AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE : I HAVE A DREAM!!

EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION

Tevin Washington

Dr. Carter

Digital Storytelling

3/4/2014

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Over the years, African Americans, have dealt with many trials and tribulations

in order to rise from the days of slavery . Many battles were fought to bring

rights such as voting, citizenship and education. You could honestly say each

battle was a stepping stone in order to reach for greater heights, or pieces of a

puzzle which may seen jumbled at first glance, but as you began to link the

pieces up. You see a great and bright future.

My projects reveals the truth and stories of a few of African American students

who have attended Texas A&M University Commerce, back when it was known as

East Texas State University, and the different struggles they each have to go

through in order to receive an education. Each story is just a piece of the puzzle,

you must link the pieces to get the bigger picture.

TIPPING THE SCALES

Fredrick Douglass High School, renamed from

Colored High and Training School, is one of the

oldest integrated public high schools in the U.S.

Prior to desegregation Douglass and

Baltimore's Paul Laurence Dunbar High School were

the only two high schools in Baltimore that admitted

African American students. Douglass served African

American students from west Baltimore, while

Dunbar served students from east Baltimore. 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

because it could never truly be equal..

“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

EVOLUTION OF A UNIVERSITY:

John G. Gee severed as president of East Texas State

from 1947 to 1966. He was admired to be a man with

strong morals and ideals. However it was also know he

was very stubborn when it came towards ideas he would

not accept. Such as allowing African Americans to attend

the ETSU.

During 1954, same year as the Brown vs. Board of

Education case, many schools and universities were

either discussing or were in the progress of

desegregation their facilities. However, Gee had turned

down multiple applications from African Americans

seeking to enter ET, 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 began planning for

desegregation. not indefinitely delay the inevitable. In

1962, he appointed a secret ad hoc 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 -

FIRST BLACK STUDENT AT E.T.

In 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.

Additional Info: A black student by the name of Charles Garwin, attended ETSU along with Miss Waters, 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

The story of Mr. Moore was another inspiring

tale of an African American man, who rose from

the cotton fields and attended East Texas State

at the age of sixteen, merely due to beginning

school at age of five and being moved up a year

in the middle of high school; Mr. Moore did

struggle with the desire to go to some of his

classes, like English 101X, However, he did enjoy

attending classes like Shop and Drafting, thanks

to the guidance of his instructor Mr. Kibler. Out

of all of his memories of E.T., Jerold’s fondest

memories were mainly revolved around the

people he loved to hang around and sports, more

particularly the football rivalry between East

Texas and North Texas.

“Dr. James G. Gee, was the president of ETSTC 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

BREAKING FREE

The story of Mary Cimarolli and her struggle of

stepping out of the shadows of the past, into a

brighter future. Yearning to break free from the

stereotypical employment of a woman and African

American alike, Mary desires to explore out of the

possibilities of Hopkins and Wood counties, but shuns

the idea of following the path of an educator, weather

she shuns this path, because she believes she wouldn’t

make it, or held back by her images of World War II is

uncertain. However, in 1969, Mary enrolls in East

Texas State University, and thanks to a multiple

inspiration instructors, especially Dr. Paul Barrus, and

her burning passion for learning, Mary finally decides

to partake in the profession of a classroom teacher. A

path to this day she still has a burning passion.

This image is of two African Americans who are employed as Cafeteria workers, in the 1930’s, the are uneducated underpaid, and underappreciated. It was believed this would be the fate of African Americans, to scrap for underhanded jobs such as cafeteria workers, cotton workers, etc. This image is what I believe Miss Cimarolli, desired to break away from.

ORAL HISTORY: DERRYLE PEACE

This interview was based off the life of Derryle

Peace, a man born in Dallas TX on May 3, 1962.

He was raised by his grandparents near

Northpark, and his upbringing consisted of

Church services and neighborhood involvements.

During school segregation he attended Booker T.

Washington School, which was located in another

area. However, during school desegregation,

teachers prepared him and other students with

advanced lessons to be able to compete with the

new transition. . In 1970, he left Dallas for East

Texas State University (ETSU) in Commerce. In

the meantime, the Vietnam War was on but he

did not consider it as the option; college

education was his choice. He was more

concerned with civil rights and Black awareness.

