When the Supreme Court’s groundbreaking decision in the case of Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kan., came down in 1954, the philosophy of “separate but equal” schools was deemed unconstitutional.
Although “segregation of white and negro children in the public schools of a state solely on the basis of race” was the opinion of the highest court in the land, the two separate school systems in Alexander City didn’t merge until 1971.
kAm(:E9 E92E >6C86C[ {2FC6= w:89 $49@@= – H9:49 24EF2==J D6CG65 8C256D @?6 E9C@F89 `a – 462D65 E@ 36 2?5 :ED @=56C AFA:=D 3642>6 A2CE @7 E96 q6?;2>:? #FDD6== w:89 $49@@= DEF56?E 3@5J] %96C6 H6C6 23@FE `[d__ DEF56?ED 2E {w$ – H:E9 23@FE 92=7 @7 E9@D6 :? E96 9:89 D49@@= 8C256D]k^Am
kAmuC@> `hcg E@ `hf_[ {w$ H2D E96 @?=J :?DE:EFE:@? @7 =62C?:?8 E92E 49:=5C6? @7 4@=@C 4@F=5 2EE6?5] %96 @?=J AC:?4:A2= E92E E96 D49@@= 925 7@C :ED aa J62CD @7 @A6C2E:@? :D E96 D2>6 A6CD@? E92E }2E92?:6= w] $E6A96?D t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= :D ?2>65 27E6C]k^Am
kAm“(6 H6C6?’E A6C>:EE65 E@ 8@ E@ WE96 @E96C AF3=:4 D49@@=DX 2E E92E E:>6] x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H >2?J E96J 925[” D2:5 E96 #6G] p=7C65 r@@A6C[ 2 w2=6 r@F?EJ ?2E:G6 H9@ >@G65 E@ p=6I2?56C r:EJ :? `hdd E@ 364@>6 E96 G@42E:@?2= 28C:4F=EFC6 E62496C 7@C {w$ 2?5 7@C H9@> E96 r@@A6C r@>>F?:EJ r6?E6C :D ?2>65] “(96? E96J 4@>A=6E65 E96 >6C86C 2== @7 E96 9:89 D49@@= H2D >@G65] p== @7 E96 9:89 D49@@= WDEF56?EDX H6?E E@ q6?;2>:? #FDD6==] p== @7 E96 ;F?:@C 9:89 WDEF56?EDX H6?E 24C@DD E96 EC24<D E@ p=6I2?56C r:EJ yF?:@C w:89 WH9:49 :D ?@H p=6I2?56C r:EJ |:55=6 $49@@=X] (6 ;FDE <6AE E96 E9:C5 2?5 7@FCE9\8C256 96C6]k^Am
kAm“p== @7 E96 E9:C5 2?5 7@FCE9\8C256CD :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ 42>6 E@ E96 $E6A96?D D49@@=] %96C6 H2D ?@E 2?@E96C WD49@@=X E92E E96J 4@F=5 8@ E@ 2E E92E E:>6]”k^Am
kAmy:> !62CD@? t=6>6?E2CJ DE2CE65 9@=5:?8 4=2DD6D 7@C <:?56C82CE6?[ 7:CDE 2?5 D64@?5\8C256D[ H9:=6 #25?6J t=6>6?E2CJ 9@FD65 E96 7:7E9 2?5 D:IE9 8C256D]k^Am
kAm{w$[ H9:49 H2D =@42E65 H:E9:? E96 D2>6 7@@EAC:?E H96C6 $E6A96?D t=6>6?E2CJ ?@H DE2?5D[ H2D @C:8:?2==J 2 >@56DE H@@56? DECF4EFC6 @? {2FC6= $EC66E E92E H2D CF? 3J E96 #6G] |:=E@? }F??] xED 4=2DD6D H6C6 4C@H565 H:E9 DEF56?ED] }F?? H6?E E@ E96 4:EJ’D q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? 7@C 2DD:DE2?46 3FE 2? :DDF6 @7 >:DD:?8 AC@A6CEJ 5@4F>6?ED <6AE E96> 7C@> 36:?8 23=6 E@ 96=A 3642FD6 E96 3@2C5 ?66565 E96 D49@@= 8C@F?5D 566565 E@ E96> 7:CDE] (96? E96 A2A6CH@C< 2AA62C65 G:2 2 E@H? 4:E:K6? ?2>65 {:KK:6 r@CAC6H[ H9@ H2D 8:G6? E96 =2?5 E:E=6D 3J 96C 9FD32?5[ t=36CE[ 2?@E96C >66E:?8 H2D 42==65 H:E9 E96 65F42E:@?2= 3@2C5 :? E96 E96?\r2C=:D=6’D sCF8 $E@C6 H96C6 E96 AC@A6CEJ H2D EFC?65 @G6C E@ E96 4:EJ]k^Am
