Students Discovering History

On Wednesday, December 13, students in the Vancouver African American History Project presented a skit they created based on their assigned readings. The skit focused on Vanport, one of the housing projects built for shipyard workers during World War II. For the skit, the students were “on the air” on Vanport Radio, covering a variety of Vanport stories, including housing conditions and segregation, an interracial dance, and residents’ feelings about working in the shipyards.
Attending the skit were a local girl scout troop, teachers, students, parents, project advisory board members, and staff from the O.O. Howard House (where the skit was presented).

Mary Byrd and Roxanne Mikaele, as news announcers on Vanport radio.

 

Christal Jenkins (r), portraying a reporter from Vanport radio, interviews “dance attendee” Keri Conway, while “Sheriff” Levi Houston looks on.

Carlos Delcid, portraying a man who attended the interracial dance, describes what happened to reporter Christal Jenkins

 

Jasmine Simmons, portraying a representative from the Urban League,tells reporter Christal Jenkins about housing problems at Vanport.

Levi Houston, portraying a sheriff, tells reporter Christal Jenkins that he believes the housing situation at Vanport is fair.

 

Keri Conway, portraying a reporter from Vanport radio, interviews “shipyard worker” Jasmine Simmons, while fellow workers Levi Houston and Carlos Delcid play cards.

 

After the performance, the group explained more about Vanport to the audience. From left to right: Keri Conway, Levi Houston, Carlos Delcid, Jasmine Simmons, Christal Jenkins, Mary Byrd, Roxanne Mikaele.

 

Jasmine Simmons talks with Project Advisory Board Member Val Joshua.