Article 1 Volume 8 February 28, 2018
We are Black History. The folks of yesteryear did a lot to open the windows of opportunities we now enjoy. But the trail blazers of later years have helped open the doors even wider.
Sometimes changes occur and there is no single individual who we can look up to and say he or she led us out of the economic, social injustice,, educational, employment inequities, and whatever other kind of bondage we encountered and lived with through the years in Suffolk, Virginia.
It was not that many years ago that the following conditions were prevalent in the city of Suffolk and Nansemond County (merged with the city in the 70's). Most of these conditions existed in the 50's and 60's.
1. Very few blacks were hired for clerks and cashiers in stores and banks.
2. Negroes had to sit in the back seats on the city buses (some bus drivers did not always enforce this policy)
3. Education funds from the State and Federal government that were designated for black schools were used for other purposes. Therefore, the schools went lacking of needed resources for years. Many of the books we used at East Suffolk High were used books from the white schools.
4. The black high schools only went to grade 11. East Suffolk High first 12th grade graduation was in 1958.
5. Colored citizens were denied the right to register and vote in most cases. We had to pay a poll tax of $3.00 and quote a half page of the constitution or some other mundane reading task. Even if we did that, registering was not likely to occur. I know, I experienced it.
6. The first black deputies were hired in the 50's. They could only arrest black folks (there may have been some exceptions).
(It is 4:15 am . To be continued)
Black History Continually Evolves
We are Black History. The folks of yesteryear did a lot to open the windows of opportunities we now enjoy. But the trail blazers of later years have helped open the doors even wider.
Sometimes changes occur and there is no single individual who we can look up to and say he or she led us out of the economic, social injustice,, educational, employment inequities, and whatever other kind of bondage we encountered and lived with through the years in Suffolk, Virginia.
It was not that many years ago that the following conditions were prevalent in the city of Suffolk and Nansemond County (merged with the city in the 70's). Most of these conditions existed in the 50's and 60's.
1. Very few blacks were hired for clerks and cashiers in stores and banks.
2. Negroes had to sit in the back seats on the city buses (some bus drivers did not always enforce this policy)
3. Education funds from the State and Federal government that were designated for black schools were used for other purposes. Therefore, the schools went lacking of needed resources for years. Many of the books we used at East Suffolk High were used books from the white schools.
4. The black high schools only went to grade 11. East Suffolk High first 12th grade graduation was in 1958.
5. Colored citizens were denied the right to register and vote in most cases. We had to pay a poll tax of $3.00 and quote a half page of the constitution or some other mundane reading task. Even if we did that, registering was not likely to occur. I know, I experienced it.
6. The first black deputies were hired in the 50's. They could only arrest black folks (there may have been some exceptions).
(It is 4:15 am . To be continued)
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