The initial resort was constructed in 1858 largely by enslaved people, and as late as 1910, when the Chesapeake & & Ohio Railway got the home, the business continued to exploit Black employees. African American team member were anticipated to accommodate the impulses of white visitors in the design of the old plantations before returning home to overwhelming poverty.

In November 2021, the Institute for Education Innovation (IEI) held its Fall Superintendent Summit at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.V.– among the most stunning resorts in the U.S

Several conference participants of color, myself included, revealed an unease whenever we ventured outside our tightknit group. White participants, like Doug, my co-facilitator and co-author, may not have been on the receiving end of the careful gazes of other resort clients, however they observed the phenomenon, which became a subject of discussion amongst the IEI community– both in regards to the weekend and in our daily lives as educators.

. As with numerous of the countrys iconic landmarks, from The White House to Harvard University, the legacy of The Greenbrier is straight connected to the biggest stain on our countrys legacy: the enslavement of Black people. Throughout the Summit, we invited Toni Ogden and Janice Cooley of the Greenbrier County Historical Society to supply a historical context of our environments.

While The Greenbrier goes out of its method to welcome all visitors today, that history still silently sticks around throughout the premises, impacting some more than others based upon their identity and lived experiences. An example of the hotels tradition might be spotted in the sports bar where numerous portraits of star professional athletes lined the walls– all of whom were white. Its probably the only sports bar beyond Boston that has a photo of Larry Bird, but no picture of Magic..

Latest posts by eSchool Media Contributors.
( see all).