" its been 50 years...."

Hard to find the real deal these days..... an outright HERO.

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow....

Charlayne Hunter-Gault braves the elements to speak

at her Alma Mater on Monday, and quoted Michael.

From The Red and Black : "

Fifty years ago when Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes walked on the University’s campus, they were greeted by angry crowds of white students. On Monday, Charlayne Hunter-Gault was greeted with a standing ovation after a generous introduction by University President Michael Adams and Student Government Association President Josh Delaney.
Hunter-Gault, one of the first two black students to attend the University, was invited to give a lecture as a part of the University’s celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Desegregation. She received a degree in journalism from the Grady College and went on to pursue her career by working for publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times and National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting Service.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants,” Hunter-Gault said. “I am here because of people who did the right thing.”
Hunter-Gault spoke about the giants of the past who paved the way for desegregation and the furtherance of freedom in not only the South but also South Africa, China and numerous other nations throughout the world.
She said citizens must look into the past and learn from the people before us who have fought for freedom. ( THE REST )

I would have eaten fuzzy worms to have been there.
I came across this picture when I was still in high school, early on, either from an old yearbook that was at the house or a newspaper clipping.. something.

January 9, 1961

Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Homes enroll 

at the University of Georgia

I am from the age of Southerners that was not supposed to talk about the newer recent unpleasantness. I was too young to be effected by legal Jim Crow,and the powers that be in Atlanta just chose to believe that all of this stuff happened in Alabama and Mississippi. Mr. Woodruff had Coca-Cola to sell... we were.... too busy to hate.....

This picture just struck a huge cord with me when I saw it, because downtown Athens did and still does look just like this. History happened here; the picture could have been taken yesterday, History come to life. Either then or just a little bit later Hunter-Gault was on PBS, a celebrity and all. Dr. Homes and Ms. Hunter-Gault just looked like two very good looking, care-fee, cold students, dressed all nice and going to class or something....and yet they were walking, bravely into a lions den of hate and prejudice. ( you know, something I could, even then understand on a MUCH MUCH smaller and personal level....)

From the New Georgia Encyclopedia : "On January 6, 1961, Judge William Bootle issued his ruling, stating that Holmes and Hunter "would have already been admitted had it not been for their race and color." As a result UGA immediately admitted the two, who became the university's first African American students since its founding in 1785.

Holmes, then nineteen, registered at UGA's Academic Building on January 9, 1961. He and Hunter were met with crowds shouting racial slurs and chanting, "Two, four, six, eight. We don't want to integrate!" On January 11, after a basketball game, a riot broke out outside of Myers Hall, where Hunter lived. Bricks, rocks, and bottles were thrown; the mob dispersed only after Athens police, armed with tear gas, and Dean William Tate arrived. That night the university suspended Hunter and Holmes, citing safety reasons, and the state patrol escorted the students back to Atlanta. Within a few days, however, following a new court order, Holmes and Hunter returned to campus.


If you do not know who Dr. Hamilton Homes is, and you are attended UGA, first shame on you, and second READ THIS.

The students and others that got to see and hear her were very lucky!