A Berea College student makes a round broom from broom corn, tied with sassafras reed.
We visited Berea College to see the Appalachian handicrafts the students make and left captivated by its greater story. Seized by the concept of equality, a young Kentucky-born seminary graduate in the 1800s had visions of creating a higher education institution for both men and women, and both whites and blacks. His family disowned him for his radical views. But he pursued and founded Berea College in Berea, Kentucky.
A Kentucky legislator who was appalled by seeing black and white youth treat each other as friends succeeded in enacting a law in the mid-1800s prohibiting the education of both races at the same institution. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law. Only when Kentucky rescinded the Day Law in the early 1950s did Berea College once again become integrated.
The college charges no tuition to any of its students, essentially granting each student a full 4-year tuition scholarship of $24,000 per year. (Applicants must demonstrate academic promise and considerable financial need.)
All Berea students work 10 hours per week for the college, in tasks from customer service to creating traditional Appalachian handicrafts, like the young woman in the photo is doing. We got to watch students make brooms and stools with woven seats. (The craft shops are open to visitors.)
You can purchase handicrafts made by the students at the Log House Craft Gallery. And do give yourself time to watch the college video at the visitor center. It’s a compelling story!
