Behind-The-Scenes

You have heard me use the word legacy in many of my Behind-The-Scenes articles. Typically, I am referring to farmers passing down the family farm to the next generation. But this story is a bit different. It is not about one family, but an entire culture. It is about a place that was founded in 1882 that offered the first state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for Black Americans.

Where The Food Comes From visited Virginia State University in Ettrick, VA in October. The campus is beautiful, but the story is about the people – the pride they have in who they are, where they are, and where they’re going.

From the moment we stepped onto the campus we felt so welcomed. Sometimes people are a little hesitant about telling us their stories until they get to know us a little better, but at VSU we all hit the ground running. And during filming four episodes over the course of the next few days, we met some really fantastic people and had a really good time while we were at it.

In my opinion there are two reasons for this: Assistant Vice President of Communications at VSU Gwen Williams-Dandridge – shown sitting in front of her sorority’s patio — and Associate Extension Administrator Dr. Janine Woods. They call her Dr. Boots — you’ll find out why in an upcoming episode in Season 6.

Following a warm welcome from Gwen, our producer and host Chip Carter spoke with the Dean of the College of Natural & Health Sciences Dr. Derrick Scott. Born in the low country of South Carolina, Dr. Scott talked about the opportunity he had and what it meant being able to come to VSU as a freshman majoring in biology.

But, while Chip was interviewing Dr. Scott, I noticed a women standing at a table near the entrance of the lobby. She appeared to be a little nervous and I had a feeling it was Chip’s next interview. Well, I was correct about it being the next interview but very wrong about the appearing nervous part. It was quite the opposite. The person I greeted was soft spoken but had confidence oozing out of every pore of her body. Side Note: She even helped me set-up the area where her interview was going to be held.

Allow me to introduce you to Professor and Founder of the Nation’s First Course in HBCU History and Legacy, Dr. Cheryl Mango.

Dr. Mango talked about how 200 years ago there was not a place for Black Americans to go to learn to read and write. As Chip so eloquently summarized it, “The passion was there, the ability was there, but the opportunity was not.” Dr. Mango totally concurred.

She further explained that HBCU experiences are American stories, not just black ones. With her grace and style, Dr. Mango’s interview is extremely impactful and one that I have listened to many times and so should you.

Leaving the lobby behind the crew moved to the sports arena. It was here Chip interviewed Student Government Association President Yousif Omer.

Yousif’s parents are immigrants from Africa, so he represents the first generation of American Omers to walk on the campus of VSU. Like Dr. Mango’s interview, Yousif’s is incredible. He focused a lot on how his parents drilled into him the understanding of the importance of education.

But Yousif spoke so fast and soft I could not hear a word he was saying — that happens sometimes on a shoot; Chip and a subject get deep into a conversation and the only other crew member who hears it all until we see it in the show is the soundman. So I literally pulled Yousif aside after he finished up with Chip to speak with him.

We chatted and he shared something his father told him: “Remember where you are from. Remember who you are because you belong to a population of people.” I found that pretty impactful because it is similar to something I have always said to my children.

Our next interview took us on VSU’s beautiful campus. Let’s meet AVP Government Relations Eldon Burton. Son of a minister, Eldon has lived in seven different states. So how did he end up attending VSU?

Eldon’s grandmother had a rule that said he had to go to an HBCU for his undergraduate work — and we all know you can’t argue with Grandma. He chose to attend VSU because his uncle was a professor there and he didn’t want to be far from family. Plus, it offered everything he would want as a student including a football team to play on. And as it turns out, a good portion of his family attended VSU — including his grandmother! Now that is a legacy onto its own.

Eldon explained the buildings on campus are named after former presidents or professors who have made an impact on the school. As Eldon put it, “You walk the same halls and you know you have the opportunity to go [as] far as you [want to] go.”

And then there was Dr. Robert Corley III. Frankly, I have to put him in the top five of my favorite people I have met during my time with WTFCF. Dr. Corley is the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of Land Grant Programs. He is such an elegant and passionate man and I found myself hanging onto every word of his interview. I really can’t do this man or the conversation justice and I am really glad you will hear it in the episode. Spoiler Alert: You will hear more from Dr. Corley in future episodes filmed at VSU; he’s a key component of each of the four we made.

Two of those four episodes are already live in Season 5 — in-between shoots on-campus we visited nearby Petersburg Oasis Community Garden and met, as Chip puts it, VSU’s own rockstar Tyrone Power Cherry III. And you’ll meet Tyrone and find out all about the wonderful work he is doing in Season 5, Episode 13: Urban Opportunity.

Stay Tuned!