Vote: When we were Negroes we were deprived of basic rights in Suffolk, VA. Now we are African Americans. Any differences?

THIS ARTICLE IS A REPRINT OF ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR ARTICLES. ARE OVERALL CONDITIONS BETTER TODAY, OR ARE WE DANCING TO THE SAME OLD SONG WITH DIFFERENT  TECHNIQUES TO DEPRIVE OR DECEIVE US?

Article 3 Volume 5

Part 2                                                                         November 3, 2014

The 1956 Year: Past Results of being denied the right to vote

When we were Negroes we were denied so many basic rights.  Especially the right to participate in the political system.  For the most part, we just did not know that much about the system.  Voting rights were not taught in Negro schools. Mostly, we were taught about old uneventful things.

The local newspaper did not put any emphasis on voting rights and the three television stations from Norfolk did not run many stories about civil rights.  But then, it may not have mattered because only an estimated 15 percent of Negroes had a television in their homes.  

For example, I have a newspaper article, from the '50s where a fellow student at East Suffolk High gave a presentation about how good things were in South Africa.

In 1956 the Negroes, except maybe a few, were not allowed to vote in Suffolk, VA

Ten consequences of being unable to vote in Suffolk in 1956 were:

   1.  Federal and Virginia funds that were designated for Colored children were used for other purposes in the school system. Therefore, the hiring of new teachers, and building new or expanding the existing schools were hindered.  Just think, East Suffolk High only had 18 teachers.  Because those funds were not allocated properly, school buses were not bought. Therefore, some children had to walk two to three miles to school and back home every day. Rain, snow, sleet or hail, it didn't matter.

   2. Many of the books sent to the Colored children's schools were used books from the White children's schools.  In 1960, some of our school books were in use in 1943.    ( this information is in the public records).

   3. High school education only went to the eleventh grade.  Whereas, Suffolk High required 12 years of education to graduate.  The thinking, was perhaps if the Negroes graduated early, the school system would save money and a fresh group of youths would be available for the local labor market. 

   4.  The restrooms and water fountains in stores and government buildings were segregated.  So, when Blacks went shopping downtown, they had to be prepared to hold it until they got back home because the restrooms might be locked or unclean.

  5.  The public buses were segregated. Negroes had to sit in the back seats and whites upfront.

  6.  Running water did not exist in most communities.  No running water also meant no indoor toilets.

  7. No elected politicians.  Although the Negroes were in the majority, they did not have a voice in the decision-making process.

8.  Office and store clerk jobs were not offered.  Mostly, Negroes were given labor jobs at such factories as Planters Peanuts and the Butter Dish. The wages generally were about $.90 an hour.  

   

9.  Decent housing was generally unavailable. In 1949, in the Pleasant Hill community, in a section called Pond Town, approximately 50 cinder block houses were built for the Colored.  By 1969 or shortly thereafter, the whole community was gone along with all of those outhouses.

10. Hospital care was limited.  In 1949, an estimated 90 percent of the Negro babies born in Suffolk were in private homes. Why? Because hospital care was offered on a limited basis.  There were primarily two Black doctors who served the black citizens of  Suffolk and Nansemond county. So, If you went to the doctor's office for a common cough, you had to be prepared to spend eight hours in the waiting room. The long wait was an eventuality, even if you had an appointment. 

Just think, if our parents had had the right to vote, all of the above conditions or circumstances may have been avoided.

Those were the conditions we faced when we were Negroes in 1956.  Some of them still existed in subsequent years.  Now that we are African Americans or Black, we need to have a different mentality. Do we? 

Treasure the right to vote.  Go to the poll and cast your vote.  Otherwise, you will be, in my opinion, still be a Negro or Colored proclaiming to be Black or Afro-American. 

(for the record: My birth certificate lists me as a Negro. I can't change that, but through my actions and living, I can be an African-American, Colored, Black, Negro, or Native American as long as i am willing to help make living conditions better. In reality, I'm a descendant of the Chowan Indians in Gates County, NC.  

Vote! Vote! Vote on November 5th.  A lot of people died so that you can have that right.

                               Copyright 2014. Grady E. Bryant, Sr. All Rights Reserved.

     Reprint  Copyright. September 2022. All Rights Reserved.