New Haven Independent

Posted by: baile27 | October 17, 2005 7:55 PM

I disliked many of the murals on the walls when I was a part-time dance teacher at Troup school. I recognised their antiquity and historic value, but some depicted slavery on a towering scale. I felt they were negative images in a predominantly African American school. Some of the murals depict Blacks in subservient roles with bare feet. I hope all the murals are not left standing. I also hope the less flattering images do not grace the auditorium. Phil Voigt would turn in his grave.

Posted by: Chuck | October 18, 2005 2:00 AM

Wow! THIS comment FOR SURE surprised me! I'm also a Trouper (or is it Trumpeteer?) The building was still in decent shape, though, when I attended. What I remember about these incredible murals was how little we students were told/taught about them. In fact, as often as I walked past the Cinque/Singe mural - one of the most prominently displayed examples right near the center of the main corridor and adjacent to the then-Principal's office - I had NEVER hear the story of just who he was! In fact, it was YEARS later, when the movie 'Amistad' was about to be filmed, that I learned this full story. I have (as a VERY sensitive (African-American) then distinct minority student in a school mainly populated by former Roger Sherman and other non-Black feeder schools) VERY little memory of the murals as being AT ALL flattering. In fact, I remember my parents (one of whom was ALSO a former Troup student!) walking me around showing me some of the murals and making sure I understood how accurately they reflected a rather unflattering period of history THEY and their parents, LIVED! Rather than taking it as a negative, it caused me to I ask the type of probing questions I hope future students will be forced to face about the realities of our too-often glamorized history! Let's teach our children and grandchildren the REAL unvarnished history, no matter HOW unflattering or uncomfortable it makes us!

Posted by: Lovebabz | October 20, 2005 8:36 AM

As a friend and BOA colleague of Phil Voight, I find it hard to beleive he would turn over in his grave. This issue ain't about Phil Voigt--God rest his soul, I do think that issues of race and class both from a historical perspective and a up-to-the moment perspective really speaks to how painful African and African American history is for many people of color. If we run from issues that are painful for us to talk about and reflect on, then we neither do ourselves or generations to come any good. Were Africans enslaved, YES, were we subservient, YES!, but look how far we have come against great odds. We must tell our WHOLE story and not shy away form the painful. We ought to demand that African and African American history be taught side by side with "American" history so that we begin to lift the shame that many African Americans feel about who they are, and how many of our ancestors arrived in America.

Posted by: Tanaisha | July 1, 2006 11:28 AM

I am a trouper right now I am in The 7th grade and when I was in the old buliding I never really looked at the murals on the walls or knew what they meant. our principal Mr. Kalisewski didnt include the history on the murals in the ciriculum. We would most likely do a report on a Black person for Black history month but then forget it.