Fall 2024

"Why haven't I heard this story before?" That is the thought that surfaced as Dr. Jeffrey Pouncey held the audience spellbound when he spoke at the Alabama Regional Phi Theta Kappa convention. Dr. Pouncey's novel, MIDNIGHT TEAR, tells the heartbreaking story of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Most Americans have not heard this true story because it was intentionally buried. The Beta Lambda Delta chapter of PTK sought to explore and, in a sense, rediscover the story. We turned Dr. Pouncey's beautiful novel into a screenplay. We presented the screenplay as a radio show accompanied by original illustrations by PTK alumna Reese McGill. Our goal is to bring this important part of American history to as many students as possible. We believe that exploring our history, both the celebratory and the shameful parts, is part of understanding ourselves as we strive to make the world a better place. We hope exploring the power of the story of MIDNIGHT TEAR inspires you to work for peace and justice.

Visit the official website for this project at https://www.jeffersonstate.edu/midnight-tear/ for an interview with author Jeffrey Pouncey and (soon to be added) the recording of the adapted play.

See below for the rewritten script and illustrations done by PTK contributors.

Sponsor: Mrs. Elizabeth Ginas Gallow, Co-sponsor: Ms. Cherroyle Webb

Contributing SCH Officers: Landon Armstrong, Taylor Rager, Alivia Whalen, and Matthew Willard and Contributing SCH member: Blayne Whisenhunt

Title: Tell the World: Engines of Society’s Communication
 
In a historical context we see the events of the past working together to give us a product that is society in the way that we have it today. What is easier to be overlooked is that the same cause-and-effect relationship takes place through a means that makes any history observed by us possible. This means is communication as an art. New avenues to communicate are continuously being cultivated, which alters the way that society functions. While the concepts influenced by the existence and progression of communication are endless, the topics of music, business, culture, math and sciences, and social media are observable channels of how this process has shaped society at every point in history. Sigma Chi Eta’s academic project seeks to “explore” these concepts.