D M P 1 : R E M I X !

EXPERIENCE IN

EDUCATION!! !

Tevin Washington

Dr. Carter

ENG 333

3/4/2014

A GRIM BEGINNING

After the end of slavery, African Americans desired to obtain an Education in

order to better themselves and become equal to whites. However, this was difficult

because attending school with whites was prohibited, forcing African Americans to

pursue an education in run down old shacks or poorly constructed buildings.

Despite all efforts in order to adapt to their conditions , multiple problems occurred

such as the schools being over crowded, or a narrow supply of materials for both

the teachers and students. Despite the determination to learn, the dream of a

better life seemed to be nothing more than an illusion.

TIPPING THE SCALES

Thankfully in 1833, a school was created especially for

African Americans to attend called The Colored High and

Training school in Baltimore, MD. CHTS severed as an

education facility for African Americans for many years

even after being renamed after the famous abolitionist

Fredrick Douglass, IN 1923.

Among Douglass' most notable alumni is Supreme Court

Justice Thurgood Marshall, a graduate of the class of

1926, in 1954 Marshall successfully challenged school

segregation as a lawyer in the case of Brown v. Board of

Education, in which the Supreme Court ruled

that separate but equal in public education was

unconstitutional, and began the process of desegregation

in schools.

“The colored people of this country have, I think, made a great mistake, of late, in saying so much of race and color as a basis of their claims to justice, and as the chief motive of their efforts and action. I have always attached more importance to manhood than to mere identity with any variety of the human family..." "We should never forget that the ablest and most eloquent voices ever raised in behalf of the black man’s cause were the voices of white men. Not for race, not for color, but for men and for manhood they labored, fought, and died. Away, then, with the nonsense that a man must be black to be true to the rights of black men”. – Fredrick Douglass (1)

During same year as the Brown vs. Board of

Education case, many schools and universities were in

the progress of desegregation their facilities. However

some facilities refused to welcome desegregation with

open arms, one of them was East Texas State

University.

James G. Gee, president of E.T at the time, turned

down multiple applications from African Americans

seeking to enter the college, auguring that segregation

would cause greater harm than good. However, despite

how strongly he felt of the situation, Gee recognized he

couldn’t delay the inevitable, and In 1962, he appointed

a secret committee to develop a plan under which ET

could be desegregated peacefully.

“Our Board of Regents and the “Constitution of Texas” had stipulated that the races “must be segregated”.

-James. G. Gee (2)

Evolution of A

University

BREAKING THE

BARRIERS

In Fall 1964, East Texas State opened

their doors to Miss Velma Waters, a local

resident of Commerce, and the first

African American student to attend

ETSU. Although she was shunned by

white students and even victimized by

her biased teachers, she could recall other

students encouraging and supporting her

to continue her education. Despite the many harsh and discriminatory acts of

a majority of her fellow classmates and teachers,

Waters continued her Education with diligence

and determination. Her perseverance was reward

with a Bachelor's Degree in 1968.

BREAKING THE BARRIERS

(CONT.…)

Another student by the name of Charles Garwin, attended ETSU

along with Miss Waters in the Summer of 1964, not much is

mentioned about his time at the campus expect for determination to

learn and complete his assignments. Garwin’s hard work was greatly

rewarded for he was the first African American to graduate ETSU in

1966, two years before Waters. Both Waters and Garwin are

considered to be the obstacles to break down the segregated barriers.

TRADING COTTON FOR COLLEGE

Jerold Moore, a young man who rose from the

cotton fields and attended E.T. at the age of

sixteen, since he started school at age five, and

being moved up a grade in the middle of high

school.

Like most students, Mr. Moore struggled with his

desire to go to class, but he still took his education

seriously; benefiting from hands on courses like

shop and drafting.

Mr. Moore loved his time at E.T. and forged

many fond memories here, He also grew fond of

Dr. James Gee, and his strong morals, despite his

difference of opinion of African Americans

attending the school.

“Dr. James G. Gee, was the president of E.T, while I was enrolled, and he was clearly was the man in charge of the campus and a man of strong views. I particularly remember his attitude towards integration of the college which he announced by saying there would never be any Blacks at ETSTC. However, to his create when the time came for inevitable change, he oversaw a smooth end of segregation on the campus.” -Jerold Moore (3)

BREAKING FREE

Mark Busby, a student who attended E.T. recalls the

night of November 22, 1963, when he overheard the

shooting of President Kennedy, which occurred in

Dallas.

Shocked at the news of the president being attacked

and the chaos that would arise from it , Mr. Busby

recalls hearing the shooting of Dr. Martin Luther

King, and the negative outcome of John Carlo’s

protest during American Olympics.

All these events occurred while he attended E.T.,

opening his eyes from the safety of the university,

towards the devastation of the real world.

While begins his questioning for diversity among

schools and diversity in the world.

