To Write in the Light of Freedom
Page 10
Mr. Jones has been arrested for civil rights activities. In fact, he is out on bail now for demonstrating at the opening of the New York World’s Fair on April 22. His trial will be in New York on August 25.
Mr. Jones has been teaching for six years in public schools. He taught high school French and English in Alabama and Georgia. He now teaches French in an all white elementary school where he has been for two years. Though he makes a more than average salary, he says, “I would accept a teaching position anywhere in Mississippi if I could get one, regardless of the meager salary, because I want to be a little closer to the real problems of my people and help as much as I can. I hope that my summer work in Mississippi will be of some lasting good to the young people of Hattiesburg.”
—France D., age 14
There’s just one Negro in the picture and he’s a waiter. In other words, it seems that the Negroes only ride trains as waiters for the whites. The white man is still ordering the Negro around, and it’s showing that in the dining cars and other sections of the train there still might be some segregation. It shows graphically that the white man trusts a Negro to bring his food to him, to wait on him and cook for him, yet he doesn’t want the Negro to eat or sit with him.
This picture is not so typical today since Negroes have the right to ride in any coach and eat in the diners, and most of them do.
The problem is to get television, newspapers, movies, and advertisements to show Negro people as ordinary people in American life.
—Sandra Jo-Ann O., age 16
Freedom
Freedom is a seven letter word with a great meaning. To many people, and myself, it is one of the greatest words when we are actually free. What I mean by free is to go to any place you want to without being involved in violence and being able to speak as you please.
Why don’t white people want us to eat in the same places they eat? We are all human beings and God made us all. We can’t help what color our skin is! When you are free it doesn’t just mean to eat where you want to but to be free where it counts most and that is in your own mind. Then you can really tell yourself you are free and really mean it.
—Larry B., 8th grade, age 13
Editor: Shirley White
Art Work: Alan Johnson
One class saw the advertisement above, which shows people on a Vista-Dome train. Everyone in the picture is white, except the waiter who is serving them. A caption under the picture says, “People like you, people you like—ride the train.” Several students in the class wrote of their impressions of this picture.
While looking at the picture a thought came to my mind. Here in the picture is a group of white passengers on a train and one Negro, but he just happens to be a waiter. Everyone seems to be enjoying himself very much, but I wonder about the waiter.
—Otis M.
Undated Issue
I don’t like the angry people up town because they are so mean. The man that drives the bus took the girl’s money instead of her transfer. He wouldn’t give it back. He said once it gets into that little thing you can’t get it out. And she was mad at him from then on.
—Bessie Ann D.
What I Think about Hattiesburg
I think it is a no good place and it could be a better city. I hope that Goldwater won’t be our president because he hates Negroes and we need one that loves both black and white. I think that we are free to eat anywhere we wish and stand for our equal rights. I am glad that the Civil Rights Bill was passed because whites can go to any show. And we could go to any show they go to.
—Odis Ruth T.
Brenda Lynn E.
Freedom school is nice. We learned all sorts of things. We learned that Crispus Attucks was the first man to die for America’s freedom. We learned that Negroes have been in America for 345 years.
Why Are Negroes Treated Badly?
Negroes are treated badly because of the color of their skin. They are hit with guns, sticks, bricks, and bottles. I think as citizens of the United States we should have our own freedom of speech. I will be sad when they find those missing men dead. The song of the Negro’s cry is we shall overcome. And I believe that we will overcome someday. It is a good thing that we are trying to fight for freedom. I am very little and my skin is black. But I think I am still a citizen of Hattiesburg.
—Willie A. C.
Thursday several reporters interviewed a student from Rowan Senior High School. Her replies follow:
A Look at Hattiesburg
Bus Drivers
A bus driver slapped a Negro woman because she didn’t move farther back in the bus so a white woman could have a seat.
A Negro woman was sitting in front of the bus when the bus driver asked her to move back so a white man could have a seat, but instead of moving back the woman told the bus driver, “I’ve been sitting in the back a little too long and I should be sitting closer now to the front.”
School
This Negro student doesn’t think the schools are as well equipped as the white students’ schools. An example she gave was about books. When Negro schools need new books they get their books from the white schools and the white schools get the new books.
—Janice W.
