"Any white kid who tried to be our friend was immediately saddled with the label “nigger lover” and became a target for violence. Since the reward for being friendly toward us was to get beaten up, there were only a few students who chose to do so."
March 30, 2014
The following questions were posed by students working on history projects:
Interviewer: What was the first day like for you at Central?
The first day was frightening and scary for the most part. Several students left class when I walked in saying they refused to go to school with niggers. I was on guard all day because many students pushed and shoved me around, and called me names.
Interviewer: What was it like in the classroom? How did teachers act or treat you?
The classrooms were scary places since the same kind of behavior mentioned above was present there as well. In the main, the teachers were not happy to see the nine of us. My English teacher asked me why I wanted to go to their school since I had a school of my own. A few teachers were supportive, and tried to make life easier for us by telling the white students not to bother us but most were “neutral.”
Interviewer: How did you find the courage to continue?
Part of the answer lies in the fact that I knew what we were doing was the right thing to do; you will be surprised to find how much you can accomplish when you know without doubt that your mission is righteous. Also, I knew as well that hundreds of people had died in the fight for justice before I even arrived on the scene. I could not disrespect their efforts by saying no to my opportunity to be involved in the same struggle.
Interviewer: Where did you go to escape the tension during that year?
Often I would retreat to the school library where the librarian maintained a rather strict environment; no nonsense was allowed. Also, since the nine of us had to sign an affidavit declaring that we would not engage in any extracurricular activities at Central, we could leave school after classes and escape the tension that way as well.
Interviewer: Was the education at Central better than the education at your former school?
No. In fact one of the key elements in any educational process is to make the student feel loved and accepted. While this was evident at my old school, at Central I was vilified and harassed. The academic curriculum was virtually the same but the manner of delivery was not!
Interviewer: What was the first day like for you at Central?
The first day was frightening and scary for the most part. Several students left class when I walked in saying they refused to go to school with niggers. I was on guard all day because many students pushed and shoved me around, and called me names.
Interviewer: What was it like in the classroom? How did teachers act or treat you?
The classrooms were scary places since the same kind of behavior mentioned above was present there as well. In the main, the teachers were not happy to see the nine of us. My English teacher asked me why I wanted to go to their school since I had a school of my own. A few teachers were supportive, and tried to make life easier for us by telling the white students not to bother us but most were “neutral.”
Interviewer: How did you find the courage to continue?
Part of the answer lies in the fact that I knew what we were doing was the right thing to do; you will be surprised to find how much you can accomplish when you know without doubt that your mission is righteous. Also, I knew as well that hundreds of people had died in the fight for justice before I even arrived on the scene. I could not disrespect their efforts by saying no to my opportunity to be involved in the same struggle.
Interviewer: Where did you go to escape the tension during that year?
Often I would retreat to the school library where the librarian maintained a rather strict environment; no nonsense was allowed. Also, since the nine of us had to sign an affidavit declaring that we would not engage in any extracurricular activities at Central, we could leave school after classes and escape the tension that way as well.
Interviewer: Was the education at Central better than the education at your former school?
No. In fact one of the key elements in any educational process is to make the student feel loved and accepted. While this was evident at my old school, at Central I was vilified and harassed. The academic curriculum was virtually the same but the manner of delivery was not!