Happy Black History Month! We celebrate with a wonderful guest, author Dionne Lorae Holly, who shares with us the fascinating history behind her new book.
* * *
CAMP BIRDSONG: A Night Under The Stars
When it’s darkest, the stars shine the brightest
By Dionne Lorae Holly
I began my adventure in researching for Camp
Birdsong: A Night Under The Stars as a Girl Scout Troop Leader. I created a Black
History Month badge activity for my troop about the first campgrounds for
African American Girls. The activity
presented 1940’s vintage uniforms, handbooks, and photographs. The presentation became popular thorough out
my Girl Scout Service Unit.
What peeked my interest to do research is the famous
Girl Scout quote by the founder, Juliette Low. Low called her friend describing
a program she has for girls, "I've got something
for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're
going to start it tonight!” The
Girl Scouts began in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. Then, there is a rumored quote
by Martin Luther King Jr. dated in 1956, which describes the Girl Scouts as a
force in desegregation. I had to learn what happened in between those two
quotes.
I made inquiries online and learned about Girl
Scout Volunteer, Josephine Holloway. She donated not only her time, but also
bought land in Tennessee for a Girl Scout camp for African American girls. The Jim Crow laws prevented her troop from a
true camping experience. The girls could
not sleep overnight. Eventually, the local Girl Scout council purchased the
campgrounds from Holloway. Later the
council integrated the campgrounds.
Prior to Holloway purchasing the land, her
troop traveled to Indiana to camp overnight.
After reading about Holloway, I called the Tennessee
Girl Scout Historian; I asked if there were any photographs. She replied no. In my disbelief that there were not any
photographs, I said, “You know what I’m coming up there.” The local council
gave me permission to explore Camp Holloway for my research. I drove four hundred miles across state lines
to visit. Once there I toured the grounds and walked through the Holloway
homestead. I saw the photographs! I
thought maybe that the historian had not visited the camp…
In order to tell this historical fiction authentically,
I interviewed my mom. As a Girl Scout from
the 1950’s, she shared how she made a bed roll (sleeping bag) and cooked meals
over an open fire. Foremost, she described how she felt many times like a
spectator and not a participant at the annual Girl Scout gathering called
Camporee. My story uses a fictional
scouting group called Girl Rangers. I studied orienteering for my research as
well. The story tells how the Girl Rangers learn about the sun and the stars.
The most shocking discovery I made was to learn the idea of introducing girls
into scouting; was when the Boys Scouts founder, British General Powell
observed African Zulu women’s resourcefulness while their tribesmen were away
at war.
Camp Birdsong: A Night Under The Stars is
considered a children’s Black History Month book, but it is an inspirational story
for any age, any gender or any skin color. The story shows how to overcome
challenges and make your dreams come true.
Blurb for Camp Birdsong: A Night Under The Stars:
In the 1940’s
Joalee Olingsworth is frustrated when the local Jim Crow laws prevents her
daughter from becoming Girl Ranger. Growing up a preacher’s kid, she’s fearless
to give her daughter and the girls in her community the equal opportunity to
enjoy a camping experience. She travels near and far for freedom to have “A
Night Under The Stars.”
* * *
Purchase Camp Birdsong: A Night Under The
Stars on Amazon and Barnes & Noble; if you live the metro Atlanta area visit
the Greater Atlanta Girl Scout Shop, 5601 Allen Rd. Mableton, GA 30126.
To learn about the author visit her website or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment