ELPS Deputy Superintendent Uses Family History to Teach District Third Graders About History of Racism in U.S.
East Lansing Public Schools have found a gentle voice to teach district third graders about some of our nation’s darkest moments.
ELPS Deputy Superintendent Glenn Mitcham shared a presentation with the ELPS Board of Education where he tells the story of how his father’s path crossed with Martin Luther King Jr. Wrapped within the story, Mitcham teaches students about the opportunities Black Americans lost to racism during the Jim Crow era, the role Michigan State University played in integrating American colleges and more.
Mitcham started giving the presentation last year during Black History Month, and he will visit district third grade classes again this month. He did not change the presentation when he gave it to the board on Monday, Feb. 24, joking that board members were third graders in a class taught by board President Chris Martin.
Mitcham’s presentation centers around his now 100-year-old father who he refers to as “Papa the Great” throughout, because that is what he is called by his great grandchildren.
Papa the Great was drafted into the military to serve in World War II. He impressed military officials and was sent to officer candidate training, eventually graduating ranked second in his class and earning the rank of lieutenant.
However, as a Black man, Papa the Great was not allowed to lead white soldiers. He served for four years in the Army as a private, the lowest enlisted rank.
Following the war, Papa the Great looked to use the benefits from the GI Bill to attend the University of Colorado to study sociology, Mitcham said. However, after arriving at campus, enrolling in classes and checking out his books, he was informed that Black students were not allowed to live on campus.
“Papa the Great was so sad about that,” Mitcham said. “He was so sad that the University of Colorado was kind of like the Army.”
Papa the Great returned home. Eventually he heard of a university that was allowing Black players on its football team and a college president promising to integrate the school.
“You probably haven’t heard of this school before, but let me see if I can give you a little bit of a hint,” Mitcham said. “What if I said ‘Go Green!’”
Papa the Great enrolled at Michigan State and having become passionate about photography, took a job in the school’s photo lab. After four years, Papa the Great graduated with a degree in sociology but decided to accept a job post-graduation with the photo lab, where he worked for 37 years.
Mitcham shared a montage of photos his father had taken, and then reached the climax of his story: When Papa the Great attended a speech given by Martin Luther King Jr.
King was speaking at Michigan State in 1965 and Papa the Great was sent to take photos of him. Mitcham shared just over a minute-long snippet of the speech King delivered on his trip to East Lansing, a speech that preached non-violence and projecting love despite the terrible discrimination that plagued the era.
“In our best moments we have been true to nonviolence at its best,” King says in the speech. “We have been able to stand up before our most violent opponents and say in substance we will match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will and we will still love you.”
To wrap up his presentation, Mitcham displays the photos his father took of King in East Lansing for students to see.
“Take charge of your class Mr. Martin,” Mitcham joked as board members left their seats to view the photos.
Mitcham’s presentation drew praise from board members.
“I think this is incredible and such a really thoughtful presentation,” Trustee Terah Chambers said. “I’m really, really glad our students are able to learn from you.”
“It has been so fun to do that presentation,” Mitcham said. “I love to do it.”