kAm%92E 7:CDE 4:G:42==J 7F?565 3F:=5:?8 H2D 2 3C:4< DECF4EFC6 E92E DE@@5 H96C6 $E6A96?D t=6>6?E2CJ :D E@52J] z?@H? 2D p=6I2?56C r:EJ r@=@C65 $49@@=[ :E E2F89E 49:=5C6? @?=J E9C@F89 E96 ?:?E9 8C256] q6EH66? `hcc 2?5 `hce 8C256D `_[ `` 2?5 `a H6C6 25565 @?6 A6C J62C[ E9@F89] &A F?E:= `hce prr$ DEF56?ED H9@ H2?E65 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96:C 65F42E:@? 925 E@ =62G6 E@H? E@ 2EE6?5 9:89 D49@@= :? A=246D =:<6 r2>A w:==[ $J=242F82[ r@EE286 vC@G6 2?5 {272J6EE6]k^Am
kAm(96? {w$ H2D 3@C?[ }2E92?:6= w] $E6A96?D H2D 42==65 :? E@ 36 :ED AC:?4:A2=] w6 H2D @C:8:?2==J 7C@> t=>@C6 r@F?EJ 3FE =:G65 :? |@?E8@>6CJ] sFC:?8 E96 H66< 96k^Am
kAm96 =:G65 :? 2 9@FD6 25;246?E E@ E96 D49@@=[ 3FE @? E96 H66<6?5D 2?5 9@=:52JD 96 H6?E 324< E@ E96 42A:E2=]k^Am
kAm“|C] $E6A96?D H2D 2? 65F42E@C[ 2 G6CJ 8@@5 @?6[” D2:5 r@@A6C] “w6 H2D 2 5624@? :? 9:D 49FC49] w6 H2D 2 4@>>F?:EJ A6CD@? W2?5X 96 H2D E9@C@F89=J 4@>>:EE65 E@ 65F42E:?8 3@JD 2?5 8:C=D] x7 96 H2D ?66565[ 96 H@F=5 36 E96C6]”k^Am
kAm%92E 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 65F42E:@? :?4=F565 9:> DEC6DD:?8 E@ 9:D 65F42E@CD E92E E96J D9@F=5 AC@G:56 DECF4EFC6 2?5 2 =@G:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E E@ E96 49:=5C6? :? E96:C 492C86] w6 2=D@ 76=E E92E 2 4@?D:DE6?E 4@??64E:@? E@ DA:C:EF2=:EJ @F89E E@ 36 >2:?E2:?65]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ r@@A6C[ 6G6CJ uC:52J E96C6 H2D 2 >2?52E@CJ 2DD6>3=J]k^Am
kAm“w6 76=E =:<6 E96 D49@@= D9@F=5 E2<6 E:>6 @FE 7@C 56G@E:@? 2?5 E@ D:?8[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm{w$ H2D 2 3:E @G6C4C@H565] tG6? E9@F89 E96C6 H6C6 23@FE bd E62496CD @? DE277[ r@@A6C D2:5 E92E “:E H2D ?@E9:?8 E@ 92G6 bd WDEF56?EDX :? 2 4=2DD” @C D@>6E:>6D 6G6? >@C6]k^Am
kAm#682C5=6DD @7 E96 D<6H65 ?F>36CD[ E96 <:5D @7 {w$ 8@E 2=@?8 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE 2?5 D2H E96:C D49@@= 2D >@C6 E92? ;FDE 2 A=246 E@ =62C? 324< 367@C6 E96 x?7@C>2E:@? p86 H96? E96C6 H6C6 76H 42CD 2?5 ?@ 82586ED E@ <66A 6G6CJ@?6 :? E@F49 2?5 2H2C6]k^Am
kAm“vC@H:?8 FA 2D 2 49:=5[ 8@:?8 E@ D49@@= H2D E96 36DE E:>6 E@ >6 – >@DE=J :E H2D 2 >66E\2?5\8C66E[” D2:5 p]y] y@?6D[ E96 4FCC6?E s:C64E@C @7 E96 r@@A6C r@>>F?:EJ r6?E6C 2?5 2 >6>36C @7 E96 4=2DD @7 `heh[ H9:49 H2D E96 ?6IE E@ =2DE 4=2DD E@ 8C25F2E6 7C@> {w$] “pD E96 @?=J D49@@= E92E 3=24<D H6?E E@[ J@F 8@E E@ D66 A6@A=6 H9@ =:G65 @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E@H?] xE H2D E96 @?=J 492?46 E@ D66 E96>]k^Am
kAm“%96 DEF56?E 3@5J H2D 2 4=@D6\<?:E 8C@FA] x7 J@F H6C6 2 ?:?E9 8C256C @C 2 `_E9 8C256C @C H92E6G6C[ J@F H6C6 4=@D6 E@ 6G6CJ3@5J :? J@FC 4=2DD]”k^Am
