Highlander Folk School BY MAIYA HER CAE 213

Highlander Folk School BY: MAIYA HER CAE 213

History Founded in 1932 by Myles Horton and Don West Located in Grundy County, Tennessee

Purpose Original mission: to educate “rural and industrial leaders for a new social order” Focused Later on labor and adult education became a social justice, civil rights training ground that was nonviolent

1932 -1940 s Strove to build progressive labor movements in the South Among woodcutters, coal miners, government relief workers, textile workers, and farmers in the region Supported strikes, organizing drives, and trained workers to be leaders in labor unions

1950 s-1960 s Changed focus from labor to Civil Rights Movement Septima Clark, Esau Jenkins and Bernice Robinson developed a citizenship program Taught African Americans their rights as citizens and promoted basic literacy skills Mainly focused on school desegregation and voter education/voting rights Closed in 1961 after the state of Tennessee revoked charter

Backlash In 1951, Highlander was attacked and blamed for creating racial strife Accused of being a communist training school after photo of Martin Luther King being at the anniversary of the school, spread throughout the South Tennessee confiscated property

Aftermath Horton opened the Highlander Research and Education Center Located in Knoxville, Tennessee Focus turned to economic and social justice Appalachian People Struggles Deeply rooted poverty, growing environmental devastation from strip-mining, and outside corporate control of land resources Highlander helped develop Southern Appalachian Leadership Training programs (SALT) Provided leaders training and support to emerging local

Present Day Highlander continued work with local organizations with environmental issues Creation of Stop the Poisoning programs Sponsored major workshops on problems caused by declining rural economies in Appalachia and the South Focus on democratic participation and economic justice Create educational support for immigrants, youths, and the poor

References http: //mlkkpp 01. stanford. edu/index. php/encyclopedia/enc_highlander_ folk_school/%22 Highlander https: //1000 littlehammers. files. wordpress. com/2010/02/highlander_history _screen. pdf http: //tennesseeencyclopedia. net/entry. php? rec=630