Some Opinions of Dennis F. C. and What He Is Going to Do
Dennis F. C. thinks Goldwater will win. But he is behind Scranton. He does plan to join the NAACP. After the 12th grade he is going to college and get his Master’s degree and go on to the Marines. By the time he gets out of the Marines things will be better. For a living he is going to play football.
—Kenneth A.
One of Jackson’s largest hotels, the Robert E. Lee Hotel, has closed to keep from admitting Negroes. I think we Negroes ought to be proud of color. Because God gave it to us.
—Robert T.
1.What do you think of Hattiesburg? “I think Hattiesburg needs to be developed so everyone could have his equal rights.”
2.Were you born in Hattiesburg? “Oh yes!”
3.Have you ever tried to eat in a restaurant before the Civil Rights Bill was passed? “Yes I have, Woolworth’s.”
4.Did they serve you? “No, they didn’t. They told me to go to the end of the counter, but I didn’t. I walked out.”
5.Have you tried to eat since the Civil Rights Bill has been passed? “No, but I am going soon.”
6.Why didn’t you go sooner? “I didn’t have time.”
—Larry B.
An Interview with Mrs. Nancy Ellin
Mrs. Nancy Ellin, 28, of Kalamazoo, Mich. gave her opinion on Hattiesburg and Kalamazoo.
Mrs. Ellin has been living in Kalamazoo, Mich. for 2 years. She has been married for 2 and a half years. She has no children. Mrs. Ellin doesn’t like Kalamazoo because the people there are too satisfied.
Mrs. Ellin has seen one part of Hattiesburg. She thinks that the streets ought to have street lights and they ought to be paved. Mrs. Ellin thinks the freedom schools are a very good idea.
She plans to work with the N.A.A.C.P. when she returns to Kalamazoo.
—Audrey E.
My sister was going to Chicago on the bus and a white lady came and told her would you get up and let me sit down. My sister and I paid my money just like you and I’m going to sit right here.
—Bessie Ann D.
The Freedom School
The Freedom School, I think, is a great opportunity for everyone young and old. If you are in school it isn’t any harm to attend Freedom School. If you are old, it will be a great help in registering to vote. I wish everyone that could would attend. In Freedom School you can learn a lot. You have the same subjects you take in school.
I think there is a lot we can do to help. We could go and ask people to attend Freedom School. They might have small children and you could offer to keep them while they attend some of the classes if they attend different classes than you do. It will be a great help to them. I am going to do all that I can to help. I hope that you will too.
—Sandra W.
&n
bsp; This Is What Happens in Hattiesburg
During the month of April while marching on the picket line, a friend of mine, among others, was picked up. Lawrence G. was picked up for nothing.
A boy was trying to get on the bus in town and the bus driver said, “Hurry up,” and a girl spoke up and said, “He’s not going to get killed trying to get on the bus.”
After the civil rights bill was passed, Negroes didn’t want to go in restaurants, but two or three days later they began to go in the restaurant. Most of them are still afraid to go in these places because they are afraid they could be attacked.
—Shirley W.
Freedom
Freedom is a small word but it has great meanings. Webster says it is a state of being free and independent. There are many ways in which we can get our freedom. We may protest, or we may even try to integrate public places. I believe we cannot get our freedom (equal rights) by violent movements. Violence hinders progress and may cause severe destruction. I also believe we should fight with our intelligence instead of with our fists. We can win this war if we really press forward and try. I believe we could help matters a lot better if more of our people would attend the freedom schools. In the schools they would be taught subjects that are not taught in public schools. They would be taught how to register to vote, which every person 21 or over should be able to do. I think the freedom schools are helping our race a great deal, to set a goal for a better tomorrow.
—Beverly H.
We have overcome slavery. Negroes shall become better citizens. Negroes shall have better jobs. We will not struggle any more. We haven’t got all our rights yet, but freedom is all we want.
—Edwin E. P.
Sometimes when Negro people catch the bus and take a seat in the front seat the bus driver says go to the back. But when some white people get on they sit anywhere they want. Sometimes the bus driver makes the colored people get off when they make a lot of noise. I don’t have this problem because I don’t ride the bus.
—Barbara Ann R.