As an ETSU African American student, he

engaged in student activities as well as attending

the local Mt. Moriah Temple Baptist church.

As stated: Mr. Peace attended Booker T. Washing school, during the time of segregation. He 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.

ORAL HISTORY: GLENDA MCKNISSIC BAYLOR

The life of Glenda McKnissic Baylor, better known as the ETSU’s

first African American Homecoming Queen. Ms. Baylor was born

and raised in Minneola, Texas, a town divided by black and white.

She attended school at McFarland High School, an all-AA school in

town, 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.

When Minneola High became fully integrated, she admits there

were times of tension but she was able to maintain her calm and

positive attitude. 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 AA Sorority; and was nominated as the

Homecoming Queen in 1968, but she really made her mark when

she became the first Homecoming Queen for ETSU, and while

some people booed during her crowning, many also clapped,

showing their believe and support in her. She graduated ETSU

in1971 with a degree in Business and Education.

While attending school, 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. This was just one of many different social groups she created in her youth.

BRIEF HISTORY: LOUIS FREEMAN

This gentleman I find very interesting. 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.

ORAL HISTORY: JOHN CARLOS

This interview was the experiences that Dr. John

Carlos, had during his time at East Texas State

University. 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.

ORAL HISTORY: JAMES BELFORD

PAGE

This Gentleman to the left is James Belford Page, he 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 he 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 says that there was racism on campus at East Texas State University, 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.

WORKS CITEDReynolds, Donald E., and James H. Conrad. "Chapter 4: Evolution of A University."Professor Mayo's College: A

History of East Texas State University. Commerce, TX: East Texas State UP, 1993. N. pag. North East Texas Digital

Collection. Web.

Reynolds, Donald E., and James H. Conrad. "Chapter 4: Evolution of A University."Professor Mayo's College: A

History of East Texas State University. Commerce, TX: East Texas State UP, 1993. N. pag. North East Texas Digital

Collection. Web.

Jerold D. Moore "Trading Cotton for College." Memories of Old E.T. N.p.: Silver Leos Writers Guild, n.d. 293-95.

Print.

Mary Cimarolli “How I Got Out of the Cotton Fields and Lived Happily Ever After.” Memories of Old E.t. N.p.:

Silver Leos Writers Guild n.d. 6-9. Print.

Derryle Peace. 2009. Commerce, TX. Reel Texas History Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. North East Texas

Digital Collection. Web.

Glenda McKnissic Baylor. 2012. Commerce, TX. Reel Texas Digital Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. North East

Texas Digital Collection. Web.

Louis Freeman. N.d. Commerce, TX. Who Is Log Info. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Web. <whoisloginfo.com>.

John Carlos. N.d. Commerce, TX. Reel Texas Digital Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag.North East Digital

Collection. Web.

James Belford Page. 2011. Commerce, TX. Reel Texas Digital Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. North East Texas

Digital Collection. Web.

Fredrick Douglass High School. 2008. Baltimore, MD. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Wikipedia. Web. 

WORKS CITED (IMAGES)

James G. Gee. 1954. Commerce, TX. Historic E.T. Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. NorthEast Texas Digital

Collections. Web.

Velma Waters. 1964. Commerce, TX. Professor Mayo's College: A History of East Texas State University. N.p.: n.p.,

n.d. N. pag. North East Texas Digital Collection. Web.

Cotton Fields. 2000. Cotton Fields in China. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. American Immigrants. Web.

<http://frydenlundvg1.wikidot.com/cotton-fields-in-china>.

African American Cafeteria Workers. 1932. Commerce, TX. African American History Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N.

pag. North East Texas Digital Collection. Web.

Derryle Peace. 2009. Commerce, TX. Reel Texas History Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. North East Texas Digital

Collection. Web.

Glenda McKnissic Baylor. 2012. Commerce, TX. Reel Texas Digital Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. North East

Texas Digital Collection. Web.

Louis Freeman. N.d. Commerce, TX. Who Is Log Info. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Web. <whoisloginfo.com>.

John Carlos. N.d. Commerce, TX. Reel Texas Digital Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag.North East Digital

Collection. Web.

James Belford Page. 2011. Commerce, TX. Reel Texas Digital Collection. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. North East Texas

Digital Collection. Web.

Fredrick Douglass High School. 2008. Baltimore, MD. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Wikipedia. Web.