Historian Wynna Faye Elbert recounts Columbia's black history

The presentation mixes in personal memory and experiences from the '50s.

By Gregory Zajac

Published April 22, 2010

Residents learned about Columbia's African-American history Tuesday at the Boone County Government Center.

Wynna Faye Elbert, the main speaker at the event, is a local historian and 1987 MU graduate. She grew up in the '50s in Columbia, an era of social change for black people.

Elbert worked for 30 years for the department of parks and recreation and is a recipient of the Martin Luther King Making a Difference award. She is also a founding member of the John William Boone Heritage Foundation.

The event featured Elbert speaking about Columbia's black history and her own life and performances about prominent African Americans who contributed to Columbia and Boone County history.

Bill Thompson, a member of the foundation and the Frederick Douglass Coalition, was also a speaker at the event.

Elbert said when she began researching the history of Columbia's African Americans, there was not very much except on Boone, a blind pianist who toured across the country in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

"Somebody told me a long time ago African Americans in Boone County didn't mean much," Elbert said. "Didn't do much, haven't done much. And we're here tonight to show that that's not true."

The event included performances about African Americans who had an historical impact on Columbia and Boone County history, including Harriet Tubman, chef and caterer Annie Fisher, botanist Henry Kirkland, businessman and grocery store owner John Lang, teacher Ruth Wiggins and horse trainer Tom Bass.

The contributions of these people are not being taught, Thompson said.

"There are a lot of people who make this community a unique place," Thompson said. "And we've got to really show the community that we love the history, because a lot of our children are not learning the history of this community."

Other topics included how segregation, urban renewal, sit-ins and the civil rights movement affected black people in Columbia in Elbert's lifetime.

Former City Councilman Jerry Wade attended the event. He said learning about Columbia's history is important and Elbert is well qualified to speak on the subject.

"Wynna Faye Elbert is one of the few remaining with a sense of that history," Wade said.

The College of Arts and Science sponsored the event. Dean Mike O'Brien said he heard Elbert speak at a Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Black Studies programs in America and decided to invite her to a public event that would educate the community on Columbia's African-American history.

"What she talks about is growing up in Columbia and remembering what growing up is like is important whether you're black or white," O'Brien said.

Thompson encouraged the audience to be more proactive in city and county government.

"The bottom line is we are responsible for everything that has happened to us," Thompson said. "We might not like it, but if we don't get up off our behinds and go voice our opinions, we don't have a chance to make any real changes."