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SOUTHERN SCHOOL NEWS—SEPTEMBER I960—PAGE II
SOUTH CAROLINA
Creation of
COLUMBIA, S. C.
C reation of bi-racial commit
tees to discuss race problems
1 jn South Carolina communities
was suggested by several persons
' in official position during August.
Their suggestions were linked
with a continuing series of anti
segregation demonstrations by
young Negroes. (See “Communi
ty Action.”)
The opening of public schools
for the 1960-61 session, scheduled
for the period straddling Sept. 1,
is not expected to bring either in
cident or interruption of the
state’s traditional pattern of racial
separation. That word came from
the state’s Special Segregation
Committee. (See “Under Sur
vey.”)
Negro students at Greenville filed
suit in federal court in an effort to
desegregate the public library. (See
"Legal Action.”)
References to school desegregation
and sit-in demonstrations in national
party platforms brought criticism from
South Carolina Democrats and Re
publicans and figured in political dis
cussions during August. (See “Politi
cal Activity.”)
Late July and early August brought
a number of suggestions that bi-racial
committees be created to discuss race
relations in various communities of
South Carolina.
The first suggestion of the recent
outcropping came from Greenville’s
Chamber of Commerce president,
Grady H. Hipp, at a breakfast meet
ing of the “Buttonhole Club” on July
26.
The proposal came at a time when
city authorities were establishing a 9
Pm. curfew in an effort to forestall
further friction between white and Ne
gro youths. Greenville was the center
in July of a number of racial flare-
ups, some developing into brief fights
at scenes of sit-in demonstrations and
elsewhere.
Similar outbreaks occurred in late
July in Spartanburg, another textile
city located about 30 miles east of
Greenville. Four arrests were made
during a July 27 demonstration. The
two Negro youths involved in the fra
cas were found guilty of disorder. They
did not seek a jury trial. The two
white men in the incident were ac
quitted by a jury on Aug. 10.
ENDORSES suggestion
Meanwhile, the suggestion of a bi
facial committee at Greenville had
hcen endorsed by the Rev. J. S. Hall,
youth advisor of the local National
yasn. for the Advancement of Colored
ffple. The Negro minister said:
I feel a bi-racial committee would
^ a savior for the situation as of
. ^w. ... It should have been created
u> Greenville a long time ago but even
|^°w it can do a lot of good. It’s past
that the lines of communication
should be opened up between the
• . . I’m sure sober-thinking
Jutes and Negroes would welcome a
fonunittee to lessen tension which has
ev el oped these past few days.”
At Rock Hill, scene of numerous
uti-segregation demonstrations in re-
ce ?'t months, the Negro Local Com-
Btfif 6 ^° r J >rom °ti° n of Human
‘ghts renewed its suggestion that a
‘-racial committee be set up in that
rnmunity. The suggestion, directed to
rJv[ Council as had been a similar
mmendation some time ago, was
‘Urned down on Aug. 8 by the coun-
• which felt such a committee was
n °‘ needed.
^KRS PROPOSAL
th^p State P residen t of the NAACP,
Au KeV ' J 3 - Sharper, proposed on
Point ^ G° v - Ernest Hollings ap-
sta , 4 a bi-racial committee on the
e level “instead of harping on law
The ° rder ” like a “broken record.”
in a C j° mm ‘i tee suggestion was included
end 6ngthy statement, which included
tion« rS u raen * ; sit-in demonstra
te * Negroes at lunch counters.
°blip t temen t sa ‘ d that “Negroes are
sist §ated morally and spiritually to re-
segregation.”
rash of sit-in demonstrations,
Bi-Racial Committees Suggested
which followed adjournment of the
two national political conventions, drew
this statement from Gov. Hollings
(who gave no response to the bi-
racial committee suggestion):
“Recent news stories have been so
adamant about the national party
platforms that in one sense they have
misguided colored youths into think
ing that party platforms are ‘the law
of the land.’ Political platforms have
no force or law and the reference of
both party platforms to ‘sit-in’ demon
strations does not give them any legal
sanction nor do they destroy the con
stitutional right of a private store
keeper to cater to whomever he
pleases.
QUOTES PLATFORMS
“The Democratic platform declared
that the peaceful demonstrations are a
signal that something should be done
about civil rights.
“The Republican platform states:
‘We affirm the constitutional right to
peaceable assembly to protest dis
crimination in private business estab
lishments.’
“Both of these references are un
fortunate. There’s no such constitu
tional right to demonstrate in private
business establishments, and no one
should think that Congress will write
these thoughts into law. Moreover, the
key word in each platform is ‘peace
ful.’ Experience indicates that these
incidents are not peaceful but ex
plosive in nature. Experience shows
that they provoke violence, which will
not be tolerated.”
Attorneys for seven young Negroes
of Greenville filed suit in the Western
District of U. S. Court on July 28,
saying that the county library’s policy
of racial segregation denies them their
constitutional rights.
