Woodstock Soul: Oral History from the School That Raised Us

There’s something magical happening, y’all, and I had to let you in on it!

We’re working on a project that’s been years in the making in my spirit. It’s an oral history project centered on a place that shaped me, my family, and generations of brilliant minds: Woodstock High School, formerly known as Shelby County Training School.

Now this isn’t just any school. This place? It's sacred ground.

I’m a third-generation graduate from this school, and I mean it when I say our roots run deep. My family walked those halls. Laid foundations there. And now, I’m coming back not just to honor that story but to preserve it for the next generation.

🎬 From Student to Storyteller — Full Circle Moment

One of the most beautiful parts of this project? Working alongside my high school journalism mentor, Mr. Marshoon Calvin. He’s still out here in the trenches, mentoring youth in media and storytelling. This time, he brought some of his current journalism students from East High School to help us film this moment in history.

Watching those students interview elders and community leaders? Powerful. They brought their cameras, their curiosity, and their respect into every room. It felt like the ancestors were clapping for us.

This project would not have been possible without the leadership of Ms. Charlotte Smith, a proud Woodstock alum and retired educator whose love for this school runs deep. She came in with a shared vision of preserving Woodstock’s legacy and played a huge role in helping bring this project to life. Her passion, support, and connection to the school made all the difference. Thank you!

Principal R.J. Roddy joined the Woodstock faculty in 1920 and served with distinction as principal until he retired in 1966 and was succeeded by Mr. John E. Strong.

🗣️ Stories That Need to Be Told

We sat down with some amazing folks for this project, people who lived through the legacy and helped shape it:

• Mr. John E. Strong, Jr., former principal and lifelong educator, whose leadership left a mark. Even in his 90s, he is still sharp as ever.

• Alumni from the 1950s through 1970, who shared memories that were raw, real, and filled with pride

• The current principal, Mr. Willie Bolden, is working to honor the past while preparing students for the future

• Community members who reminded us that schools like this weren’t just about learning—they were about survival, identity, and excellence

These stories weren’t just interviews. They were testimonies.

🎶 Yes, THAT “Woodstock” in the Song

Let me tell you something cool: Have you ever heard that soul classic "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave? There’s a line in there that says:

“I was educated at Woodstock…”

Most folks think it’s about the music festival. It’s not.

David Porter, the Memphis legend who co-wrote the song with Isaac Hayes, once said that line was about being “educated in the sticks.” It was a nod to places like our Woodstock—the rural schools where Black kids were getting their education against the odds. Our kind of “Woodstock.” Ain’t that something?

👩🏾‍🏫 And Yes—Ida B. Wells Was Here, Too

Here’s another gem: Before she became the fearless journalist and civil rights icon we all admire, Ida B. Wells actually taught in Woodstock while preparing for her teaching exams in Memphis in the 1880s.

So, yes, we are walking on ground that has been touched by greatness.

📍 What Made This School So Special?

State archive records show Shelby County Training School was founded in 1913, and Woodstock School was the first school in the county to offer a high school education to African Americans; the school graduated its first senior class in 1923. This was during segregation, when options were slim and obstacles were many. However, our people still managed to create excellence out of limited resources. The school celebrated 100 years of existence in 2013.

And while other schools, like Barret’s Chapel, also rose to serve rural Black communities (graduating their first senior class in 1929), Shelby County Training School led the way. That’s why it holds such a central place in our history.

📖 Read more here: Shelby County Training School Plaque

🔮 What’s Next?

We’re not just collecting stories, we’re building a living archive. We’re editing the footage now and getting ready to share it through:

• Community screenings

• School presentations

• Digital archives

• And maybe even a short documentary film

This is our history. And it deserves to be told with truth, love, and soul.

❤️ Why I’m Doing This

Because too many of our stories go untold. Because kids today deserve to know they come from brilliance. Because the rural “Woodstock” in Soul Man wasn’t just a lyric—it was a life. And because Ida B. Wells might’ve once stood on the very ground where we filmed these interviews.

So stay tuned, y’all.

This is history you can feel.

🖤Carla Richardson, Founder, Reading With Mrs. Richardson