Teaming English and Social Studies: An American Civilization Experience

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Cosby Harrison is my grandfather. He was born and raised in Tuskagee, Alabama where he still lives today. I never really talked with him about the old days, but I know he's seen it all-from the bad times of the Depression in the 1930's to the cheerful times of the 1950's. My grandfather was, and still is, a farmer. When he was middle aged, most of the big farms were owned by rich white families who hired blacks and other immigrants for unfair wages. My grandfather had a large farm where he gave his friends and other members of the black community jobs with fair and equal pay. My grandparents had seven kids, four of whom went on to be valedictorians of their high school classes. Six of the seven graduated from Tuskagee Institute, founded by Booker T. Washington. My father used to tell me about how strong my grandfather was and how he would never miss a day without getting up and going to the fields. He owned a lot of land which he used for crops and livestock. Cosby Harrison was not well educated but he was intelligent. He earned, deserved and got the respect of the black community and all the people who knew him.