By Thomas J. O'Halloran - Gelatin silver print.U.S. News & World Report Magazine Collection, Prints and Photographs Division (202)http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/brown-brown.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10872925
Students,
I hope that many of you were able to make the Brown Bag Lunch Series' presentation by Bertha Looney this afternoon. I had to teach a class this afternoon at Macon, so sadly I was not able to make it. However, I hope to hear from those who were able to attend. If you did not, please try to offer some insight on a moment in Civil Rights history. You might watch a documentary on the integration of public schools, read up on a famous civil rights activist or events (there are several I can name below), or, if there is another event taking place in honor of African American History Month that you would like to attend and report on, please do so by February 12th (this coming Sunday).
Some civil rights activists you might consider reading up on:
Fred Shuttlesworth
Medgar Evers
Ralph Abernathy
Michael Schwerner
James Chaney
Andrew Goodman
Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka
Rosa Parks
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Ida B. Wells
A. Philip Randolph
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The March on Washington
Malcolm X
Vernon Dahmer
Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike
These are just a few names and events that come to mind readily--there are certainly more to consider.
I was able to attend Bertha Looney's presentation. The concept that she kept mentioning, to persevere no matter what and to have God as her friend throughout everything she went through, was very inspiring to me.
ReplyDeleteI have struggled with having disabilities that have resulted in being discriminated against at school and work, and so I can understand to an extent what she meant when she said to keep on going. Everything that she went through, just to provide future opportunities for others even though it's not necessarily what she wanted for herself, is very admirable as well.
I think it takes a very strong person to do what she did.
Good for you, Anna! I am so very pleased to hear you were able to attend.
DeleteI got a chance to attend the Bertha Looney presentation and I was blown away. I never knew about the first eight. I might have walked past the sign while touring the campus, but I was never told about them. Hearing her story gave me a lot to be appreciative about. The first eight stood up and paved the way for the African American community at the University of Memphis which is over 35% of the students.They also paved the way for a lot of other students outside of the UofM whether they know it or not. The dedication that she was explaining that she had to complete her bachelor's degree was amazing. It makes me think about how minor my problems are compared to what she had to go through. Being treated as if you don't exist in the classroom by both professors and students would drive me crazy. She said a lot of times she had questions but some professors wouldn't help or act as if they didn't see her hand raised. One thing that really made me mad was that she was not able to pick her major. One was given to her simply based off what books were left over. I know that angered her because throughout high school she was a stellar student and had dreams, goals, and plans about her future. I really appreciate her from the bottom of my heart. Also being able to hear her tell about it makes it even better.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you were able to attend, and so glad it made the impression it did!
DeleteI was able to attend the questionnaire ending of Mrs. Bertha Looney's presentation. She was a very soft spoken lady and addressed the audience with a comforting tone. The trials she went through were terrible and I cannot imagine someone acting so awful towards such a sweet woman. Interested in America's fight against slavery, I watched the new Netflix documentary called the "13th". Segregation has not ceased and some corporations have even managed to make money off of it. Mrs. Looney is still making her voice heard so that others don't have to go through what she did. This wonderful lady was and still is, very motivated to live the true American Dream.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly amazing how some individuals who've braved unspeakable cruelty can emerge with such grace. Ms. Looney, and those like her, are indeed examples for us all.
DeleteAlso, I have seen "13" and it is quite an eye-opener. I teach African American Literature, and I often am compelled to point out the way history often repeats itself--and how slavery has iterated itself again and again throughout the 20th century. Mass incarceration is but one of those ways we see history repeating.
The fortitude, dedication and perseverance of Ms. Bertha Looney and the other members of the Memphis State 8 is phenomenal! Its a real tear-jerker to hear the abuse, neglect and harassment they endured. Anger is very real in listening to her talk. However her encouraging words were able to melt the ice trying to form in my thoughts. I dare not mar the memory of both hers' and the others' courage, fortitude and perseverance during this time. I chased away the vengeful thoughts and negative connotations trying to invade my innermost thoughts. I applaud her persistence and commitment to her education and that of the others. Her ability to humble herself and continue her pursuit of an education, though not one she chose personally is outstanding! I thank and praise God for her willingness to strip herself of her private moments and memories and share them as encouragement to us. She took her education and made us all proud! My hope and prayer is that 1 day I will do the same. Ya
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Thank you for sharing your experience. So glad you could attend.
