East Suffolk High teachers who directly or indirectly had an impact on the use of more than an estimated $15 Billion in the economy

Article 5 volume 12 

   Students taught by ESH teachers from 1939 to 1965 had major roles in jobs dealing with money management and usage in the United States.

Our introduction to life skills generally started when we were in high school.  We knew about teaching and preaching maybe a little about typing and office assistance jobs.  But for the most part, we were lost in knowledge about most occupations. I had never heard of an Accounting occupation until I reached high school.  Many girls aspired to be good homemakers after graduation from high school and maybe get a job in the local labor force.  Many boys just wanted to graduate and get a job at the shipyard or go into military service.  One of my favorite classmates expressed a desire to be a seamstress, and it was clear to me that her skills would be better utilized in education. Well, she had a successful career in education and retired as a principal of a school. Another classmate said he wanted to pursue a career in being a jet pilot. It sounded good to him, but he didn't pursue his dreams.  In my opinion, we just wanted to graduate when entered high school.

After we launched our high school careers, we were taught about how we could function and be successful in so many more occupations.  Thanks to these wonderful teachers we were prepared to pursue careers in jobs that we had never heard about when we entered high school.

Many of these students became millionaires and top executives in government and private industry.  Also, many became successful entrepreneurs.  The root of all this success started in high school.

To be clear, I'm not saying that we earned ** $15 billion. I am saying that we had a role in the movement of at least that amount of money through its many chains in the united states economy.

In the picture associated with this article, you see the teachers and principal at East Suffolk High in 1961.  Every student who went through ESH (East Suffolk High) in its 26-year history, spent some time in the classroom of at least 2 of these teachers.

The $15 billion dollars was calculated based on the ex-students buying homes, selling homes, earning a paycheck, managing a budget, working in money management, or any job that involved money.  

**The formula for the estimated figure is hypothetic and based on the GEB index analysis computation.

    

Copyright 2022. Grady E. Bryant Sr. All Rights Reserved.

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.

   

Remembering the men & women from our communities that served in the military in war and peace times

 Article 2, Volume 12

Memorial Day May 30, 2022

         Just to name a few of the many East Suffolk Alums who served proudly in the military

Looking back, it looks like it was an easy task to serve in the military after high school, or as many did just drop out of school and join the Army.  But it was not really that easy. We were putting our lives on the line for our country.  It does not matter whether we served in peace time or war time, we were making a sacrifice.

Many young men and women from our communities were maimed or killed while serving our country. This story is dedicated to them.  Especially, remembering the soldiers who sacrificed their lives so that we could have a better life in the United States.  

I cannot name all of them, but there were many who joined the military and returned home more focused on what it takes to be a man.  This task was not easy when you consider that the men I'll be talking about came up in the Jim Crow era.  We served in an integrated environment and returned home and saw that the job markets and many other opportunities were closed.  Using our military skills, and knowledge of brotherhood, many of us were able to adjust and make our communities a better place.

I could name many, but I am just going to name a few now. I will continuously expand the list in the future.

   (1) Spear Bullock, dropped out of high school after the 9th grade, joined the Army, became a sergeant, and excelled in the computer field.

   (2) James Savage, dropped out of high school around the 9th grade, joined the Marine corp, became a sergeant, and served honorably during the Vietnam war.

  (3)  Billy Brown, lived on Charlotte Ave, graduated from high school, and served honorably in the Marines during the Vietnam war.

  (4) Ernest Gore Dixon, graduated from high school, joined the Army and became a decorated sergeant, and served in Vietnam.

  (5)  Frank Kahan, graduated from high school and served in Vietnam. Retired as a detective from D.C. Police De[artment.

 (6) Eugene Scott, an outstanding athlete, graduated from high school. Served honorably in the Army.

 (7) Frank Mabry, graduated from high school and served honorably in the Army.

 (8) John Riddick Jr,, brother of Mirian and Yvonne Riddick, served honorably in the Air Force.

 (9) Woodrow Green, lived in the Norfolk Roads community, graduated from high school, and retired as a decorated sergeant from the Army.

 (10) Lawrence Weaver, perhaps one of East Suffolk High's top 20 all-time athletes, graduated from high school, joined the Army, and retired as a sergeant.

 (11) Richard Wheeler, graduated from high school and served in the military.

 (12) Archie Elliott, served in the military. Afterward, he became a noted judge in Portsmouth, Virginia

 (13) Carol Boone, graduated from HS, class of 1958, graduated from Virginia State Univ, served in the military, and retired with the rank of Colonel or higher.

(to be continued)  This list will be perpetually increased

I am receptive to posting names that are sent to me at my email address.

   Copyright 2022 Grady E. Bryant, Sr. All Rights Reserved

Beware! It is really important to keep Black History in the forefront of our youth and adults

Article l Volume 12                                                  March 11, 2022

  I'm going to talk about a lot of different matters that might be of interest to the East Suffolk High community. If you are not interested in this, you might be interested in that as you read through my list. Please, don't be too hard on my writing because I'm still a student of writing; despite having written more than 800 published news articles and stories. It all started in 1958 when I was a sophomore at East Suffolk high.  I was self-appointed to write a weekly news article for Norfolk's Journal and Guide newspaper and shortly after the Suffolk News Herald.

