Looking back at the lunch counter sit-ins and how they spread
Fifty years ago, the lunch counter sit-ins began in Greensboro, N. C. Writing in the Virginian-Pilot, Denise Watson Batts describes how the movement quickly spead to Virginia, where 17-year-old Ed Rodman, now an Episcopal priest and professor at Episcopal Divinity School, found himself at the center of the storm:
In Portsmouth, I.C. Norcom [high School] students crossed the street to Rose's 5-10-25 Cents Store on the same day that the protests began in Norfolk.Eighteen took seats. Waitresses ignored them, but they didn't budge.
They went to MidCity Shopping Center on Monday and faced a few hecklers.
Tuesday afternoon, they arrived at Rose's and found the counter occupied by white teens.
Rodman filled with dread. Things often got heated when students from Wilson, the nearby white school, and Norcom, the black school, crossed paths.
This time was no different. The crowd, on the verge of becoming a mob, spilled into the parking lot. The white students pulled out hammers and pipes. A black teen got slammed in the face with a chain, and a girl was hit with a street sign.
A group of black teens grabbed a chain and beat a knot of white students.
The fights ended quickly, and Rodman found himself the spokesman for the Norcom students.
For those interested, another lunch counter story at New Virginia Churchman (shameless plug):
http://churchman.blogspot.com/2010/02/from-no-service-at-lunch-counter-to.html
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
February 16, 2010 7:27 AM
From John's links -- wow
One area in which it did take a position was Church camp and conference centers, and there it advocated a retreat, perhaps reflecting blowback from the 1954 public school desegregation order. Certainly, a majority of the Commission concluded that the Diocese’s Department of Christian Education had gotten out ahead of the Diocese. The result was a compromise that called for segregated and desegregated camps and conferences. Again, from the report:
Camps and Conferences
We have given thorough consideration to the development of the policy of racial desegregation at the Camps and Conferences conducted under the auspices of the Department of Christian Education in our Diocese. We find that there is wide disagreement on what is best for the total life of the Diocese in the matter.
While the authority for determining how the facilities at Shrine Mont and Roslyn may be used, rests in autonomous bodies, the Council does determine policy as to Diocesan Camps and Conferences. Therefore, we respectfully submit the following recommendation to the Council:
We have found with great sorrow that at this time there are deep differences among us about the desegregation of Diocesan Camps and Conferences. Some of us feel desegregation was a step forward, others that it was a step backward. Still others feel that the change was made in a way that evoked deep and serious misunderstandings that have injured the unity of the Diocese. In the solidarity of Christian brotherhood, therefore, and with real suffering on all sides, we recommend that both segregated and desegregated Camps and Conferences be provided at this time. We are aware of the difficulties of administration that such a policy presents, but we believe it can be done on an alternating basis if necessary. This recommendation is motivated by a genuine concern for all of the children of the Diocese.
(The Race Problem and the Church, pp. 26-27.)
Posted by Ann Fontaine![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
February 16, 2010 11:48 AM
"Both segregated and desegrated Camps and Conferences"? Oh brother! [Whaddaya bet "segregated" was 100% white, and "desegregated" at least 95% black?]
A sad reminder, 90 years after the fact, that the TEC was the Church that didn't split over slavery...
JC Fisher
Posted by tgflux![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
February 16, 2010 7:11 PM