MACON, Ga. — Melanie Pavich is an associate professor of interdisciplinary studies and history at Mercer University's Penfield College.
In her class, students dive into Coastal Georgia's rich African-American history that still exists on St. Simons Island.
That's why student Vanessa Braswell jumped at the opportunity to get involved.
"African-Americans play just as much of a key role in establishing this country as anybody. Our stories need to be told as well," Braswell said.
She was amazed at everything she learned from the people who live on St. Simons.
"[I] went down and interviewed different people who were the descendants of the slaves who actually lived on the island," Braswell said.
Over two semesters, students combined their research and interviews into a five minute, digital story. They'll present it to the St. Simons community in May.
"They give you a gift on the first side, then you give the gift back when you do the digital story," Braswell said.
Pavich wasn't available for an interview, but her associate, Fred Bongiovanni, says the $2,000 grant allows the students to expand their research.
"The grant allows us to begin to explore other opportunities for research beyond St. Simons and Dr. Pavich has had inquiries from individuals in Darien, Georgia," he said.
Bongiovanni says one of the men Braswell interviewed particularly struck him.
"Matthew Rafford. He's a farmer in St. Simons who's been farming the same land that his family acquired after slavery, they're still farming that community," Bongiovanni said.
Braswell says that's why this project is so important.
"We've only scratched the surface, there are so many more stories that need to be told than what we've managed to tell," Braswell said,
The research began in 2012, and Braswell joined the class in 2014.
Even after graduating from Mercer in 2017, she says she returned twice to help Pavich and her new students with their research at St. Simons.