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Remembering the Civil Rights Movement
by Charese McLean-Davis
reseydavis@excapethematrix.com
Recently, I sat down with my mother, Shellie, to gain some understanding regarding her memories of the Civil Rights Movement years. While attending a Christian college in Massachusetts, she gained most of her experience with the movement. She retired 5 years ago after teaching for 35 years.
Charese: Mom, looking back and knowing what you now know, do you think blacks were very unhappy or had they just become accustomed to the ways of their lives at that particular time?
Shellie: I know that we were very aware that
things didn’t have to be this way. I mean, my mother was a maid for
white families for years! Some of her employers were nasty to her and
she had to take that crap from them all the time! But they were the ones
who had everything just because they were white. That’s why my parents
always stressed getting our education. My parents held a straight face
for years in front of all their kids. The adults in those days knew that
their kids were going to suffer just because they were black.
That’s why my parents always stressed getting our
education...
Charese: Did you play an active role in the Civil Rights Movement?
Shellie: Well, while I was in college, I didn’t do too much, but I did attend the meetings there on campus and march in the protests. I couldn’t just sit around though.
Charese: What particular event during that time affected you the most?
Shellie: Oh, I can recall several incidents.
But right off the bat I really remember Malcolm X and MLK Jr. being
assassinated. After Malcolm died, the school was in an uproar. We knew
what Malcolm really stood for. The militant students on campus were very
angry, including your dad. But after Martin died…we just couldn’t even
speak! For days! We just sat around and cried. You know…he was "us"!
That could have been any one of us if we’d have had the guts to be him.
But that was the point. We didn’t! So we felt like we’d had the rug
pulled from under us. We knew we’d lose if we tried to really do
anything about it. I remember watching KKK members celebrating on the
news down south. That was the first day in my life that I said a curse
word!
That could have been any one of us if we’d have had the guts to be him...
Charese: Do you believe that racism against blacks will ever cease?
Shellie: Well, unfortunately, as long as people live there will be racism because people are ignorant. Everyone doesn’t teach his or her children how to love unconditionally. I tried to do it with the kids I taught but clearly there were some parents who didn’t bring their kids to school to learn that. Some want the best education so their kids can get the heck away from "our" kids! It’s sickening!
Charese: Okay, Mom, last question so make your
answer good! What are you proud of the most, having lived in and through
that historic era?
But we’re freer than we’ve ever been. It’s because of our need for
freedom…our insistence
Shellie: I’m very proud that I finished my education in the face of racism. I’m proud to say that I had friends of all races during that time. I retained my Christian beliefs and upbringing. I guess I’m the most proud of my people and who we have always been. We got through that foolishness because our ancestors had the strength of mules. They didn’t all live to see freedom and some of us didn’t live to see it during the 60’s movement…like Martin. But we’re freer than we’ve ever been. It’s because of our need for freedom…our insistence.
Charese: Thank you, Mom!
Shellie: My pleasure!