Television may have been around in the 1930s, but the picture – and the TV set – looked a lot different than what today’s kids have grown accustom to. Forget high definition and flat screens – the TV of the 1930s was still in black & white and the screen was tiny by today’s standards.
The technology of the 1930s is just one aspect of a new series at the Lorenzo Cultural Center at Macomb Community College that will appeal to area elementary and middle school-aged students. The And Still They Prospered: Living Through the Great Depression program series runs Feb. 27-May 8, with exhibits and most of the presentations free.
And Still They Prospered examines the economic, social and cultural changes that took place during the 1930s and how these shifts laid the foundation for future prosperity in the Motor City and beyond. Among the highlights will be presentations by the Detroit Science Center on how the technology of the 1930s impacted people then versus how today’s technology influences us. As part of the presentations, offered at 11 a.m. on March 12 and again on April 15, students will learn about the inventors and innovators who advanced technology in the Detroit-area during the Great Depression.
Author Jean Alicia Elster will discuss her book, “Who is Jim Hines?” during presentations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 3. In the book, a young boy learns about the about the realities of racism in Depression-era Detroit. Based on real events, Elster incorporates rich descriptions of daily life, including glimpses into Detroit’s auto factories and unions, northern-style segregation, and color distinctions within the African-American community as she tells her story. The educational book is aimed primarily at children ages 8-12.
Students can also learn about life as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, working on President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Tree Army,” which involved thousands of people hired to plant trees, tend forests and earn a living during the Great Depression. The interactive program employs music and will be presented at both 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 19.
Some of the other programs during the series will focus on Henry Ford, the history of Detroit and the creation of the Diego Rivera Murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
The Lorenzo Cultural Center is located on Macomb Community College’s Center Campus, Garfield & M-59, Clinton Township. The center is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday; and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Additional information on the center and on the And Still They Prospered program series is available at www.lorenzoculturalcenter.com.
About the Lorenzo Cultural Center
The Lorenzo Cultural Center (lorenzoculturalcenter.com) explores the influences and experiences that shape our community's heritage, examining topics from a variety of perspectives and creating interactive opportunities for learning, celebration and entertainment. Located on Macomb Community College's Center Campus, Hall and Garfield Roads in Clinton Township, the cultural center is adjacent to the Macomb Center for Performing Arts
About Macomb Community College
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 59,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.
Media contact:
Dan Heaton
586.445.7271
heatond@macomb.edu