Newspaper Page Text
December 16. I960
THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
Page 5
JA ILlll
On October 19, 1960, approximately 80 students began
Sit-Ins at department and variety store lunch counters. In
cluded among these were Kress’s, Green’s, Rich’s, Woolworth’s,
and McCrory’s.
At the end of the day, there were 52 students from the
Atlanta University Center in jail. All of them had refused
bail. Thirty-four of the students were sent to the Fulton
County Jail.
In interviewing one of the Spelman students who was
booked, I found out the following things about the city and
county jails, a nd her reaction to both of them.
Upon arrest, Marilynn Pryce was not at all surprised or
shocked, for she had made up her mind to accept a jail sentence.
The entrance to the city jail was surrounded by mesh wire
screen. The cells were dirty, old, run-down, filthy, and filled
with “people who should be in institutions”. Both the Cauca
sian and Negro matrons were nice.
At the city jail, the prisoners were given a square tin pan
out of which to drink beverages. There were no meals served,
but a delivery vendor sold food. They stayed at the city jail
from 1:30 p. m. to 7:00 p. m., when they were moved to the
Fulton County Jail.
At approximately 9:00 p. m., the prisoners arrived at the
Fulton County Jail. This building was newer, more modern,
clean, and well-kept. There were large, modern, dormitory
cells. The building was brightened by turquoise-blue, beige
walls, yellow beds, and bars that surrounded everything.
The toilets and the other bathroom fixtures were enclosed
by bars. The 4 toilets were built into the wall with sinks
over them. There were 2 showers. All of the bathroom fix
tures were clean and sanitary. The inmates were responsible
for keeping them in that order.
A typical meal consisted of cabbage, potatoes, corn bread,
buttermilk, and coffee. The food was always cold and served
in divided tin-plates, (to further emphasize the desire for
segregation).
The inmates arose at 5:00 a. m. each morning, ate break
fast at 6:30 a. m., and stayed in the dayroom from 6:30 a. m. to
6:30 p. m. The dayroom contained four steel tables, and two
rocking chairs.
There were no recreational activities. Of course, there were
jigsaw puzzles, magazines, etc.
The matrons were Caucasian, but were courteous.
Visiting days were Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00 to
5:00 p. m. Only relatives and ministers were supposed to
visit, but Dr. Manley and Dean Johnson came every day.
The mail was censored. Only letters with two pages were
permitted to come in or go out.
While in jail together, the Clark and Spelman girls de
veloped a desire to have a closer relationship among all of the
schools in the Atlanta University Center.
The students returned to their campuses on October 22
1960.
When asked whether or not she would return to jail,
if arrested again, Marilynn Corrine Pryce replied, “Yes”.
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K N E E L - I N S
(Continued from Page 1)
responded that this had nothing
to do with the matter. After this
reply, another one of the young
women asked him if he would be
holding the doors of the kingdom
of God. He replied, “Yes, I’ll be
there and a host of others, and
you won’t get in there either.”
The young women realized that
they could not enter this church
to worship God, and before leav
ing they told this elderly man
that they would have a conference
with his minister at a later date
to see what could be done.
Slowly these young women
walked back to Spelman’s campus
with tears silently falling from
their eyes. They had not been
permitted to worship the God of
ALL mankind in HIS holy temple.
They had encountered scorn and
hostility. However, they all re
membered one encouraging state
ment which was spoken to t.hpm
by a young white man at the
Park Street Methodist Church,
“I welcome you, and I hope they
won’t always be this way”.
What better place for men to
integrate than in the House of
God where the doctrines of broth
erly love are taught. We are
ALL children of God! What mor
tal has the right to “bar” the
doors of God’s kingdom? We be
lieve in the same God, read the
same Bible, and the same God is
watching over all of us and listen
ing to all our prayers. Any race of
people should be able to sit to
gether to worship the One God
who made them all.
-S-
Spelman Employees
(Continued from Page 2)
as the opportunity to deal con
stantly with students. Mrs. Ses
sion has been honored with gifts
from former members of the stu
dent body for her pleasant per
sonality and excellent service.
