Vote? Who me? Why should I vote? Wow! You are educated but less informed than I thought

Article 2 Volume 5  (Originally published September 14, 2014)

Part 1

Many Sacrifices were made in Suffolk for the  right to vote 

Now, when we go to the polls it is such an easy process to vote. People greet you, smile, offer you a cup of coffee, and thank you for participating.

It was not always that simple and easy for the Afro-Americans in Suffolk to go to the polls and vote.

I remember Moses Riddick and some others who fought a vigilant fight just for the Blacks to be able to go to the polls.

In East Suffolk High and I believe Booker T. Washington High, voting was a non-issue subject.

I mean we just did not talk about it. I was an A student in civics, but discussing our rights to vote in city, county, state, or federal elections was never discussed.

Looking back, I believe teachers were not allowed to talk and teach about civil rights issues.

In high school, I was a member of the NAACP youth group, under the leadership of Rayfield Vines. We met in Union Hall. Seemingly, most of our members were students at Booker T. We could talk at the meetings but could not take our agenda back to the classroom.                                                          

After military service, in the fall of 1963, I woke up one morning, looked at my military ID and accomplishments, and just let a spirit get a hold of me, and take me to city hall to register to vote. I felt good about my chances.  

As I walked in the door, I was greeted politely, led to a desk, and asked to pay a poll tax of $3.00. Wow, this is going good, I mused.  After about 20 minutes of waiting a clerk came looked and greeted me and confirmed that I was a Negro. ( this was before the Afro-American designation was used) Then after two minutes, she left the room.

About ten minutes later, two deputy sheriffs came and stood at the door.

About fifteen minutes later, I started to get a little nervous.  I'm wondering what is going on and why did I come here by myself. Maybe, I should have called Moses Riddick or the NAACP and told them of my plans. I mean, I just got out of the Army.  Some of my best friends were white. So, I said to myself everything is going to be all right.

After another ten minutes of waiting, a 300-plus-pound, white man, with big round eyeglasses, and a cigar in his mouth came in and sat across from me, blew some smoke in my face, and quickly apologized.  He introduced himself as Mr. Columbus. He asked the clerk to bring in the book.  I'm thinking of a registration book. It was a 400-page book that included the Constitution of the United States. 

He asked me to study the book for 5 minutes and he would return.

After 5 minutes, he came back into the room.  After a few words, he asked me to recite two pages of the Constitution, from memory and name all the Presidents of the United States before the year 1800.

Before I even started, I told him I could not fulfill his request.  

Mr. Columbus told me that he was sorry, but he could not register me to vote.  He thanked me for my military service and wished me well.  I was escorted out by the two deputies who were waiting at the door.  

I was happy to hit the street.  But I could not help, but think, "Military veteran or not, things have not changed for me in this city."

Part 2 (to be continued) (will be re-published on August 9, 2024

I will explain why you are still a Negro if you do not register and vote.

Copyright 2024 Grady E. Bryant, Sr. All Rights Reserved..

Worldwide Recognition For East Suffolk High's 1960 Miss Homecoming Queen , Audrey Boone and her attendants, Lenora Barnes and Brenda Ricks

                                   The above picture shows the crowning of the Homecoming Queen for the East Suffolk High Class of 1960 in November 1959.  The picture left to right:  The exquisite Lenora Barnes, attendant, in her dainty attire; the beautiful Audrey Boone in her appealing outfit, being crowned by Lowell Turner, principal, and the eloquent dressed and attractive Brenda Ricks, attendant.

 Article 4 Volume 14     Part 1

            EAST SUFFOLK HIGH'S JOURNAL

    October 1959 was a very busy month for the senior class at ESH.  They worked extra hard to prepare for the Homecoming game that was scheduled for October 30, 1959.  In September 1959 the student body had voted on which students would serve as the queen and her two attendants.  They elected Audrey Boone as queen and the two runner-ups were her attendants. They were Lenora Barnes and Brenda Ricks 

   So in preparation, we rented a top back sedan from a local car dealer and put in extra work for decoration for that upcoming celebration.  The whole student body was excited and anxiously waiting for that nite to show off at Peanut Park.  The football game would feature  St. Emma High against the East Suffolk Wolverines.

   On Thursday, October 29th it started to rain, and it continued on into Friday, October 3oth. At noon, it was still raining, and the football field was soaking wet.  Due to the weather conditions, the game was postponed until  November 13, 1959.  We couldn't play the makeup game the following week because we were scheduled to play our cross-town rival, Booker T Washington Bears in what was slated to be our final game of the year on November  6th.

   The following week we lost to the Bears by more than two touchdowns.  On Monday, November 9th, Coach Fitz Turner had a team meeting.  He informed us that he was unable to reschedule the game for this week.  Therefore, the season was over.  His parting words to the team were, "You birds were awful against the Bears.  Enjoy the off-season." So, our game against the Bears turned out to be Coach Turner's last game at East Suffolk High.  Until that point, he was the only head coach in the school's football history. ( I don't know when the football program started at ESH, but my unconfirmed review indicates it was in 1946).

PART II 

        THE HOMECOMING CELEBRATION AND CROWING OF THE QUEEN

   Since we were unable to have the football game. school officials decided that we would still celebrate the event on campus on Friday, November 13th.  

   On the day of the celebration, classes were dismissed at 2 p.m., and the student body got an opportunity to cheer the queen and her attendants as they rode around campus in the convertible new car, just waving at the onlookers.  

