Monthly Archives: February 2012

“In 1967, eight [black students] showed up at the Junior High School. I went into the principal’s office that day, and they were sitting there looking scared to death. I could not help but feel sorry for them, knowing that … Continue reading →

“After doing some investigating, my friend Hite McLean, a leader in the Citizens Council, brought me some notes about the three [black girls registered at Greenwood  High School], stating that Mayrene [Washington] was escorted to school by L.C. McSwine, a … Continue reading →

“Of all the disturbing incidents which occurred during the troublesome ’60s, none affected us so personally as school integration, which began in the fall of 1966. Since 1954 we had known that it would happen someday, but I guess we … Continue reading →

“One of the scariest situations that we found ourselves in during all of the racial incidents was at Mississippi Valley State College in February, 1970. The all-black college had been founded in 1950 and Dr. J.H.White, a black, had been … Continue reading →

“The St. Francis Mission is entirely separate from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, and most of those at the mission had come to Greenwood from other parts of the country. They played an active role in all the … Continue reading →

“On June 5 [1968] sixty-one merchants asked Chancery Judge William Bizzell for an injunction against twelve individuals, the ‘Greenwood Movement,’ and all those acting in concert with them. I attended a hearing on the matter which began on June 12 … Continue reading →

“A few days later an open letter to the citizens of Leflore County was widely distributed, urging representatives of the white community, particularly city officials and businessmen, to meet with representatives of the Movement to discuss steps to ‘remove the … Continue reading →

“In late 1967 ‘The Greenwood Movement for Progress’ was organized by some of the black activists along with Catholic priests and nuns at the St. Francis of Assisi Center. An effort was made to boycott downtown merchants during the Christmas … Continue reading →

“King again came to Greenwood two weeks before his slaying and spoke to a large gathering at one of the black churches. He was picked up at the airport under pretty heavy security because we certainly did not want anything … Continue reading →

“[Martin Luther] King led the group up the wide front walk of the Court House and took his stand on the steps. A large crowd gathered around him, including marchers, some Court House employees, law enforcement personnel, and newsmen and … Continue reading →