Articles

“The 17” Pioneers and the Dawn of a New Day
Journal and Guide, Norfolk , VA. , 07 February, 1959

By Vivian Carter Mason

The path that began in a little backwoods school, archaic, outmoded, overcrowded and lacking the barest essentials for minimum education standards followed a twisted and tortuous route that led finally to the doors of the schools which opened in Norfolk Monday, February, 02, on an integrated basis. Scores of milestones were passed on the way. That included decisions of local school boards, state courts, federal courts and the Supreme Court when the real contest began. Laws deliberately designed to evade the May 17, 1954 school desegregation decision of the Supreme Court were passed by hostile legislators. The local school boards tried to avoid complying with law. Then the City Council passed the cutoff fund law, and removed from the Norfolk School Board control of the city public schools. Then the roof fell in on state and city resistance when the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeal and the three judge federal court struck down all laws described as schemes to circumvent the Supreme Court school decision.

What a view has been afforded of the shallow hearted and decadent leadership that mushroomed during the life of the law versus lawless drama enacted in the sovereign state of Virginia . Now we come to the end of the road and the stopping place is six schools that were closed because 17 children were assigned to them by a reluctant school administration. There can be no feeling of rejoicing. This hard trek has been painful, full of anxiety and self-sacrifice. It inflicted a slashing wound to the life of 17 young boys and girls. The day they accepted their assignment to the schools of their choice was the day they left their childhood behind them forever, joining the vast army of men and women of all ages who have fought for a right and a principle which they could not compromise. Their parents were important and necessary accessories to their acts, giving magnificent support.

In entering upon this new experience, they will bring a fresh and attractive dimension to the concept of public education. As one sees and hears these young Americans, these pioneers in human rights, an invigorating sense of confidence in them makes all the effort that has been expended seem suddenly like nothing at all. They are worth all that has been done in this struggle, the contributions to maintain the tutoring classes, the sacrifices of the teachers, the endless toil of Robert D. Robertsons, the President of the Norfolk NAACP, the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Bute street, the matchless leadership of the Journal and Guide, the under girding by the clergy and churches, the friends who stood staunch and unmoved, our brilliant attorneys and finally, the people nameless, unknown and unhonored who sometimes only by a word “don't give up” sustained all who labored in the darkness of the night to the bright dawn that is upon us.

A great many lessons can be garnered from the correlation of successive steps. United we have a better chance of achieving our goals whatever they may be. The ministers and the churches are immense reservoir of power for they can reach as no one else can the rank and file in the community. There is a mounting comprehension of the great distance which this Negro must traverse, if first class citizenship is to be even nearly approached and there is evidence that the disciplines governing modern approaches to the resolving of problems has began to take hold. Go forth young pioneers, to a new day. Take on these new tasks with cheerfulness and vigor. Give the best you have and even more for you are leveling a way for those who will surely follow you.