   It turned out to be, perhaps the best Homecoming celebration in the school's history. The whole student body got a chance to witness a Homecoming event in person.

go to Grady E. Bryant on Facebook for a picture and the rest of the story, posted on July 12, 2024.

  

Parris Carson was deemed East Suffolk High's 1960 "Athlete of the Year"

 Article 3 Volume 14                             EAST SUFFOLK HIGH'S JOURNAL

Three students were considered for this honor by the school's Press Club, in part, select students from the senior class and news outlets' publications. Parris Carson was deemed the winner. He led East Suffolk High to its first-ever district championship.  Also, he had a stellar junior year on the team.  He was more than a basketball player.  He was one of the most beloved students in the class, He was active in the choir and creative dance club.

Parris passed away on October 12, 2023, in his home in Suffolk, Virginia.  You can read more info at the Harris Funeral Home website.

 Chester Steward, a two-letter athlete in football and baseball, and Ashley Taylor, a two-letter athlete in basketball and track and field, finished second and third respectively in the selection process

A picture of the team is published below:

The iconic starting five were front row:, left to right:  James Ricks; Ashley Taylor; Leroy Biggs:    Parris Carson, and Richard Wheeler. Mack Benn, Jr was the coach of this talented team.

East Suffolk High's 1960 Girls Basketball Team: A variety of beautiful girls in basketball uniforms

Article 2 Volume 14

The 1960 girls' basketball team played hard at both ends of the court.  In those days it was actually two games in one.  Three girls played defense at one end of the court, and if the offensive opponent missed a shot and the defense got the rebound, then they would pass the ball to their offensive teammates at the other end of the court so they could score or try to at their end.  This is the process they endeared for 4 eight-minute quarters. I can remember being impressed with the performances of Marylene Bolling, Sylvia Beamon, and Mary Langston.  They had a winning record.  They were coached by Miss Helen Spencer, a stern coach who made sure the team stayed focused on the task at hand. The task? Play to win.

I would welcome any news anybody can send to me about this team

at my email address: flashbryant@aol.com 

I wonder if there is anyone alive who can name all the girls in the picture.  If so, share the good news with us. if not all, as many as you can.
 

Nominees for East Suffolk High's 1960 Athlete of the Year, Ashley Taylor, Parris Carson and Chester Steward

Article 1, Volume 14             May 28, 2024

 The nominations and selection of Athlete of the Year (AOY) recognition occurred in May 1960 by a select group of randomly selected seniors.  The results were never published.  So, based on my memory and newspaper clippings from 65 years ago, I will present the nominees.  

1, The first nominee is Ashley Taylor

Ashley was considered a dominant force on the Boy's basketball team.  He was a big man who protected the rim and made it easier for the shooters. His role was huge in ESH's first and only District Championship in basketball.  But what really put him on the list was his outstanding performance on the track team.  Sometimes it seems as though he was a one-man team.  He represented the school very well in track. Benjamin Davis, Jr. was the team's coach.

2. The second nominee is Parris Carson

Parris was exceptional in basketball. He led ESH to its first regular season District Championship.  He averaged about 20 points per game and was considered one of the best players in the state.  Before Parris and the senior core group, of Richard Wheeler, James Ricks, Leon Copeland, Thomas Luster, and Ernest Williams became winners, home games generally attracted less than 50 students. In their senior year, typically, there was standing room only at home games. Parris's outstanding play earned him a scholarship to Elizabeth City College in North Carolina.  Of course, Coach Mack Benn gets credit for the team's development and play.

3. The third nominee is Chester Steward

Chester was one of the top players on the football team.  He was the center.  He showed outstanding leadership ability.  His play was solid.  He also played for a college after graduation.  The team also featured several other seniors including Leon Copeland, Shirley Ford, Harry Mayfield, Thomas Luster, Lawrence Everett, Mickey Almond, and 2-year all-county offensive tackle Grady Bryant.

Chester was a solid, reliable fielder and batter on the baseball team.  His leadership was evident.  He was a 2 letter athlete. He was considered to be the team's MVP. The team was also bolstered by Thurman "Bump" Patillo, a skillful outfielder, Cubby Wright, a four-year catcher, who had the honor of being considered ESH's GOAT catcher, and pitchers Arthur Simmons and Arthur Whitaker.

The three names above were the nominees.  Next week, June 7th,  I will publish for the first time, the winner of the AOY recognition citation for 1960.  McCoy Ricks was the unanimous winner in 1959.  He received a football scholarship to Kentucky State University. Other players who received votes were:  Lawrence Weaver, a 4-year starter in football and baseball; Parris Carson; and William Harell-Porter who had outstanding years in football and baseball in his freshman and sophomore years, then fell in love his junior year, but then got his passion back for the games, and had a very good year in both sports in his senior year. After graduation, he played for a college team in North Carolina before playing for an Army team in Germany.

ESH also had a girls' basketball team. Their setup was 6 players on the floor.  3 on defense at one end of the court and 3 on offense at the other end. The players could not cross the half-court line,  They generally played during or right after school hours.  They got only a little recognition because their games weren't covered by the school's reporter or made available to the local newspaper.  They had a winning record and they won the District Championship one year.  The outstanding senior players included Sylvia Beamon, Marylene Bolling, and Mary Langston. Their coach was Miss Helen Spencer.