East Suffolk High: Looking back thru Grady E. Bryant

Monday, August 28, 2023

Summer of 1963: Dr. Martin Luther spoke at Peanut Park In Suffolk, and 60 days later, he gave the "I had a dream" speech in D.C.

Article 2 Volume 13 August 28, 2023

Dr. Martin Luther King's speech at the Lincoln Memorial on this date in 1963, informed the citizens and the US government what African Americans wanted in the United States. The speech wasn't just about Dr. King's dream, it was about the demand by Civil Rights organizations for the right to vote, full access to jobs and education, and an end to segregated public accommodations. This speech resonated with people worldwide.

Background

In the Spring of 1963, I returned to the United States after a 2-year tour of military duty in France. I spent 30 days in Suffolk before reporting to Ft Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It was a challenge for me to return to all the segregation that existed in the city. Things were just different to me, after living in an integrated environment for two years. I adjusted because I was still in the military. I got involved with the local NAACP. We were making plans for Dr. King to visit Suffolk in June. However, in late May, Dr. Freddie Shuttlesworth met with us in Union Hall and advised that Dr. King would be unable to come in June due to his demanding schedule. Dr. Shuttlesworth gave us a good encouraging speech.

Then, on or about June 22, 1963, Dr. King sent word that he would be able to stop in Suffolk on June 28, 1963. That was good news! The local Civil Rights leaders immediately went into action, They confirmed that Peanut Park would be available. They notified the local newspapers, radio stations, and churches and posted notices where deemed necessary in and around town.

It is estimated that on the night of the speech, a crowd of about 7,000 showed up. This attendance was the largest gathering of afro Americans in Suffolk's history. Dr. King's speech was immaculate and inspiring. It gave hope to the Negroes (that's what we were called back then, and we didn't get upset about it) that a change was coming.

Civil Rights Encounters and Deaths

Following are some of the ordeals

a. Medgar Evers, was gunned down in Mississippi. All he wanted to do was attend an all-white state university. b. In May 1963, police used dogs, fire hoses, and clubs on peaceful marchers in Montgomery, Alabama. c. A church was bombed, killing 4 young black children in Montgomery, Alabama.

If you want to know about our trials and tribulations in the Summer and year of 1963, go to the internet and do some self-study, because there is a push in the country, these days to make sure you don't learn anything about black history.

I encourage you to read, study, and read some more about the trials and tribulations we have endured; and be active in ensuring that we do not go backward in our pursuit of total freedom.

In churches, we talk about the Jews and their fight for freedom. Let us, also talk, preach, and teach about our ordeals. We don't have to wait until February or Black History Month.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Black History Month ended February 2023: We Need to report year round about Afro-Americans travails and success

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BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION IS A YEAR-ROUND THING

Don't stop now! Just because the month of February ended this year, doesn't mean we have to stop reporting and researching news about Afro-American's accomplishments in the world. Don't grow weary in doing it. Other races and nationalities do it year-round. For example, we spend 11 months of the year talking about Jewish history in black churches. The Jews were slaves in the Bible, but when they left Egypt they had silver, gold, clothes, animals, and some even had slaves, so when God parted the Red Sea for them to cross they were not lacking the necessities needed for survival.

Whereas, when the Negroes (that was our official classification) were emancipated after the Civil War ended in 1865 they only had the clothes on their backs and a small sack of whatever. That is all, believe me. No money, no animals, limited education, no job, lack of essential basic material for basic needs in life.

Though free, many of the ex-slaves agreed to continue to work for their ex-slave owner. They were promised that they would have a better opportunity for survival if they would share crops. For some, it worked out okay, but for many others, it didn't work out. They couldn't read or write. So, their survival was dependent on the integrity of the landowner.

Today, our knowledge is limited on our USA and World History. We really know very little. Although we have come a long way. We still have a long way to go. When I was in school Black History was celebrated for one week in schools. Let me share what we talked about:

1. George Washington Carver and the peanuts, 2. Mary McCloud Bethune, 3. Booker T. Washington, and a few entertainers.

2. Africa was referred to as an uncivilized continent.

3. In the movies, we thought that Tarzan, Jane, Boy, and the monkey ruled all of Africa. We had no idea that it was the largest continent and had more natural resources than any other continent.

4. All of the African people were black, like the real black, that appeared in the movies. This depiction affected the self-esteem of some dark complexion children in schools. Today, we are identified as Black. But in the '50s and '60s if you called somebody Black in school you would be suspended for two days, and subject to 10 licks in the hand, by the teacher with a ruler.

5. I mean, I had no idea that Africa had so many beautiful women, black, brown, tan, light, and many other human shades until I saw more positive news from and about Africa. Realization really hit me, while in the military, I spent two years in France, with a lot of trips to Paris.

I am not going to try and write the whole story at this time. I just want to say, there is so much history to be told or shared.

We cannot be satisfied with just reporting on crime, entertainers, sports figures, political issues, gossip, and a whole lot of other stuff that is happening in this world.

So, keep reporting. Churches need to report more about the Black race. There is a lot of Black History in Biblical studies. Bringing this information to the forefront requires more reading and studying.

Look what is happening in the USA today. The study of Black History is forbidden in many schools. Yet, the same people who say it's offensive, find it okay to teach about how the Indians were massacred and their land confiscated, how the Mexicans were treated in the USA's drive to enlarge its territory.

In February, I read a lot of Black History news presented by a retired teacher, Mrs. Susie H. Bennett of Suffolk, Virginia, and Ms. Liisa Barnes, a current teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia. Great job ladies! Also, add John King, a former high school basketball coach, and resident of Bailey's Crossroads, VA.

So, to everyone with an interest, keep on reporting and studying. Your readers will be enlighting and happy to say, "I'm Black, and I'm proud."

Friday, December 23, 2022

Worthy Life Challenge: Congratulatory Message from W. Lovell Turner, Principal to East Suffolk High Class of 1960

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Looking back. It was more than 62 years ago when Mr. W. Lovell Turner, the Principal, of East Suffolk High School wrote the following timeless congratulatory message to one of the school's most endeared graduating classes. The class of 1960. However, we want to share, and believe it can speak on behalf of all the graduates of ESH from 1940-1965.**

Mr. Turner was the only principal for this historic high school in its 26-year active history. It is estimated that more than 2,200 students graduated from this school, directly or indirectly during its tenure.

Mr. Turner a native of Anniston, Alabama was familiar with the trials and tribulations that confronted the African-American race in the United States. Therefore, this compelling message is as true today as it was when it was written and presented to the class in 1960.

**Racial adjustment. No graduating class in 1957. 12th grade was added for the school year 1957-1958. The 12th grade had been in the high schools for white students for many years prior to 1957.

Mr. Turner's message to the class:

"We are very happy to extend to you the class of 1960 our sincere congratulations on this particular occasion, your graduation from high school. This is an occasion that one never forgets no matter how many degrees he or she may receive. We hope that during your stay here, the faculty and administration have been able to challenge you to the point that you will find yourselves in years to come in positions of influence for good Christian, democratic living in all walks of life we pray that the time will come when you will be able to stand upright and truly say "We are Americans in every sense of the word." This you will be able to do if you work hard and be thorough in all academic details, and treat all people, regardless of race, color, or creed, as human beings."

W. Lovell Turner,

/s/ W. Lovell Turner

Principal

___________________________________________________________________________________ People who read this website also read: www.wbcfallschurch.blogspot.com

Worth noting: This message was written 3 years before Dr. Martin Luther King's famous Message on August 28,1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

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

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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.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

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.