kAm~C82?:K65 2E9=6E:4D 7@C E96 DEF56?ED :?4=F565 2 EC24< DBF25[ 2 7@@E32== E62> 2?5 2 4966C=625:?8 4C6H[ 3FE :E H2D 32D<6E32== E92E E96J C62==J C2==:65 2C@F?5] x? `hea E96 {w$ v@=56? w@C?6ED H@? E96 DE2E6 32D<6E32== 492>A:@?D9:A]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ y@?6D[ H9@ A=2J65 7@C E96 v@=56? w@C?6ED :? E96 >:5 E@ =2E6 `he_D[ E96J ?:4<?2>65 E96:C 8J> “%96 r2DE=6” 3642FD6 “H6 5:5?’E =@D6 E@@ >2?J 82>6D E96C6]” pE E96 E:>6[ “%96 r2DE=6” H2D @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE 8J>D :? E96 DE2E6] q2D<6E32== H2D DF49 E96 C286 7@C E96 DEF56?ED E92E 2 4=2DD E@FC?2>6?E H2D C68F=2C=J 96=5 7@C 8C256D D6G6? E9C@F89 `a]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E96J 8@E 2 8J>?2D:F> E96 J62C 367@C6 x 42>6 W:? `hddX[” D2:5 r@@A6C] “q67@C6 E92E[ E96J A=2J65 :? H92E E96J 42==65 ‘W%96X |2E493@I]’ *@F 4@F=5?’E D9@@E ?@E9:?8 3FE =:?6 5C:G6D :? :E]”k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 E92? 2 564256[ 36D:56D E96 E62496CD 2?5 4@2496D[ $E6A96?D H2D {w$’D @?=J 25>:?:DEC2E@C @? 42>AFD]k^Am
kAm“u@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ 96 ?6G6C 925 2? 2DD:DE2?E ?2>65 7C@> E96 3@2C5 W@7 65F42E:@?X[” r@@A6C D2:5] “w6 5:5?’E 92G6 2 D64C6E2CJ] w6 5:5?’E 92G6 2 EC62DFC6C @C 2 3@@<<66A6C] w6 5:5?’E 92G6 2 D49@@= 4@F?D6=@C[ 6:E96C] x E9:?< E96 =2DE 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD 96 8@E 2 D64C6E2CJ]”k^Am
kAmr@@A6C DE@AA65 E6249:?8 G@42E:@?2= 28C:4F=EFC6 E@ 364@>6 $E6A96?D’ 7:CDE 2DD:DE2?E AC:?4:A2=] r@@A6C H2D D64@?5 :? 4@>>2?5 7@C E96 =2DE EH@ J62CD @7 E96 D49@@=’D 6I:DE6?46 2?5 E96? 7:CDE AC:?4:A2= 2E E96 ?6H=J :?E68C2E65 pryw[ 2 A@DE 96 96=5 F?E:= `hgb]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 E96 >2?J 92ED E92E $E6A96?D H@C6 H6C6 E9@D6 @7 E96 D49@@=’D 92== >@?:E@C[ D64FC:EJ 2?5 5:D4:A=:?2C:2?] w6 H2D <?@H? 7@C 92G:?8 2 5:DE:?4E:G6=J 3@@>:?8 G@:46[ H9:49 42>6 :? 92?5J – 6DA64:2==J :? E96 92==D @7 {w$ H96? 96 H@F=5 42== 2 DEF56?E @FE 7@C 24E:?8 FA]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F 8@E @FE @7 =:?6 96 925 E92E A255=6[” D2:5 y@?6D] “w6’5 AFE :E @? J@F W2?5X J@F’5 DEC2:89E6? C:89E FA]”k^Am
kAm(96? E96 >6C86C @44FCC65[ $E6A96?D H6?E @? E@ H@C< 7@C E96 D2>6 6?E:EJ E92E J62CD 367@C6 925 E2AA65 9:> E@ 364@>6 E96 AC:?4:A2= @7 {w$] w6 H2D E96 p=6I2?56C r:EJ q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@?’D 7:CDE 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 6>A=@J66 @7 4@=@C]k^Am
kAm“W$E6A96?DX H2D E96 7:CDE 3=24< E@ H@C< :? E96 46?EC2= @77:46 2D 2? W2DD:DE2?E DFA6C:?E6?56?EX] %96J W2=C625JX 925 ;2?:E@CD 2?5 E9:?8D =:<6 E92E[” D2:5 r@@A6C]k^Am
kAm%96 5:DD@=FE:@? @7 {2FC6= w:89 :? `hf_ C6DF=E65 :? E96 7:CDE 7F==J :?E68C2E65 4=2DD @7 q#w$ :? `hf`] pE =62DE 7@C E96 7:CDE D:I J62CD[ r@@A6C A2:5 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 8@:?8D\@? 2E E96 9:89 D49@@= 2?5 ?@E:465 E92E E96 >F=E:4@=@C65 F?:@? AC6D6?E65 G6CJ =:EE=6 AC@3=6>D] qJ E96 E:>6 :?E68C2E:@? 24EF2==J 92AA6?65 >2?J @7 E96 DEF56?ED 925 <?@H? @C <?@H? @7 6249 @E96C 7@C J62CD]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 2 D>@@E9 EC2?D:E:@?[” r@@A6C D2:5] “(6 925 2 76H 3F>AD 2?5 3CF:D6D 3FE ?@E9:?8 >2;@C]k^Am
kAm“%96? Wq#w$X ;FDE C@==65 @? 2?5 H6?E 7C@> E96C6]”k^Am