The World’s Fair
The World’s Fair is a very exciting place to visit. I only went three times, but I enjoyed myself very much. The food was one point of interest—sampling food from different parts of the world. I enjoyed the General Electric Pavilion. It showed us how far we had come with the help of electricity and how far we will go in the years to come. The General Motors Pavilion took us back to prehistoric times—the time of the cave man, the discovery of the wheel, and the invention of fire.
I hope to go back to the Fair before it closes and see some more things, maybe next year. It would be a very nice place for everyone to go that could.
—Sandra W.
On November 22nd at 2:15 John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. At the time of his death Mrs. Kennedy and the Vice President were with the President. The flags were down half mast during the President’s burial. The whole nation was able to see the burial of the President.
—Gladys T.
What I Think of Texas
When I first went there I liked it very well. But after I came back and the President got shot, I didn’t like it any more.
—Barbara L.
Happiness is. . . . . going to public places.
Happiness is. . . . . going to places without being looked at.
—Anita Louise H.
A Story
Once upon a time there was a lady. She lived at 1100 7th St. Her name was Miss Snowball. When I was a little girl she used to have church at her house. One morning we went down to her house for church and her husband was a preacher. He came so we each had a Bible verse to learn. So he said, “I saw something in the sky this morning.” We asked him what he saw. He said, “I think it was a chicken.” And so he went on talking. He said, “I saw something white last night when I was sleeping.” We asked him, “What was it?” He said it was some ghost. He said it was a little five year old baby and it was a lady. She just kept buzzing in his ear and so that ran him crazy. So the old man died and they kept worrying his wife so she died. But these are the last words she said, “They kill me but I’m going to heaven or to hell.”
—Gwen B.
Freedom Day
Freedom Day is everywhere
Freedom people here and there
Jump up and down—
Join the people from out of town—
To make this a happy Freedom Day.
I want to be free,
I know you do too—
So don’t sit around
Start marching along for your
F-R-E-E-D-O-M
—Alma T.
“Dear _________” Letters
Dear President Johnson,
I hope that I am not hurting your feelings.
We want our freedom. So you better help us to get our freedom.
We do not want the policeman to beat up any one else. The Civil Rights Bill has passed. I tell you again we want freedom. I go to Freedom School.
Yours truly,
Donny E.
Dear President Johnson,
I’m asking you for our freedom. Will you give us our freedom? Do you know how we feel without our freedom and we are working hard to get it. I’m asking you to please give it to us.
Your friend,
Dennis B.
Dear President Johnson,
Thank you for signing the Civil Rights Bill. We are so glad to know that someone is on our side. But some of the white people are friendly down here. We all want our freedom. And we are going to get it some day if we have to die for it.
Yours truly,
Linda D.
Dear President Johnson,
I go to Freedom School. I have learned a few freedom songs. We are asking you to send more people down here to protect the people and Civil Rights workers in this state. Then there will be no more bombing and fighting.
Yours truly,
Anthony E.
Who Am I?
Who am I, let me see,
Am I a dog or am I a bee?
Am I a princess who’s sweet and kind?
Am I a maniac who’s out of her mind?
I think I know and I’ll tell you
I’m not the girl I used to be.
Who am I? I have to know
So I may tell it wherever I go.
I’ll tell it to men of all the land.
I’ll tell it to kids who shake my hand,
That I am free and it shows
To everyone over all the land.
Who am I? I’ll tell you now,
I’ll have to find words, but I’ll tell it somehow.
I am a Negro who fought her best
To earn her freedom and deserves to rest.
So do as I did, and you’ll be free,
Just don’t hit back, and you’ll win
Your rest.
—Sandra Jo-Ann O.
A scene from Freedom School teacher orientation in Oxford, OH. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
Young students in a Freedom School classroom. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
Outdoor Freedom School class. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
Hattiesburg Freedom School students meeting on the steps of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
Young Freedom School student working on a writing project. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
A group of Freedom School students, trying to stay cool and distracted by outside activity. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
Freedom School teacher Arthur Reese from Detroit. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern M
ississippi.
Freedom School guitar lesson. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
Palmer’s Crossing Freedom School student Larry Lee. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
Young Girls at Freedom School. Courtesy of Herbert Randall and the McCain Library and Archives, University of Southern Mississippi.
Freedom School students and teachers at the Mississippi Freedom School Convention. Courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Freedom School students singing at the Mississippi Freedom School Convention.
Courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society.