ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) -Students at Albany Technical College heard directly from two influential local figures who connected Albany’s Black history to their own lived experiences during a Black History Month event.

The conversation centered on Albany’s Black history. A founding member of the Freedom Singers and a local historian shared their stories, connecting the struggles of the past to the challenges students face now.

This program is a part of the college’s new TEAAMS initiative, aimed at empowering African American students to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Rutha Mae Harris, a founding member of the Freedom Singers, along with local historian Frank Wilson, shared their insights on Black history and its significance with students.

“Remember, I said history is kind of like a clock. It tells you where you were, it tells you where you are, it tells you where you are yet to be,” Wilson said.

Students learned about pivotal local events, including the Camilla Massacre and the history behind Phoebe Putney Hospital’s name.

“I try to bless them, so they’ll be a blessing. I bless them with knowledge so they can pass that knowledge on, and this history never dies, and that we will document things that we do now so that they will have something, a record to pass on to the next generation,” Wilson said.

Harris then shared her firsthand account of the Albany Civil Rights Movement.

“You don’t know about the sittings, the batons, dog attacks, fire hoses, or being dragged down the street, or up the courthouse steps as I was,” Harris said.

Harris emphasizes the importance of attending these events and helping younger generations understand the history she not only tells but embodies.

“It’s just a blessing because they don’t know. And I think some of them really want to know. And I try to give them what they want. And it’s just a blessing that I’m still here at 85, still singing. It’s just a blessing,” Harris said.

Albany Tech plans to continue these TEAAMS sessions to empower its students.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.