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Morris Brown College - Students First: Serving...Learning...Leading! DECEMBER 2000/JANUARY 2001 - 7
History In Our Backyard: The Herndon Home
by Caryn I. Renaud
STAFF WRITER
he Herndon Home is a stoic repre
sentation of the achievements of
African descendents.
Designed by former slave
Alonzo Herndon and his first wife,
Adrienne, and constructed by Black
craftsmen in 1910, the house is a
replica of artistic style and excellence.
One can only imagine the intensity of
this accomplishment in the bygone
era of the early 20th century.
Herndon, who left his rural share-
cropping background at the age of
16, first opened a barbershop in Jones
boro, Georgia. A move to downtown
Atlanta however, brought him recog
nition when he opened a grand bar-
bering saloon-The Crystal Palace-at
66 Peachtree Street. Noted as one of
the finest in the nation, The Crystal
Palace started Herndon on his way to
making his fortune. His clientele was
largely white, and the services he of
fered were elaborate, including public
bath facilities—a luxury at a time
when indoor plumbing was minimal.
As such, Herndon was admired as
a leader—a man well beyond his times,
and further beyond his race. His
incorporation into affluent social life
increased in 1905 when he became
affiliated with the Atlanta Benevo
lent Protection Association through a
real estate deal. This connection led
to his founding and presidency of the
Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one
of the largest Black financial institu
tions in the nation.
His marriage to Adrienne McNeil,
an accomplished arts and education
director of Atlanta University’s dra
ma department in 1893, placed the
couple at the top of Atlanta’s Black
society.
However, their reign was short-lived
due to the untimely death of Adrienne
in 1910, which left Atlanta’s wealthi
est family’ void of their eloquent
leading lady.
Jessica Guillespie, daughter of civil
rights activist Ezikel Guillespie, be
came the second Mrs. Herndon in
1912. She’was then responsible for
the maternal rearing of Norris—the
sole offspring of Alonzo and Adrienne’s
union.
The Herndon Home, though largely
original in its appearance and content,
was reconstructed to create the extra
ordinary residential museum and
archive that it now presents. Built for
$10,000 in 1910, the home is now
priceless to the Atlanta University
Center and the Black community as a
whole. Norris wanted the home to be
a memorial to his parents, and so he
restored its originality while adding
his personal touch.
A celebrated art lover, Norris collect
ed intricate art in the form of sculp
tures, painting; and ornaments repre
sentative of ancient Rome, Greece,
and China. The candelabra and Per
sian rugs are magnificent and original.
The woodwork is heavy and stained,
forming built-in buffets and book
shelves. Ornately sculpted lion’s heads
form the staircase mark posts and
beveled glass allow beautiful kaleido
scopes in the fall and winter.
Most of the furniture is imported.
The white piano and Victrola reflect
the performing arts interests initiat
ed by Adrienne. The walls are painted
in rich, deep colors with borders of
intricate gold workings and murals.
The original candles are on the walls
and the original grandfather’s clock
still chimes on time. Local Black
crafts are abundant. Family portraits
sentimentally adorn the walls.
The home is now an historical land
mark, offering hourly tours Tuesday
through Saturday between 10 a.m.
and 4 p.m.
According to tour guide Tonya
Evans, the Home is “special.” She
noted that it is a one-of-a-kind in the
Atlanta area since there are not many
house museums. The Home sponsors
programs teaching genealogy and an
tique preservation. Hobday programs
are big events as well, such as Christ
mas with recitals and Norris’ old toys
on display.
In truth, the Herndon Home is a
symbol of Black perseverance and
extraordinary achievement, in the
past as well as the present. Even with
the demise of the Herndon family, the
legacy still continues.
Located a mere ‘stones throw’ from
our main campus (next to the admis
sion building), the Home provides an
outstanding cultural resource that
should be gratefully utilized by the
entire Morris Brown College family.
For tours and general information
call (404) 581-9813.
WholisticallysPEAKiNG
by Gary Faulkner
STAFF WRITER
s health and longevity worth the
sacrifice of meat for more veget
ables and fruits?
More people have eliminated
meat from their diet, and increased
the intake of vegetables and fruits in
an attempt to increase the quality of
life, as well as their time living it
during recent years.
Researchers from all over the world
have conducted studies to determine
whether a diet free of meat would be
better for a person. Numerous studies
have shown flesh foods are more likely
to cause health problems than a diet
of vegetables and fruits. Meat is more
likely to contain bacteria that infect
the intestines, causing colitis and
many other diseases.
