In the spring semester of my first year at Salem College, I took Dr. Nora Doyle’s Public History service-learning course. To fulfill our required 30 hours of service, I volunteered at the nearby St. Philips African Moravian Heritage site on South Church Street, just a short walk from Babcock Hall, my residence hall. At St. Philips, I learned about the complicated history of Salem residents’ relationship with enslaved people and labor. What was initially an anomaly, where the Salem Moravian community refused the use of forced labor, progressed into a much more segregated environment, characteristic of its neighboring Southern slave-holding settlements.

During the fall semester of my junior year, I was invited to serve on the Anna Maria Samuel Project, a committee borne out of the care and dedication of many members of the Salem Academy and College community and a continued commitment to unearthing and sharing the Academy and College’s relationship with slavery and segregation. Since then, I have been extremely fortunate to be among a group of people who are passionate about Salem Academy and College’s living history, and I have learned so much.

My understanding of this institution and my role within it have been shaped by many people and instances throughout my four years here. This has given me the lens to be more critical, but also, more hopeful for my soon-to-be alma mater.

On Wednesday, April 21 at 5 p.m. EST, the Anna Maria Samuel Project will share some of this history virtually with the community through historical narrative, reflections, and artistic expression. I hope that this event will allow others to commemorate the lives, contributions, and labor of Black people once enslaved and exploited by what is now Salem Academy and College. I hope that students, faculty, staff, and those who are invested in this institution are able to have a clearer understanding of our school’s history. And I hope that this knowledge will inform our choices as we attempt to become a better, more inclusive community. As Founders Day nears, the necessity of highlighting this history cannot be overlooked—we cannot celebrate the legacy of Founders divorced from this context.

If you would like, please register to attend here.

Khadija Bangura, Class of 2021
Anna Maria Samuel Member and Intern

Letting go of efforts to seem perfect and learning to allow your true self to shine through is the work of a lifetime, so you’d better get started.

You may know intellectually that “nobody’s perfect,” but you may feel painfully inadequate when your imperfections actually show.

Think about this: If you are laser-focused on never showing your imperfections, you risk becoming a poor imitation of your truest self. You may not show your flaws, but you also don’t show your humanity. The parts of you that are flawed are perhaps your most endearing parts and are often the parts of you that are best able to connect with others.

If you want to work on this, first recognize how much of the stress you feel is coming from your intense efforts to always get everything right. It is exhausting—and very stressful.

Next, notice when you’re doing this. Notice when you don’t say something you want to say, when you aren’t honest about something because you don’t want to seem flawed, when you pretend to have it more together than you really do.

Then, challenge yourself to intentionally show more of your authentic self. You can strengthen the muscles that allow you to do this by practicing first in low-risk situations, either around people you don’t know and will likely never see again or around people whose love for you feels especially secure. Take small chances. Admit a feeling you might instinctively want to hide or tell a friend something that makes you feel vulnerable. In spite of your fears, you may realize that nothing terrible happens. In fact, something good may happen. You may find that you are more relaxed, and you may also find that you are better able to connect with others when you give them the gift of knowing the unique (and flawed) person you really are.

Gaither Terrell
Counseling Services

“This project was very special and personal. It allowed me to reflect on Salem’s deeply rooted traditions and how important they are to the women who attend Salem, and all the women who came before us.” —Layla McCarthy C’21

“I am here for a very special event—it’s not often that something celebrates its 250th anniversary!” —Eleanore Regenthal C’23

“I am proud to be a student at Salem College and had fun designing dinnerware and flatware commemorating such a remarkable anniversary.” —Marjorie Doran C’23

“Salem’s empowerment of women is an important piece of history, that I am proud to be a part of.” —Ellen Stowell C’24

“I now have a deeper appreciation for Salem, and I am so lucky to be a part of this empowering women’s community.” —Nikita Sizemore C’23

“This project, I feel was right on time. Being that I am graduating in May of 2021, I got to express the joy I felt in being a student at Salem College.” —Yulia Trogdon C’21

“I greatly appreciated having the chance to be a part of this special time in commemorating Salem’s wonderful history.” —Erin Pait C’21

“This was such a fun and creative way for us students to make a personal connection with Salem’s 250th anniversary!” —Sharissa Theodore C’22

“This project helped me understand more about the history of Salem College.” —Itzel Bautista-Ramirez C’23

You can view some of the projects submitted on the Salem Fine Arts Center Facebook page.

Rosa D. Otero
Art, Art History, and Design Department Chair

Design by Ellen Stowell

Design by Erin Pait

Design by Marjorie Doran