PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
“
REMEMBERING THE 1960s
By Jacquelyn H. Saylor
The Saylor Law Firm LLP
“I tried to be aware of the
challenges faced by not only
African-Americans, but by the
economically disadvantaged,
the plights faced by underpaid
workers, and even the similar
struggles faced by women.”
B
y now you probably know that 2014 is the 50th
anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. You know
about many of the civil rights icons who risked their
lives and limbs to work toward basic rights for their fellow
human beings, primarily African-Americans, who had long
been denied them. But what do you know about those of us
who grew up white in the Deep South in segregated schools
during the time that much of the civil rights movement was
taking place. Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia,
Florida, North Carolina, Virginia: all places where I lived in
the fifties and sixties. What was our journey?
integration and segregation, that I heard so much on the
evening news. I remember the reaction of one of my relatives
who was not pleased with the efforts to desegregate his alma
mater, The University of Mississippi. There were “Impeach
Earl Warren” signs across the South, referring to the Supreme
Court Justice whose pro integration rulings caused him to be a
lightening rod to those who disagreed with him. Looking back,
I realize how brave our principal was to have another Supreme
Court Justice, William O. Douglas, speak at commencement
one year and how honored I was to serve Justice Douglas
punch at the reception.
I remember the separate water fountains, separate waiting
rooms and separate seating as my family or young cousins
and I sometime travelled by bus and train to see our relatives
across the South. I regularly travelled by bus to Birmingham,
Alabama from Decatur, Georgia when Birmingham’s Bull
Conner was confronting civil rights protesters with strong
fireman’s hoses and fierce German Shepherds. It is sometime
hard to distinguish between what I saw on TV and what I
witnessed in person since I was only an observer.
Fortunately, as a young child I was not taught to be prejudiced
toward others because of race. We made twice weekly visits to
church where we were taught the story of the Good Samaritan,
the hero who saved the injured traveler along the dangerous
road even though his people were reviled by others. We grew
up singing songs such as “Red and yellow, black and white,
they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children
of the world.” We sang that song with the children of factory
workers in Cabbagetown where we taught Sunday School
and acceptance of others different from ourselves.
I remember trying to distinguish the meaning of the words,
4 THE ATLANTA LAWYER
October 2014
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association