DeleteI was able to attend the whole speech of Ms. Bertha Looney of the Memphis State University. Before this presentation I have never known about this event history, which I think is due to students learning about history all of America not in the area or city they live in. The most motivational thing I found from this presentation is of how she relied on the Jesus to relieve her frustration and help her keep her head held high and keep on pushing to her goal. In todays society many people have strayed away from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, which I think is the cause for all the turmoil and evil occurring across the world and United States. Even though she knew she was sacrificing her and her family safety, which has influenced other people to fight for their rights and has open doors for several minority groups. I want to thank her for helping all people to see that if they work hard enough to reach their goal in life no matter the circumstances it is possible.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. I'm so glad you got to attend:)
DeleteI was able to attend the speech by Ms. Bertha Looney. Before this presentation, I had never heard of the Memphis State Eight. Typically, people talk about the Little Rock Nine, so to hear about something similar that actually happened in my city was amazing. I loved how inspiring she is. She talked about how her classmates would ignore her and that her teachers would do the same thing. Instead, of giving up she relied on Jesus and she kept in mind that what she was doing could change the world and help pave a way for future African American students. This was so eye-opening for me because I know how frustrated I would of been. I like being able to get help from my teachers and getting clarity and getting the sense that my teachers wanted me to succeed. Ms. Looney did not have this and she still pushed on. During the presentation, there was a video that was presented. Ms. Marvis Jones, a Memphis State Eight member, mentioned how she didn't get to pick her classes. This was really surprising to me because it never occurred to me that they wouldn't be able to pick their classes. This thought never crossed my mind. I was so irritated when I heard that because all I could do was think about my schooling and my life. What if my career was picked for me? What if I attended a school that did not care whether I succeed or failed? Would I be strong enough to endure everything they went through? I honestly do not know the answers to these questions. Everyone can always say they are going to do this or that but when the time comes, that is when their true character is revealed. This was probably one of the best presentation I have been to. I just to thank Ms. Looney, the rest of the Memphis State Eight, and everyone else who helped pave a way for minorities to get the equal rights they deserved.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I wasnt' able to attend Ms. Bertha Looney's speech due to work, and really am sorry I missed it since I love to hear first hand what she went through. I found a documentary called the sixties with "A Long march to freedom", it covered the civil rights movement from the beginning. It opened with Martin Luther King stating that "all people should obey just laws but unjust laws are no laws at all, instead its our moral obligation to take a stand against it". I liked his philosophy of non-violence protest, because that really takes character, long-suffering and reliance on Christ as he puts it. College students were really the backbone of the national civil rights movement, it was their commitment to endure beatings, water hosing, name calling, unjust accusation, violence and belittlement that paved the way. Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood were the first two African Americans who wanted to attend the University of Alabama. Vivian had a Bachelor's and wanted a Masters degree in Accounting. The mayor George Wallace called for 500 National Guards to block them from registering. The attorney general had to federarlize the guard so that he would lose jurisdiction over them and unblock the school. President Kennedy stated that "Law cannot make men see right from wrong, only their maker can". That was evident when four girls were killed by a bomb while attending church in Birmingham, Al. The cross of violence and right to subjugate blacks is clearer heard in the words of Richard Russell thensenator of Alabama, "the civil rights bill is a perversion of the American way and law and they have the right of dominion over private property". This is the echo of the sentiment of those who can only see thru blinders. Racism, hatred against another human because they are different from us is in all our hearts and like Dr. King and JFK points out it's God who helps us look at in the mirror. My education professor said that we see thru monolithic lenses and that she was the first black student to go to Christian Brothers University. Her professor would have some type of class discussion and turn to her and ask how does her people feel about it. Whatever the intent we all have individual experiences in being based on religion, race and socioeconomic circumstances. It takes courage to stand up against prejudice while maintaining dignity and respect, to pursue our dreams no matterwho or what stands against us. It takes courage to realize that if we change then the world can change.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget one particular professor I had in graduate school who (perhaps unbeknownst even to her) radically shook me into an awareness of the big picture. She was talking about an early African American activist and said that if "it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't be here." I adored this woman, and in that moment I could not fathom a world where we could not share a love of literature. It's amazing how unexpectedly the absurdity of discrimination can creep up on you with such force.