One of Dr. King’s most memorable

quotes.

DERRYLE PEACE

Derryle Peace, a man born in Dallas, TX on

May 3, 1962 He attended Booker T.

Washington School, during school

segregation, one of the few schools built

especially for African Americans, although

the experience was tough for him due to

lack of materials and textbooks. However

during school desegregation, his teachers

prepared him with advanced lessons in

order to catch up to the education level of

whites. In 1970 He attended ESTU, during

the Vietnam War, as a college education

major. Peace was very concerned with civil

rights and Black awareness.

Peace recalled how his school was stuck with second

hand books, or how his school was equipped to old

facilities, Despite his ambition to learn, this environment

felt more like a prison than a school.

GLENDA MCKNISSIC BAYLOR

Glenda McKnissic Baylor, was born and raised in Minneola,

Texas, a town divided by black and white., However, she was

selected as one of five students to attend Minneola High

School, an all-white school, in order to test early segregation,

before forced segregation. Ms. Baylor found attending the

all-white school more of a positive than a negative, because

of the better facilities and new textbooks for the students.

She graduated high school in 1968, and attended East Texas

State University in the fall. Much like in her own community,

Ms. Baylor got involved around the campus, and assisted in

starting the first African American Sorority; and was

nominated as the Homecoming Queen in 1968.

Ms. Baylor made her mark in E.T History when she became

the first Homecoming Queen. A Title she is known for to

this day

She graduated ETSU in1971 with a degree in Business and

Education.

When she attended school in Minneola, Ms. Baylor

quickly realized that there were no social outlets for

African Americans (AA) to gather and socialize.

However, thanks to her determination and leadership,

she created multiple different social outlets for African

Americans to gather together, and express themselves,

starting with the “InCrowd Club”, for AA Girls.

LOUIS FREEMAN

Louis Freeman is a commercial Airline pilot and

became Southwest Airlines first black pilot, and in1992

he became the first black chief pilot of the major US

Airline.

Freeman, his brother and eight others were the first

African American students to integrate the school;

Freeman attended the Woodrow Wilson High School,

and graduated in 1967. Afterwards he attended ETSU,

he was the first African American ROTC cadet corps

commander, both in Woodrow and ETSU. Freeman

first attempted the Air Force Officers' Qualifying Test

(AFOQT) in his freshman year at East Texas. Though

he failed the pilot aptitude section of the test, he

passed the AFOQT in his subsequent attempt, the

following year. In 1974, he graduated with a bachelor's

degree in sociology and psychology.One of Freeman’s most remarkable flights was in 2005

when he and a volunteer Team from Southwest Airlines

transported Rosa Parks’ remains, family and friends to

three cities.

JOHN CARLOS

Dr. John Carlos, an amazing athlete grew up in

Harlem as an excellent student as well as a gifted

athlete. After graduating high school, he attended

ETSU, on a full track and field scholarship.

Although he never been to Texas before, Dr. Carlos

accepted and came to attend ESTU. After he landed

in the Dallas Airport, he could see he was

surrounded by segregation, and the only thing

people could tell him when he asked why it was like

this “That’s just the way things are down here”.

Carlo’s relationship with his coaches was very

contentious, but his team was able to win the NAIA

National Championship while he attended. However

, Carlos only remained at ETSU for his first year,

then transferred to San Jose State University ; but

before he left ETSU he did learn of a potential

boycott of the 1968 Summer games by African

American Athletes, though it never took place.

Dr. Carlos is likely most remembered for the statement he and

teammate Tommie Smith made during their medal ceremony by

raising black-gloved fists during the playing of the Star- Spangled

Banner. Dr. Carlos was at ETSU for a short time, but it was during

that time that some African American students and community

leaders had begun to organize to affect change, and this climate of

change gained steam in the years that followed.

JAMES BELFORD PAGE

James Belford Page, was born April 1, 1960 in Dallas Texas.

Growing up, Mr. Page have a lot of interactions with white people,

he was the type of man who believed he could get along with

anyone.

All of the schools Mr. Page attended as a child were segregated,

until, his senior year in 1968 where his school he was attending

began integration. During high school, Page spend time at

Southern Methodist University as a part of the Upward Bound

program he was apart in high school.

However, Page wanted to go somewhere other than Dallas when it

was time for him to attend. He decided to go to East Texas State

University on a Math Scholarship. However, while page loved

Math he loved Football even more, and he tried and made the

football team at his time at E.T.

Page eventually changed majors, and switched to

an athletic scholarship. He was eventually drafted by

the Green Bay Packers, and played football in the NFL for a time.

Page recalls was racism on campus but he describes it

as “subtle.” He tells a story of how the black athletes often had

to run from the field to a tunnel while some white people in

the back of a truck threw rocks at them. While he

does speak of racism,

and tension on campus, Page has fond memories of East Texas

State as

well, recounting some favorite professors and classes taken.

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