• • . •
Mr. E. L. Williams, a native of
Georgia, and surprisingly, a bache
lor has served as an employee
in the Spelman Laundry Service
for thirty years. Mr. Williams is
a World War II veteran. He likes
his work very much, as has been
proven by his period of extended
service.
• • •
Mrs. Lemmie Schell, a native
of Georgia, mother of five chldren
and grandmother to fourteen
children, has been employed as a
member of the Spelman Dry
Cleaning Service for thirty years.
Mrs. Schell said she enjoys work
ing at Spelman.
• • •
Mrs. Sallie Evans, a native of
Georgia and mother of three
children, has served as an em
ployee in the Spelman Laundry
Service for a period of fifteen
years. Prior to this time, she was
a member of the Dining Hall
Staff. Mrs. Evans has not only
kept Spelman girls clean, but has
kept us fed as well.
Mrs. Mattie Harrison, a native
of Georgia, and mother of one
child has been an employee of
the Spelman Laundry and Dry
Cleaning Service for five years.
She stated that she likes her
work and considers her fellow
workers as members of a family.
Mrs. Harrison is a member of the
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, The
Reverend R. Julian Smith, pastor.
• • •
Mrs. Mamie Johnson, a native
of Georgia, wife of Mr. Willie
Johnson, has been employed as a
member of the Laundry and
Dry Cleaning Staff at Spelman
CHRISTMAS IN
OTHER LANDS
(Continued from Page 3)
it and have fun together. On this
day, families invite beggars into
their homes and serve them din
ner. Since there is no Thanksgiv
ing Day, each family feels obligat
ed to do this as a manner of giv
ing thanks. Unlike Dorcas and
Lorna, Cecile does not feel that
American Christmases are too
commercial. She feels that Christ
mas is a time for giving and of
Thanksgiving and that gifts are
a wonderful way to express
thanks.
I thoroughly enjoyed talking to
these young women and obtained
much information about their
countries and how they celebrate
Christmas. I think all of us would
benefit from talking to these girls
and should try to learn more
about them and the customs of
their countries.
for the past fourteen years, all
of which she said have been en
joyable.
• • •
Mrs. Rulh Johnson, a native of
Georgia, has been employed in
the Spelman Laundry Service
for four years. Mrs. Johnson
stated that she finds satisfaction
in her work and she likes the
“Spelman girls”.
MUWWWWVAAAMAAMWWWA/M
DIFFICULTIES WERE
MADE TO BE OVERCOME
IWMAMWIMWIWUWHWHUWIWM
Highlighting....
CHARLES BLACK
By Barbara Adams
In the first of a series of per
sonality sketches of our “Broth
ers” at Morehouse College, the
Spotlight presents Mr. Charles
Black, a junior from Miami,
Florida.
Charles has a major in English
and a minor in mathematics.
After fulfilling his duty to his
country in some branch of the
service and then attending
graduate school, he plans either
to go into the field Of journalism
or teach in college.
Besides serving in the capacity
of editor-in-chief of the Maroon
Tiger, Charles is also an active
member of the Debating Team,
Student Council, Committee on
Appeals for Human Rights, and a
justice of the Student Court.
Charles was one of the many
students arrested in the recent
student movement. He feels that
there will possibly be a desegre
gation of the lunch counters in
Atlanta after the thirty day truce.
To the frequently asked ques
tion, “What do you think about
the relationship between Spelman
and Morehouse?” Charles re
plied that, in his opinion, the pro
blem in this relationship has been
due to the fact that the two
schools have not participated to
gether in enough activities. How
ever, he expects social activities
this year will be better between
the two schools.
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had settled our brains for a long winter’s nap, —
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I spj^mg from my bed to see what was the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below;
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!
Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So, up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys,—and St. Nicholas too.
And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof,
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes how they twinkled; his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, — a right jolly old elf —
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight:
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!”
—Clement C. Moore.
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