DeleteI am sorry to be posting so late. I was, unfortunately, not able to attend the talk. I was really looking forward to it and was sad not to have been able to make it. I did want to talk about a couple other people in the Civil rights moment who were apart of desegregation. One of them is Medgar Evers. I was asked to do a project in elementary school for black history month. I remember wanting to choose someone other than Dr. King, Rosa Parks, or Harriet Tubman, because though their actions were irrefutably vital, I know theirs are not the only stories that need to be told. With that in mind, I decided to do some research to find information about some less well known players in the civil rights movement. That night I walked into the living room and my mom happened to be watching a movie about Medgar Evers. As I watched a long with her, it became clear that he made a great candidate for my presentation. He applied to the University of Mississippi Law school which was a whites only school at the time. He was denied acceptance, but worked with the NAACP to create a case to contest the decision, because the Supreme Court ruled that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Over the years, Evers worked closely with the NAACP on a number of matters and was a huge activist in Mississippi. Due to his public dedication to the cause, he was the target of hatred, both physical and verbal, from bigots and racists. In 1963 he was assassinated. He was shot in the back and initially denied entrance into the hospital after the incident. He was eventually admitted, but died soon thereafter. The person who killed him went free for almost thirty years before he was actually convicted. It makes my blood boil to think of the fact that it was ever necessary for people to fight for basic human rights, often times at the cost of their lives. However, I will never be able to express how grateful I am today for their sacrifices. So much of what I take for granted have only recently become available to people who look like me. It is amazing to think that only in the last 40-50 years did it occur to our country that humanity is not skin deep.
ReplyDeleteAnother person I have to thank for the opportunities I have today is Ruby Bridges, who integrated into an all white school at the young age of 6 years old. I cannot fathom the bravery it takes to do something like that or the toll it must take on a person, especially at such a young age. I imagine some of it was born of an ignorance as to what was going on around her. I imagine she had no idea of the impact she was making at the time. As a child, there is no way t=she could have understood the extent of the hatred those who opposed who she was doing felt for her simply because of the color of her skin. In an interview, she mentioned that she used to think the large crowds were a apart of a parade, so they didn’t scare her, with the exception of one event. She said a group of people had put a black doll into a casket to threaten her. I can’t imagine how terrified her family must have been for her. It just blows my mind to think how cruel and inhumane people can be. I get very emotional thinking about all the things my ancestors must have gone through so that I would have the chance to walk down the street without constant fear of being beaten or murdered because of my race. People were hosed so that I could go to proper schools. They withstood constant and unimaginable brutality for the sake of a better tomorrow. There are no words to express my gratitude to those before me for their sacrifices. I am so glad to have had this blog post, because I think it is of the utmost importance to honor them by continuing to talk about them. We must never forget.
Kayla, I am so impressed with and proud of your response. You make a wonderful point about gratitude that I believe is so important: we must not forget the sacrifices many individuals made just so that their children could enjoy the simplest of rights.
DeleteIt wasn't until I was an adult that I heard the story of Emmett Till. It's not taught in public school because of the truly horrific nature of the crime. A young African American man of 14 was visiting family in Mississippi from Chicago where he was accused of whistling at a young white woman. Found brutally beaten to death, his attackers were found not guilty by an all white jury despite overwhelming evidence.
ReplyDeleteThis story was recently brought back to national attention when Time magazine released pictures of Till that had been previously published in 1955. Not only had I never seen the outrageously horrifying and disturbing images of a beaten, dead Till but I had not realized the story behind their publication. The photos, rightfully so, shocked the world. Much like King's march on Selma, it was a glimpse into the brutal reality facing African Americans in the Jim Crow South every day. It pains to say these are the kind of images needed to be shown to stir white people into action, but it was an effective tool of the Civil Rights movement. It was the insistence of Emmett Till's mother, Mamie Till, to publish these photos as well as holding an open casket funeral for her son. She wanted the world to see the vile, racist, inhumane acts that killed her child.
Mamie was an activist, whose personal strength and conviction made her one of the most sought after civil rights speakers of her generation. Her decision to be open about her sons death and to show her anger and despair was brave, powerful and so selfless. While the story is unbearably tragic and despicable, Mamie is an inspiring figure. Her work and legacy honored her son as she dedicated herself to the civil rights cause.
The story of Emmett Till is indeed a tragic one--and a frightening one, when one thinks about the boundless hate that drove the two men who attacked him. Till was just a child. And, his mother is among one of the bravest women to have endured the pain of losing a son to such violence.
DeleteIt's been a while since the presentation, yet some things still stand out from it that I even remember them today. Everyone speaks of the Little Rock Nine, but i had never heard of the Memphis State Eight. What especially stood out for me was how, despite never suffering from any kind of physical abuse, the ostracization and mental abuse she experienced left a deep scar in her. Furthermore, the shool itself didn't take a big leap forward by accepting black students like I thought they had, but rather, they gave her and the other eight a (pardon my language) half-assed experience by severely limiting what she could and could not do, to the point that she had to go to another college to experience "college life. Even her own professors ignored her, even if she was one of the best students in her class and in the college overall. I'm glad that UoM (previously Memphis State) has drastically changed from when Ms. Looney was a student, and the whole world with it too. It might not be perfect, but it sure is a lot better than it used to be, and she is one of the reasons why.
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