By Heager L. Hill, LHD
Mixed feelings over students breaking racial barrier at UA, and Beyond
In a recent conversation with friends, I discovered that several had mixed feelings over the Black student’s push at UA to join an all white sorority. Some friends made expressions such as:” If they didn’t want me, I certainly wouldn’t want to push to join them.” Another said: “The whites are ‘pimping Blacks’ by letting them in.” Yet another, “Why didn’t they join a Black sorority on campus?” These were concerns.
If we would sincerely reflect upon our past, had we not fought, marched, and some even died we still would be living in the ’50s and early ’60s era in a racially segregated society. In fact, due to race, we could not attend such major universities in the South. Some whites, even today, have never wanted us in their groups, churches, communities, or with them on good jobs. It was only because of our fight, struggles, and the grace of God, do we now have federal laws that all must live by. All credit and recognition is due UA students & Crimson Tide newspaper, faculty, along with Gov. Robert Bentley who called attention to this grave student injustice at his Alma Mater all of which led to the students being accepted into the sorority.
My only regret is that my family and community elders did not live to see our progress of today and that which we now enjoy. They were afraid for me to participate in the national and local Movement marches, but, I was an adult and did it anyway. We are far from being perfect in America, but so much better, especially in the South.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “We cannot rest on our laurels…” Meaning that we must be forever watchful of injustice wherever it may exist which includes participating in the political process which governs our quality of life in a real sense. The Selma March gave us that freedom with the enactment of the 1965 Voter Rights Act, which, incidentally, is under attack after all of these years.
At this time, immediate voices need to be heard on JeffCo sewer rate proposals & potential APC utility rate height, Alabama’s potential refusal of ObamaCare, potential major decrease in funding for U. S. Agriculture Dept. (Food Stamps), Social Security benefits, Education Grants & Loans, etc. We cannot afford to become too comfortable, sedentary or complacent. Remember Pearl Harbor!
At least, this is what I think.