Now, let us visit today's topic:

A.  In Florida they passed a law, banning the teaching of black history or news in schools or state businesses that would make white children or white people uncomfortable. They call it"the feel-good law".

So, in Florida don't teach about all the lynchings that occurred in Florida and the south; don't teach about the Black neighborhood that was burned down in the 1920s and several blacks were killed; don't talk about all the people who were killed and their neighborhood destroyed in the 1920s in Oklahoma; the massacre of elected officials in 1898 in Wilmington, NC; the ban of blacks from attending Bob Jones University, a so-called religious school in Florida ( that is where it was before moving to Greenville, SC) and the list goes on.

Of course, the black folks could say the teaching of white history makes them uncomfortable. This opposition could include talking about how, perhaps, thousands of Indians were killed.

I encourage you to visit the following website and read about the teaching of black history

      https//www.wbcfallschurch@blogspot.com                                                                                                       If that doesn't work just google: warner baptist church my journal

I talk a lot about how we came out of slavery. But consider this, the Jews came out of captivity more than 15 times according to the Bible. They would be delivered, after a few years, then they would be conquered again. So, my message to the Afro- Americans is BEWARE!

B.  I talk a lot about local influential people in Suffolk. Today I'm going to mention 6 people from the Pleasant Hill community.  

    1.  This young man came home from the army and the neighborhood still did not have any water in the community, except by pumps and wells. So, William "Bro" Porter led the drive for public water in the community. Thanks to Mr. Porter we finally got running water in or about 1949. His daughter is Julia Porter a graduate of East Suffolk or she certainly did attend there. 

  2.  Person #2- Amanda Riddick Rogers. She grew up on Baker Street. A tremendous teacher in high school. Also, she is loaded with information about the history of the community. 

  3.  Person #3 - Susie Harrell Bennett, she grew up on Baker Street, in that big house next to the railroad track. The train whistle woke her up every morning and she knew it was time to get busy in preparing to meet the challenges of the day. Very knowledgeable of the community history. Outstanding teacher. Her positive influence helped a lot of students. Can't talk about her without mentioning her spouse, Councilman Leroy Bennett. His concern and work for the community and city are beyond measure. 

   4. -"Bro" Joe Riddick led the drive to get electricity in the community. The county told him he needed a partition and to collect $1.00 from as many families as he could.  He was successful in this drive, but there was one man who refused to give because he did not think we needed electricity in the community.

   5. Dr. Phyllis Bivens-Hudson grew up in the 1960s, in poverty, homelessness, and hunger in the pleasant hill community. She lived in the Pond Town cinder block homes community as well as Duke St and Cementary Street.  She was abused and taken advantage of by many adults. At the age of 16 or 17, with a baby in her arms, living independently, she left Suffolk and went to New Jersey and encountered more hardships, but was able to continue her education and find a better life.  She earned her doctorate degree and taught at Rutgers University. Her book, "Flying on Broken Wings" is very good.

C. My sympathy goes out to the family of Orvel "Arlee" Beamon (I know they started saying Ali,).

Orvel was the greatest athlete, in my opinion, to play football for the school in the history of East Suffolk High. He led East Suffolk High, in 1964, to its only state championship in any sport in the school's history. That year's opponents, all 9 combined scored 20 or fewer points against the Wolverines. The team was also anchored by Fred Ballard, the quarterback, and a few other outstanding players.

I recommend you search this blog site and read the article in 2013, google: Orvel Beamon "the glorious dash".It is one of the best news articles I have ever read about East Suffolk High. Interestingly, the best and most exciting play in the history of East Suffolk High football was the last play in the game against arch-rival, Booker T. Washington of Suffolk, Va. That play was the "glorious dash".

Copyright 2022.Grady E. Bryant, Sr. All rights reserved.

( The top picture was taken in June 2014, the bottom picture in March 2022)

Dr Martin Luther King Jr visit to Suffolk, VA June 28, 1963 drew the largest Afro-American crowd in Suffolk's history

                                   Dr. Martin L. King spoke at Peanut Park    

                                                                                                              January 18, 2021

In May 1963, Dr. C.T. Vivian, a civil rights, Icon met with a group of civic-minded citizens at Union Hall on behalf of Dr. King's group in Atlanta.  Dr. Vivian informed us that Dr. King would be unable to visit Suffolk in June 1963, as planned, due to his workload and tight schedule.

We were disappointed, but we understood because Dr. King was in great demand all over the country, plus, he was making plans for August 28, 1963, the date of the planned Civil Rights March on Washington. 

But lo and behold about two days before the scheduled event Dr. King informed us that he would be able to stop in Suffolk on June 28th. That was good news. Hastily, plans were made, and notices were sent to newspapers and radio stations in the region.

So, on June 28, 1963, more than 7,000 people showed up to see and hear Dr. King. 

There have been many articles about that historic event.  However, my favorite can be found at the following website:  www.esh60.blogspot.com 2013/08/martin 

or: marting luther king jr.grady e. bryant sr.

Also, check thisweb sight for an inspiring MLK holiday message by Rev. Stan Bradby from January 2016.

   www.wbcfallschurch.blogspot.com/2016/01