By Norma Adams-Wade
I have learned that there are lessons in thing that we forget or do not honor.
I am remembering today a story I wrote decades ago about commemorative half-dollar coins depicting two African American icons — educator Booker T. Washington who founded Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, in Tuskegee, Alabama, and scientist/inventor/educator George Washington Carver.
The point of the story was that very few of us of the same heritage as the two icons, including myself, even know that these commemorative coins exist.
The story highlighted a Dallas African American man in the 1990s who brought to his Dallas church during Black History Month two of the coins that he had proudly acquired. The man was Ronnie Knox, who then was a member of Greater Emanuel Baptist Church, 2110 E. 11th St. near E. 8th Street and Bonnie View Road in Oak Cliff.
I called the church recently to see if Knox or someone who knows him might still be around. I spoke with a very nice member who did not recall Knox but did recall another member, Robert Richardson, who was quoted in the story. The nice member said Richardson had died.
But my thoughts about the commemorative coins continued. The story mentioned that another church member asked if the coins were real. The coins are indeed legitimate and recorded in coin collectors’ databases.
Background about the coins
The first coin is a single Booker T. Washington 50c coin minted in 1949. Amazon recently advertised that coin for sale for $863.00 The front of the coin states: “United States of America. Booker T. Washington. 1949. Half Dollar. E Pluribus Unum. (Out of many, one)”
Encircling the rim of the back of the coin are the words: “Liberty. Booker T. Washington Birthplace Memorial. In the middle are the words “In God we Trust. From slave cabin to Hall of Fame. Franklin County, VA (where Washington was born).”
The images are a log cabin and an image of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans where Washington is honored on the campus of Bronx Community College in Bronx, New York City.
The second half-dollar shows two profiles together of both Washington and Carver on the front of the same coin. The front words state: “United State of America. In God we trust. E Pluribus unum (Out of many, one). 1952. Liberty. George W. Carver. Booker T. Washington.”
The back of the second coin shows the image of the U. S. map labeled U. S. A. The words “Americanish. Freedom and opportunity for all” encircle the rim.
That second coin was minted from 1951 to 1954, although it appears that the first distribution was 1952. Historians say 1951-54 was the last commemorative coin period until the modern-day program resumed in 1982. The second coin has been promoted on eBay.
view.
Credit Wikipedia
One eBay posting cited the suggested value at $2,400.00, but the seller said he or she would “accept the best offer.”
Other eBay sellers offers sale prices for just under $200.00, another $1,200.00, still another $1,800.00. There was yet another version of the coin minted in 1953 described as “in intense rainbow tone” that eBay was offering for just over $2,900.00.
Knights of Pythias lost records
One of the main points of our forgotten or overlooked history is that some individuals care about it, others seem not to. Here’s one example. I often tell of my experience writing about R. A. Hester, a busy, impressive African American civic leader in Dallas and a major figure in the Texas history of the Knights of Pythias national African American fraternal order.
Hester was a key player in construction of the original Pythias building designed by notable African American architect William Sidney Pittman in 1915. The building is known now as the historic Pittman Hotel in the Deep Ellum section of downtown Dallas.
Hester spent long years recording the valuable history of the Black lodge, its building, credit union, and senior citizen residence.
In one of my early interviews with the dynamic yet soft-spoken Hester, he spoke passionately about his plans to publish a book from his stack of records about the Pythias history in Dallas and nationally.
He died in 1983 before he reached his goal. After he died, I called his wife to ask about the records he so treasured. Her response was: “Oh Baby, I put that stuff out on the sidewalk for the trashman.”
Her response took my breath away and I could not speak. I do not recall how I ended the conversation.
J. D. Hurd and Bishop College records
Another more positive example of caring for our history is the late Dr. J. D. Hurd, former registrar at the old Bishop College in Dallas. The historic HBCU was founded in Marshall, Texas in 1881 and closed 107 years later in Dallas in 1988.
Dr. Hurd willingly took on the Papa Bear curator role, meticulously overseeing and caring for the school’s precious student transcripts, teachers’ grade books, and other historic records after the school closed.
Wright, one of a
number of banned
books by African
American authors.
Credit Google Books
Eventually, the historically-Anglo Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY – not to be confused with Georgetown University in Washington, D. C. – began to help with the records as a service outreach project. Without Dr. Hurd, would the files have ended up on the sidewalk with the trash?
Banning books, exhibits designed to express Black heritage
What about the vast number of African American books that are now banned from libraries and schools? Seemingly uncaring national leaders obviously seek to whitewash history, eradicating evidence of African American contributions and achievements in America.
Some jaw-dropping examples of prized books that have been banned include Native Son by Richard Wright, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, and Beloved by Toni Morrison.
The Trump administration also has implemented policies to remove certain truth-telling items from museums under the guise that the removals are “restoring truth and sanity to American History.”
Examples include removing depictions of the civil rights movement sit-ins, items detailing race, gender, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues.
On the flip side of the issue, there also is talk of possibly returning some Confederate monuments that earlier were removed from public sites as deterrents to the image of a unified America.
Personal experiences of erasing history
A friend and I even had personal experiences. My experience was my grandmother’s beloved old wash tub I inherited that gave me fond memories of her using it.
A younger-generation relative put that tub out with the trash thinking they were helping me clean away useless items in my home. My hurt was profound when I discovered the tub was gone.
coin, front and back view.
Credit Great American Coin Co.
My friend’s experience was of an extra room in her home where she kept historical documents that she used for research and vintage equipment she collected as relics used by early writers. While she was away having surgery, one of her relatives “helped” clean out the room without my friend’s permission or knowledge. My friend’s agony still is palpable when she describes her feeling on learning that her prize possessions were gone, never to be returned.
Yes. The old adage is true. One person’s treasure is another person’s trash. Do you have relics that mean nothing to anyone but you? A classic Black history book? A hammer your granddad always used?
Ronnie Knox was correct to share his rare African American commemorative coins.
Now beyond himself, others will know that the coins existed and brought pride to our culture.
Norma Adams-Wade, is a proud Dallas native, University of Texas at Austin journalism graduate and retired Dallas Morning News senior staff writer. She is a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists. norma_adams_wade@yahoo.com.
