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The History Behind Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School

By purpose88 on

Angela Wilson | Intern UAB School of Education | CHHS

Photo: Instagram | #carrieatuggleelementaryschool

The History Behind Tuggle Elementary School

Tuggle Elementary School is located in Birmingham, Alabama and has approximately 472 students from Pre-Kindergarten to fifth grade. Although it has been affiliated with The Birmingham City School System since 1926, many natives of Birmingham are oblivious to the remarkable history embedded in its name.

Tuggle Elementary School is named after Carrie A. Tuggle, a fierce innovator whose trailblazing efforts are still visible today.  She was born in 1858 in Eufaula, Alabama and subsequently married John Tuggle and had four children.  The couple eventually moved to Birmingham in search of better job opportunities.

Mrs. Tuggle excelled in education, social work, and religion, and found her calling when she began working with delinquent boys as a welfare officer.  After speaking on behalf of boys as young as ten years old, she was inspired to provide housing accommodations for orphaned black children.  She initially took them into her home, until she was able to open a single-building school in September 1903. Named The Tuggle Institute this facility allowed black, destitute orphans and juveniles to receive an education. She also used her courtroom experience to help create The Jefferson County Juvenile and Domestic Court. 

The Tuggle Institute garnered praise from the citizens of Birmingham and was noted for its substantial contributions to the advancement of black people.  Some outstanding alumni who credit Mrs. Tuggle for her influence include Dr. A. G. Gaston, John T. Wheatley, and Erskine Hawkins, to name a few. The Tuggle Institute became affiliated with the Birmingham City Public Schools in 1926. In 1936, The Board of Education named it the Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School.

Carrie A. Tuggle died in November 1954 and is buried on the school’s ground. There is memorial plaque with these words inscribed: “Carrie A. Tuggle, a scholar, educator, and servant of mankind.” To learn more about Mrs. Tuggle and Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School, check out https://alafricanamerican.com/beyond-the-book-honoree-archives/beyond-the-book-carrie-tuggle/

References:

Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame. Carrie A. Tuggle. http://www.awhf.org.

Beyond the book – Carrie A. Tuggle – Alabama African American history. Alabama African American History – sponsored by AT&T. (2022, January 14). https://alafricanamerican.com/beyond-the-book-honoree-archives/beyond-the-book-carrie-tuggle/

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Advocacy

How to Overcome Microaggressions as an African American Woman

By LaTangellia Walker on

By Shon Mack | UAB Community Health and Human Services Intern

https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2020/06/13/these-photos-contrast-how/

Being a woman in society is tough but being a black woman in society is even tougher. But why? African American women probably experience the most microaggressions than any other demographic. Microaggressions are comments or actions that unintentionally express a prejudiced attitude towards members of racial minorities. Unfortunately, it happens so often that dealing with them almost seems like an impossible task and trying to ignore constant slick comments and insults can be exhausting.

The most common place for microaggressions against African American women to occur is the workplace. Black women are most likely to face occupational segregation and typically earn 39% less than White men in the U.S. compared to White women (19%) (Barratt, 2022). It is easy for African American women to become overwhelmed, which can cause them to experience lack of motivation and energy when trying to complete different tasks. It is also common for black women to be mistaken as the aggressor under a variety of circumstances. The most common microaggressions that black women experience include:

  • Assuming that all Black women have had the same life experiences
  • Tone policing based on racial stereotypes
  • Judging their appearance
  • Opportunity shaming

The way that we react to these types of conflicts is oftentimes described as loud, unprofessional, and even “ghetto”. Describing African American women in this manner is often utilized to coerce us into becoming more submissive in today’s society. In their eyes, black women should be invisible.

However, Black women are strong, powerful individuals. The most resilient of them all. Our identity and culture define who we are, and we shouldn’t have to feel they’re being mocked or made fun of for entertainment. The key to handling microaggressions is to respond as though someone is asking what you had for dinner last night. Explain your point of view first, and then ask them for theirs. This will create room for positive conversations where both parties learn something new in the process. 

If someone comes up to you and says, “Oh my, you changed your hair again. How long did it take?” You reply, “Oh, just 4 hours, what about you?” and then ask them about their hair care routine. Let the conversation flow.

It isn’t our responsibility as Black women to speak for all women of color, however, we can all share our own experiences and encourage symmetry among all.

References

Barratt, B. (2022, October 12). The microaggressions towards black women you might be complicit in at work. Forbes. Retrieved December 7, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/biancabarratt/2020/06/19/the-microaggressions-towards-black-women-you-might-be-complicit-in-at-work/?sh=37594dac2bda 

Jones, N. Dr. LPCC (2021)Working While Black- 9 Signs of Microaggressions in the Workplace Against African American Women. https://www.drnataliejones.com/working-while-black-9-signs-of-microaggression-in-the-workplace-against-african-american-women/ 

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