Some argue that there is a relation
ship between meat consumption and
the increased cancer rate among
humans. Women who eat large
amounts of meats have a greater
chance of developing breast cancer
than those who eat little animal fat.
Food additives, such as nitrates used
to maintain a fresh, healthy pink
look, may also add to the danger of
cancer.
The typical American diet that
includes a high fat intake and twice
the necessary amount of protein has
numerous ill effects on the body. It
can increase the risk of colon, breast,
and prostate cancer; increase form
ation of arteriosclerosis in the arteries;
and decrease stamina and energy.
Residues of numerous harmful toxins
and chemicals have found their way
onto the average American dinner
plate. According to the Environmen
tal Protection Agency, 90% to 95% of
all pesticide residues are found in
meat, fish, eggs, and diary products.
There are also studies that say humans
are not biologically made to consume
meat. Natural meat eaters eat flesh
raw, have claws, sharp teeth, sweat
through the mouth and have a short
intestine that is two thirds the length
of their body (humans are 30 ft. long).
The human intestinal tract causes
meat to stay in the body for up to three
days. This causes toxins to be absorbed
in the body creating diseases.
The Food and Drug Administration
states “Data are strong that vegeta
rians are at lesser risk for obesity,
constipation, lung cancer, and alcohol
ism. Evidence is good that risks for
hypertension, coronary artery dis
ease, type II diabetes, and gallstones
are lower.”
The National Cancer Institute
states that 35 percent of cancer deaths
may be related to diet. It also states
diets rich in beta-carotene (the plant
form of vitamin A) and vitamin C
may reduce the risk of cancer. Diets
rich in fiber-rich foods, as well as
vegetables in the cabbage family,
may reduce the risk of cancers of the
colon and rectum.
“I feel good. I have more energy.
And I haven’t been sick since I stop
ped eating meat,” a vegetarian of five
years said. Vegetarian diets are gen
erally moderate in calories and protein,
high in fiber, low in saturated fat and
cholesterol, high in polyunsaturated
fatty acids, and mono- unsaturated
fats. Plant foods also have antioxi
dant nutrients that benefit the immune
system. Considering the risks involv
ed in eating meat and the benefits of
eating more vegetables and fruits
many people have chosen to become
vegetarians. Certain disadvantages
and precautions come along with this
choice. Vegetarians have to be com
mitted. Many vegetarians encounter
problems with eating out, finding the
right food and the difficulty of transi
tion to being vegetarian. A vegetar
ian of six months states, “Sometimes
its hard, but I couldn’t imagine eating
meat again.” A six-year vegetarian
said, “ Before I found out what nutri
ents were needed I lost a lot of weight
and I was a junk-food vegetarian. But
I feel I lessened my chances of getting
a lot diseases “ Nutritional precau
tions must be taken to ensure that
all vital nutrients are available. The
nutrients vegetarians should be care
ful to include in their diet are calcium,
present in dark green leafy vegeta
bles, almonds, and sesame seeds; ribo
flavin, found in green leafy vegetables,
mushrooms, squash and almonds;
zinc, found in legumes and whole
grains; iron, found in legumes, dried
fruits and green leafy vegetables; and
vitamin B12, that may be found in
cereals, breads and yeast.
Many people claim protein becomes
deficient in a meatless diet, yet studies
show the average American receives
almost twice as much of the Recom
mended Daily Allowances.
It is important for the vegetarian
diet to contain many different foods.
The Food and Drug Administration
says, “The wider the variety, the
greater chance of getting the nutrients
you need.” Some vegetarians choose
to take nutritional supplements to
ensure proper intake of nutrients.
There are several types of vegetar
ians. Lacto-vegetarians avoid eggs,
but include some diary products in
their diets. Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat
eggs and diary products but no meat.
Vegans are the strictest vegetarians
that exclude eggs, diary products,
and all foods associated with
animals.
Some famous vegetarians are
Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein,
Plato, Hank Aaron, Robert Parrish,
Russell Simmons, Woody Harrelson,
Alice Walker, Andre 3000, Erykah
Badu, Common and Prince.
If there are any questions or com
ments about this article or other
wholistic health issues feel free to
e-mail at blkjourney@yahoo.com.
Haeen
hungry
Feeding
Morris Brown Coll
Founded in 1 88
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