The Negro students were arrested
March 16 during one of the first of a
continuing series of demonstrations at
the library. Plaintiff’s attorneys include
Thurgood Marshall and Jack Green
berg, both of the legal staff of the
NAACP.
The student body of Winthrop Col
lege, the state-supported college for
women at Rock Hill, has withdrawn
from membership in the United States
National Student Assn.
The withdrawal, prompted by con
cern over the national organization’s
“radical” policies, was approved by a
student referendum at Winthrop after
having been recommended by the
school’s Student Government Assn.
Objections to the national organiza
tion’s policies were based in part but
not entirely on matters involving race
relations. As students at an all-white
institution, the Winthrop girls objected
to pleas for funds in support of legal
cases seeking racial integration in
schools.
The State’s Educational Finance
Commission, vested with supervision
over the school equalization and ex
pansion program initiated in 1951, got
two new members in August.
William J. Neely of Rock Hill was
named by Gov. Hollings to replace
Walter T. Lake, whose move from
Newberry to Columbia made him in
eligible because of congressional dis
trict limitations.
The other new member is T. C.
Jolly Jr. of Union, replacing Herman
E. Cox of Greenville, who is moving
out of the state.
Meanwhile, the Commission on July
28 earmarked an amount of $1,037,-
031 for further construction work. This
latest allotment brings to $201,782,000
the total approved for such construc
tion since the commission was estab
lished.
‘PEACEFUL SESSION’
The chairman of South Carolina’s
Special Segregation Committee has
forecast “a peaceful, orderly and
progressive session” for the public
schools, which soon begin the 1960-61
school year.
State Sen. L. Marion Gressette of
Calhoun County made that prediction
following an Aug. 17 meeting at which
the 15-member committee reviewed
race relations in the state.
After paying tribute to the school
administrators and trustees, Sen. Gres
sette said that all concerned had been
working to the end “that every child
in the state shall have not only the
best educational opportunity the state
can afford but equal opportunity. . . .
“The committee and those responsi
ble for our public schools are going
ahead with their task in the belief that
the overwhelming majority of our peo
ple are interested in education rather
than agitation, and in preparing for a
better future, as the state makes prog
ress economically and culturally,
rather than in petty troublemaking
which only leads to bitterness and
retrogression, if not actual violence.”
School segregation was a contribut
ing factor during August to the align
ment of South Carolina voters into
their respective poltical groupings.
Both the Republican and Demo
cratic parties of South Carolina held
second conventions during the month
to decide their courses of action in
the November general election, and
both agreed to support their national
nominees in the presidential race.
These actions were taken despite re
sentment against pronouncements by
both Democrats and Republicans fav
oring school integration and endors
ing sit-in demonstrations against seg
regation.
Gov. Hollings, Lt. Gov. Burnet R.
Maybank Jr., and U. S. Sen. Olin D.
Johnston have announced their in
tention of supporting the national
Democratic ticket despite their strong
objections to much contained in the
party platform. Sen. Strom Thurmond,
who led the States’ Rights Democratic
ticket in 1948, has not endorsed either
national ticket but has disavowed any
intention of again heading a third
ticket.
Sit-in demonstrations at lunch coun
ters and other anti-segregation pro
tests by Negroes, chiefly of high school
and college age, continued in South
Carolina during August, but without
the intensity and occasional violence
of the July protests.
In Greenville, three weeks of dem
onstrations at the lunch counters of
variety stores in the city were cul
minated Aug. 9 by the arrest of 14
young Negroes on charges of trespass
ing after warning. The statute cited
was one passed during the 1960 Gen
eral Assembly.
Two days later, 10 of the 14 were
convicted in city recorder’s court and
sentenced to 30 days in jail or $100
fines. The other four Negro defendants
were referred to juvenile court. They
were lectured by Domestic Relations
Judge J. Wilbur Hicks and released to
the custody of their parents.
On Aug. 19, the aftermath of an
other sit-in demonstration, this one
involving a brief street fight, brought
a mistrial in the case of a white col
lege student charged with disorderly
conduct.
In Spartanburg, one white youth and
two Negroes who had been arrested
for participation in a bottle-throwing
racial incident were sentenced to fines
of $100 or 30 days in jail. # # #
GEORGIA
One Million Pupils To Report to Segregated Classes
MACON, Ga.
G eorgia may be beginning its
last term of segregated
public schools. (See “School
Boards and Schoolmen.”)
Desegregation suits against caf
eterias in state, city and county
buildings were filed in Atlanta,
and 11 Negroes were arrested at
Savannah Beach in the East
Coast’s first “wade-in” demon
stration. (See “Legal Action.”)
A referendum on whether
Democratic electors should be
pledged to party presidential and
vice presidential candidates or
free to vote as they pleased
loomed in Georgia as a result of
resentment against the Democrat
ic party’s civil rights stand. (See
“Political Activity.”)
