellan to stop the Confederate advance. The battle lasted 12 hours, resulting in over 23,000 casualties, including six generals. The following night, Lee would retreat back into Virginia, leaving President Lincoln with an opportune time to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Photographer Alexander Gardner documented the incident two days after the battle ensued, capturing the horrors of the war, including the image to the right of a burial crew. My experience: When I first got to the battleground, I went into the visitor’s center and museum. There, the park ranger was very helpful in giving out maps with trails on them, and the museum had many interesting artifacts from the battle. Also in the visitor’s center is a nice museum shop and a back room with glass walls which looks out over much of the field where the battle took place. While I was in this room, I caught the very end of a reenactment. I went outside to get a closer look, and although I was disappointed that I missed the majority of it, I was still fortunate to be able to see the men dressed in the old Confederate and Union uniforms. Although the main tour is an auto-tour, it was a nice day so I decided to walk through part of it. The tails were well maintained and clearly marked. Various points along the trail had large monuments that gave detailed information about the battle, which successfully made the grounds which I was standing on all the more meaningful. After awhile, I got back into the car and went over to the other part of the grounds where the Burnside Bridge is located. The area is beautiful, especially during the time I went with the fall foliage. It is also very serene and hard to imagine the fierce fighting that occurred there nearly 150 years ago. I also visited the Antietam National Cemetery. Initially, soldiers were buried rapidly sometimes in long trenches. Then, in 1864, the cemetery was established where many Union soldeirs were identified and buried. The Confederate soldiers were taken to other cemeteries to be buried because the Southern states had difficulty finding the funding to contribute to the effort. It is difficult to be confronted with such a large number of headstones, knowing that they all died on the same day. All in all I was very happy I went to Antietam. The grounds are well taken care of and very educational. Whether you are a Civil War history buff or not, Antietam is a great way to learn about American history.

The National Portrait Gallery Date Visited: October 13, 2006 Contact Information: 8th and F Streets, NW Washington, D.C. 20001 http://www.npg.si.edu/ (202) 633-1000 Hours: 11:30am-7pm Daily closed Christmas day Admission: Free Experience: The National Portrait Gallery holds a great collection of portraits of both historical and contemporary figures. It has the only complete collection of American presidents outside of the Whitehouse. Within the museum’s presidential collection is the infamous “Lansdowne” portrait of George Washington painted by Gilbert Stuart. President John F. Kennedy’s portrait is probably the most unique and least conservative painting of the presidential portraits. It is a beautifully done color screenprint on paper and is the work of Andy Warhol, made in 1968, five years after Kennedy’s death. Another gallery is full of portraits of contemporary Americans called “Americans Now.” My favorite was Rick Chapman’s photograph of Brett Favre. I am a little bias, as a Green Bay Packer fan from Wisconsin. The photograph was taken in 2001, and it emphasizes Favre’s all important and very skillful hands with his face in the background. Besides the presidents and the Favre photograph, there are many other exciting exhibits as well as a nice Portico Café that offers refreshments. The building alone is a sight to see. In the history of the city of Washington, it was the third public building constructed. It was recently renovated and reopened July 1, 2006. To the left is a picture of me in front of the F Street entrance. The monumentality of the building is not done justice in this photograph, but you can get the idea of its Greek style. Construction around the museum made it somewhat difficult to get around, as some of the sidewalks were closed off. However, the extra effort proved to be worth it.

The Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum Date Visited: September 9, 2006 Contact Information: (270) 798-3215 Building 5702 Tennessee Avenue Fort Campbell, KY 42223-5335 http://www.campbell.army.mil/pratt/index.html In order to get on base, you must get a visitor’s pass at the Visitors Center (Gate 4) Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day Admission: Free Facts: The museum began in 1956 and is named after the first Assistant Division Commander for the 101st, Brigadier General Don F. Pratt who was killed in World War II. The building in which the collection is housed was formerly a movie theater, classroom, and auditorium used for basic training during the Vietnam War. Mission Statement: The museum theme centers around the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the “Screaming Eagle.” It covers the period from the division’s activation in August 1942 to the present. Experience: The Don F. Pratt Museum has interior and exterior exhibits of military artifacts and memorabilia. It is very educational and beneficial to both visitors who know a lot about the military and its history and those who do not. The museum offers an educational and fun experience to people of all backgrounds. In its collection, the museum has both items that need to be preserved and exhibited behind glass and items that are encouraged to be touched and even crawled into. For example, items that belonged to Adolph Hitler as well as other Nazi officials along with explanations of what the items are and historical facts about the time period. Also in the museum’s possession is a restored World War II CG-4A “WACO” Cargo Glider. This type of airplane was used to transport troops and equipment into combat. It is suspended from the ceiling and visitors walk up stairs or a ramp to get into the small plane and experience the pilot’s point of view. I visited the museum with my two young nephews, and this was definitely their favorite part. There is also a Jeep on exhibit. Examples of various uniforms used in the past also hang for viewing. Videos about how the 101st conducts some of its operations as well as the events of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. At the end of the museum there is a gift shop that sells things like coffee mugs, T-shirts, and bumper stickers. Then, when you go outside of the museum, there is much more to see at the Aircraft and Memorial Park, where four more aircraft are available for viewing. I highly reccomend going to this museum, even if military history is not one of your favorite subjects, the museum's manner of presenting the information proves to be very interesting.