America 250: How Penn Center Helped Shape the Promise of American Freedom
As part of its Lowcountry Legacy: America 250 series, WHHI Television spotlights the people, places, and events that have shaped the American story as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
The third installment of the series features Penn Center’s Executive Director, Dr. Robert Adams, who shares the extraordinary story of America's first school for formerly enslaved people. Watch the video to explore its connections to Reconstruction, Robert Smalls, the Port Royal Experiment, and the ongoing fight for freedom, education, and civic participation.
In the fourth installment of Lowcountry Legacy, discover how Penn Center evolved from a school for formerly enslaved people into a nationally significant center for education, culture, and leadership. Carla Rabb De Rosa, Education and Docent at the York W. Bailey Museum, highlights the institution's role in Reconstruction, workforce training, Black land ownership, and the preservation of Gullah Geechee heritage.
About the Series Lowcountry Legacy
As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, WHHI presents Lowcountry Legacy: America 250, a documentary interview series exploring the people, places, and events that helped shape our nation's history.
These two interviews offer an in-depth look at the Penn Center and its pivotal role in advancing freedom, education, and opportunity. Together, they provide valuable context for understanding why the Lowcountry remains one of America's most historically significant regions.