Historic Fort Worth Bus Tour to take off

By Anne Francomano

In celebration of Black History Month, TR Campus will sponsor a free Historic Fort Worth Bus Tour for TCC students, faculty and staff Feb. 17.

Sarah Walker, Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society president, will lead the tour. Walker said she speaks to a history and culture that most people never hear about and said it is important to preserve history for future generations.

“Each tour brings me the joy of being able to share the African-American history of Fort Worth and see the wonderful expressions on the students’ faces,” she said.

Past tour stops have included the Lenora Rolla Heritage Center Museum, Evans Avenue Plaza and Mount Gilead Baptist Church.

“The tour is a great opportunity for students to get to know history in their own backyards,” student activities coordinator Eddie Brassart said.

Past attendees have commented they enjoyed learning about historic places they never even knew existed.

Government instructor Jinnell Killingsworth has partnered with Walker for the tour for four years to help students tie the experience back to concepts they learned in class.

“My hope is that the students learn the importance of local culture and how it impacts laws and policy,” she said.

Students who want to participate should email edward.brassart@tccd.edu to RSVP and obtain a waiver. To hold a seat, they need to return signed waivers to Brassart by Feb. 14.

People planning on taking the tour should arrive no later than 11:15 a.m. at the Rotunda for bus pickup on Feb. 17. The bus will return to TR Campus by 1:30 p.m.