Empowering Voice

Vincent deForest’s hushed voice captured the attention of 7^th graders and kept them at the edge of their seats for an hour. Calmly, he stood in front of the students recounting his experiences as an activist during the Civil Rights era. The competition for silence set the stage for an inspiring talk. DeForest brought to life many aspects of the 60’s and spoke about his recent donation to the National African American History Museum. “I could have listened to him all day,” says Michelle Belton, director of diversity.

 

As a young man and soldier, deForest served in the military and struggled with the realities of the Jim Crow south. He was angered by the ignorance that pervaded society and joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to affect change.

 

In 1968 he became involved with the Poor People’s Campaign, which was planning to build a city on the National Mall. Then, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated. “Washington erupted, flames came out of the buildings on U Street,” said deForest. In the wake of King’s assassination, it was decided that the city, known as Resurrection City, would continue as planned.

 

The construction of Resurrection City included a wall with a section to write messages. “We wanted everyone to feel they had a way to express themselves about what was happening,” said deForest. Luckily, he had the forethought to save a section of what is known as “The Hunger Wall.” Thirty-two feet of it is now on display at the National African American History Museum.

 

DeForest, the grandparent of current student Clay Ellis ’25, also wanted his student audience to know that John Wiebenson—husband of Abigail Wiebenson, Lowell’s third head of school—was the head architect of Resurrection City. Weibenson played a vital role in the design and building of the city, enlisting his class at the University of Maryland and many volunteers to help.

 

 

“Each of you [has] power,” said deForest. “Find ways to non-violently and constructively make change,” he encouraged students. Speaking directly to the young women in the room, he said, “It’s important for you to raise your voice now. Talk up. Otherwise the next generation won’t know you existed. The reason I saved that wall is because all of those voices could have been lost in time.”

 

To have a speaker bring to life historical moments often only read about in a secondary source is invaluable. DeForest personalized segregation for the students, gave insight into leaders such as Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and explained his ongoing efforts to preserve history with his current project restoring Mt. Zion cemetery in Georgetown.

 

“It will be a conversation and event that I will often refer back to this year,” says Sarah Smith. She smiled as she recounted an email she received from a parent whose child came home raving about the amazing speaker they had in class that day. “When a child goes home from school and reports out, that’s rare,” she said—evidence that deForest left a lasting impression!