Monthly Archives: January 2012

“I was in Barrett’s Drugstore on the corner of Howard and Washington streets just a block from the theater one day. Garrard Barrett, the owner, and I were discussing the theater situation and agreeing that the city should try to … Continue reading →

“A mass political rally was held on July 20 as a preliminary event for the arrival of Dr. Martin Luther King, who was bringing eight in his party and was to speak at two rallies to be held at the … Continue reading →

“On September 4 the Justice Department, in a suit released at Greenville Federal Court, charged Greenwood officials with ‘failing to provide adequate police protection for Negroes at an integrated theater and asked a three-judge Federal court to correct the situation.‘ … Continue reading →

“That same day [July 16, 1964] the police had arrested 111 civil rights pickets on charges of violating the state law against picketing. This was the third so-called ‘freedom day’ held that year, and this one was made up of … Continue reading →

“A 21-year-old white Harvard student, Phillip Moore from Illinois, said Z.A.Prewitt, a local restaurant owner, hit him three times on the head near the SNCC headquarters. Prewitt was fined $25 on assault and battery charges. “One of the most frightening … Continue reading →

“On July 10 the Executive Committee of the Greenwood Citizens Council urged owners of businesses affected by the Civil Rights Bill to ‘resist its enforcement by all lawful means.’ In a five-point statement they promised support to anyone involved in … Continue reading →

“It was a very busy time for me because along with all the other trouble, there were almost daily reports of Negro churches being burned and Negro crowds gathering in front of white-owned stores in their section of town and … Continue reading →

“I will never forget that Fourth of July, a Sunday [1964]. I rode through downtown to see if everything was quiet and noticed there was only one American flag flying on a day when normally there would have been flags … Continue reading →

“One black family which was to play a prominent role in the integration activities that summer [1964] was the McGhee family. The mother, Laura McGhee, was both mean and crazy. She had caused a scene at the Red Cross office … Continue reading →

“I sat on the back porch one morning and wrote a letter to my former neighbor and good friend, Marge Doyle in St. Clairsville, Ohio, but I never mailed it for fear she might not fully understand our feeling of … Continue reading →