50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act
BHC: I did not tell my parents that I was participating in the
protests but they received a letter from Spelman informing
them of the sit-ins and marches. My parents did not want me
to participate because they were concerned about possible
violence towards the students, the interruption of my education
and impact on my future and their employment as teachers.
Many parents of student protesters lost their jobs.
ensure the passage of the Civil Rights Act and to make
the accomplishments we have made through tremendous
sacrifice. We must continue to struggle to make the promises
of that Act a reality.
TAL: Did you know Alice Walker, Howard Zinn and/or
Marian Wright Edelman? What was their involvement
with the movement?
BHC: I knew Alice, Howard and Marian. Howard Zinn was a
professor at Spelman during that time and although I did not
take his class, he was supportive of students in the movement
and he and his wife invited some of us on occasion to his
home on campus. Marian was a leader on campus and with
the movement and Alice was a schoolmate and participant
in the protests.
TAL: So much of the history of the civil rights movement
focuses on the men, such as King, Lowery, Abernathy, etc.
How empowering was it to be attending an all-women’s
college and be able to contribute to the movement?
BHC: It was very empowering to be able to protest
segregation and discrimination after suffering many indignities
in silence for many years. At the time, Spelman had many
rules designed to protect us (For example: freshmen could
not leave campus without signing out). It was liberating to
throw off the shackles of segregation and the campus rules
at the same time! I was proud that many of my schoolmates
took a leadership role in the movement.
TAL: Do you remember the day the bill was signed by
President Johnson?
BHC: Yes. I had graduated from college and had attended
the University of Texas while living in segregated housing
across the street from the President’s daughter, Lynda. I was
amazed and overjoyed that he signed the bill but sad that it
took so much sacrifice and time.
TAL: In the 50 years since, change has been slow;
however, are you hopeful for the future in terms