“Growing up African American in Segregated Asheville”

15 Feb 2015

“Growing up African American in Segregated Asheville” will be presented by Viola Spells, owner of Zenobia Studio, at the Sunday February 15th meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:00-3:30 PM at The Friends Meeting House located at 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville 28804 (near UNCA). Spells will discuss her experiences from birth through high school, 1945 – 1963, including vignettes of the YWCA, churches, schools, library, the YMI, Lexington Avenue, key people who were positive influences on children and young adults, community life in Asheville during the 1940s and 1950s, Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality (ASCORE) in the early 1960s and desegregation of the Asheville public library.

Viola Spells was born and raised in Asheville where she attended the Livingston Street School and Allen High School. She received a B.A. in Psychology from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, a Masters in Library Science from the University of Michigan, and supervised several regional library systems in Philadelphia, PA. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Metals from Eastern Tennessee State University and owns Zenobia Studio at Pink Dog Creative in the River Arts District where she creates and sells metal art work.

Following Spells’ presentation there will be time for questions and group discussion. Following the meeting, informal conversation and light refreshments will be available. All are welcome!

The Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville is a humanist, educational, philosophical, non-theistic alternative to traditional religions. It is affiliated with the American Ethical Union, and the American Humanist Association, both of which are members of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. Members are inspired by the ideal that the supreme aim of human life is working to create a more humane society. Their commitment is to the worth and dignity of the individual and to treating each human being so as to bring out the best in him or her.

For more information contact: www.meetup.com/Ethical-Humanist-Society-of-Asheville, www.aeu.org, ethicalsocietyasheville@gmail.com or 828 687-7759.