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Many Rivers to Cross
African-American history has played an integral role in the shaping of politics, economics, and culture in the United States. Growing up, how did you learn about the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans? Were you in a classroom? Reading a book? Talking with relatives or friends? How has your understanding or knowledge of African-American history changed and/or developed over time? What do you think is the most effective way to pass along this rich and growing history to future generations?

Carla McDonald

I recently wrote that I learn about African American history from my grandparents I forgot that I also learn some in high school. I really love doing research about our history. I started ten years ago working on an project about my late grandfather Edgar Cunningham Sr. who was in the Boy Scouts in the late 1920’s and under the excellent leadership of his Scoutmaster James Lincoln Page he became the first black Eagle Scout in the United States of America June 8,1926 for the Studies of Reptiles. Scoutmaster received a presidential from Hoover and my grandfather Edgar received an handwritten letter from President Coolidge. Unfortunately none of this has not been documented by the local and National Council the Boy Scouts of America. My grandfather’s own children never send the letter – my grandfather was an modest and very humble man. YES absolutely we believe he got that letter and Page received that presidential citation for his work in the Scouting movement. I am still doing my research on this truly thankful for those first all African American Boy Scout troops from Elisabeth, North Carolina, and Louisville, Kentucky, and PBS and Mr. Gates. Thanks.

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