Jacksonville NAACP Award going to long-time community service volunteer

By Ryne Turke on February 27, 2016 at 9:36am

The Jacksonville NAACP Award will be presented this afternoon to Ruth Linear: a dedicated community service volunteer and black history historian.

Linear told WLDS/WEAI News on Friday she never dreamed of receiving an honor like the one she will receive at 1 p.m. at Bethel Church.

For the past 53-years, Linear has called Jacksonville home, and has made it her mission to promote black history programs in the schools.

“Not just saying African-American students, but students everywhere. They don’t know anything about black history. It seems like this is a topic that is just unheard of. I think it is necessary they learn who they are and where they come from.”

Linear says she learned a lot about her African-American heritage from her school and parents while growing up in Hannibal, Missouri during the times of segregation.

“I’m a Woodlawn Farm tour guide. While I’m there I not only talk about Mamy Blue, I teach the kids why Mamy Blue escaped the plantations. I’m passionate about this and it comes from the heart.”

Linear says even though civil rights issues are still present in society, the nation is moving in the right direction.