SCHOOL BOARDS
AND SCHOOLMEN
As nearly one million Georgia school
children began the 1960-61 school year,
many observers predicted that it
would be the last term in the state’s
history in which every classroom is
racially segregated.
Not only is a showdown on the seg
regation vs. integration question mov
ing closer in Georgia, but also at issue
is whether or not public education will
survive in the state.
U. S. District Court Judge Frank A.
Hooper of Atlanta has ordered a be
ginning to desegregation of the Atlan
ta school system, largest in the state,
by May 1, 1961. This will give a four
months period—from May through
August next year—in which applica
tions of Negroes to enter 11th and 12th
grades at previously all-white high
schools may be processed.
Judge Hooper has agreed to accept
a grade-a-year desegregation plan
submitted by the Atlanta Board of
Education. But, because of previous
delays, the judge ordered both the 11th
and 12th grades desegregated in 1961
and one grade a year in reverse stair
step fashion each school term there
after.
TO CLOSE SCHOOLS
When Negroes are admitted to white
schools, such schools will be closed,
according to Gov. Ernest Vandiver,
who has said he cannot do otherwise
under the laws of Georgia.
If one or more schools in the At
lanta district are closed in such an ac
tion, it is expected that a taxpayer’s
suit will be filed, demanding that all
of the public schools of Georgia be
closed or kept open.
Some sources close to state leaders
say that these leaders believe it will be
possible to delay desegregation through
continuing litigation for at least two
more years after the September 1961
showdown. Others contend that the
issue will be decided at that time.
Some desegregation activity may oc
cur on the college level during the
next few months. Georgia State Col
lege of Atlanta, the largest unit in the
University System of Georgia, is under
federal court order not to bar Negro
applicants because of their race. Some
Negroes have obtained application
blanks and may try to qualify under
the rigid eligibility rules set up for
applicants.
LEGAL ACTION
A federal court suit to desegregate
cafeterias in the state capitol, Atlanta
city hall and Fulton County courthouse
was filed by a group of Atlanta Ne
groes. Restraint of state and city offi
cials from “making any distinctions
based upon color in regard to service”
was asked in the petition.
Attempts to obtain service at all
three eating establishments have been
made by Negroes. They said they were
refused service and threatened with
arrest.
Gov. Vandiver ordered cancellation
within 30 days of the lease for opera
tion of a small cafeteria in the base
ment of the capitol. Another and much
larger cafeteria is in another building
across the street from the capitol. This
cafeteria is operated by the State Office
Building Authority and is not affected
by the desegregation suit or the gov
ernor’s action.
FIRST ‘WADE-IN’
In Savannah Beach, 11 Negro col
lege students, who staged the first
“wade-in” demonstration on the East
Coast, were released on bond after be
ing charged with violating a local sta
tute prohibiting disrobing in public.
The Negroes, men and women rang
ing in age from 17 to 26, arrived at the
beach in cars, disrobed to bathing suits
worn under their street clothes and
went into the water.
Between 200 and 300 white swim
mers gathered at the scene but there
were no incidents. Negroes remained
in the water until police arrived and
made arrests.
Resentment at the strong civil rights
plank adopted in the platform of the
Democratic national convention at Los
Angeles brought a flurry of political
activity in the state.
Independent elector laws, permitting
presidential electors usually pledged to
Democratic candidates to vote for
whom they please, have been adopted
each presidential election year by the
Legislature since 1952. Under Gov.
Herman Talmadge in 1952 and Gov.
Marvin Griffin in 1956, the independent
electors have voted Democratic.
Gov. Ernest Vandiver announced on
Aug. 22 that he would support the
Kennedy-Johnson ticket but said he
would make no appeal to Georgians to
follow his lead. However, seven elec
tors quickly announced their support
of the national ticket.
Earlier, the governor had used a law
passed by the 1960 Legislature to put
it up to the people as to how the elec
tors would vote. He had been under
heavy pressure to withhold Georgia’s
12 electoral college votes from the
Democrats.
In the Sept. 14 Democratic state
primary, Georgians will decide whether
er they want their electors “free”—
unpledged to any ticket—or “pledged”
—committed to the Democratic presi
dential slate.
SPLIT PARTY
The issue has split the party into
warring camps of “loyal” Democrats,
who want Democratic electors to sup
port Kennedy and Johnson, and “in
dependent” Democrats, who want the
electors to withhold votes until after
the general election in hopes the con
test will be close and the South can,
in the theoretical trading which might
follow, obtain a better deal on civil
rights.
Neither Sen. Herman Talmadge nor
Sen. Richard Russell have indicated
they will support the Democratic
nominee. Most statehouse officials, in
cluding Lt. Gov. Garland Byrd, how
ever, have come out for the Demo
cratic ticket, as have the majority of
Georgia’s congressmen.
Georgia has had “sit-ins” and
“wade-ins” on the part of Negro stu
dents and in August came “kneel-ins.”
Negro college students attended
services at several white Atlanta
churches without major incident. They
were accompanied by several white
persons. # # #