To Write in the Light of Freedom

by William Sturkey

  Georgia Patterson

  Gideon Jackson’s Hallelujah Song of Defiance

  From Freedom Road

  There ain’t no grass grows under my feet

  On Freedom road,

  There ain’t no grass grows under my feet

  On Freedom road

  Old John Brown, grand-daddy,

  We’re coming,

  We’re coming,

  Down freedom road.

  Howard Fast

  Book Report: Freedom Road, By: Howard Fast

  At the end of the Civil War and near the beginning of the Reconstruction period, freed negroes from a small village awakened and saw the men of the village returning home from voting. The children and women ran out to meet them. Gideon’s wife, Rachel, didn’t run out because she wasn’t the type to do this. Many questions were asked about voting. They did not know what voting was because they hadn’t heard of voting and never did any voting when they were slaves. Gideon Jackson answered most of the questions because his people looked up to him for many things. Gideon was selected as a delegate to a convention in Charleston. Each man went to his family giving them things they had bought back from the city.

  Gideon was afraid to go to the convention because did not know how to read and write so well. Brother Peter told him not to be afraid; he would give him words that he knew how to write and told Gideon to buy a book and learn more.

  Gideon did not know his parents. After having breakfast with Gideon and his family Brother Peter went out with Gideon and told him of the day that he was born. Gideon’s mother died while giving birth to him. Brother Peter was made not to tell anyone of this.

  Days later he received a letter from General E. R. S. Canby which contained papers he would need at the convention. Gideon’s clothes were not for going to the convention. His friends gave him clothes and his wife sold them. With little food he started on his one hundred miles of walking, singing his hallelujah song.

  He was treated badly by people such as Mr. Laits who was a former slave holder and who didn’t believe that Negroes should go with such things as conventions. He also met James Allenby and his family, whom he spent the night with.

  Mr. Allenby was an educated man. Gideon talked him into going to his home and teaching his family and friends.

  When Gideon arrived in Charleston, he didn’t have any money and he was tired. He worked for one day to get money to eat. Someone told him of the Carter’s home where delegates were taken in. He lived here for two dollars a week.

  Gideon read in the newspaper about the way people felt about Negroes. Men that Gideon met at the convention gave him a few books. Later, other delegates joined him in his studies. Gideon was invited to dinner at the home of Stephen Holms as the guest of honor. During the dinner, Gideon though that if women were not present, the men would kill him. After Gideon left, the other people talked angrily about how their plans had failed. One of the guests was a member of the Klan, and others invited to join it to go against the Negroes. They would get thousands of men in the Klan.

  The state constitution was made, and it gave everyone life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When it was time for Gideon to go, Mrs. Carter cried and kissed Gideon, because she and her husband had grown close to him. When he was near home, the children ran out to him. All of the people were glad to see him, to hear the things he had done and seen.

  There was still a problem. They had no land. Gideon said they could borrow the money. Others said they could work on the railroad.

  Gideon made plans for his son Jeff to go to Boston to study and learn to be a doctor.

  Later people of the other village went to school.

  The people worked and made money to pay for the mortgage on the land. But Carl Robbins, who was vice-president of the bank, would not take the money for the land. He said, “I don’t approve of niggers owning land; spoils them.”

  Black codes were made to send the Negro back to slavery.

  Gideon went to see President Grant to talk to him about his people. Grant would only be President for a few more days, but long enough to help the Negroes.

  Jeff returned home at the age of 20 as Dr. Jackson. Soon everyone became afraid. They found out how the Klan worked. Ellen (blind daughter of Mr. Allenby) and Jeff wanted to get married. A man and his wife taken out of their home and beaten. The lady died and the man was hurt by the members of the Klan. Other members of the Klan came and burned the homes of the village and killed all the people.

  Perceta Rollins

  A Word to the Public

  I think the Freedom School that has been organized in McComb is really nice. Because it has the most wonderful and understanding teachers you can find. I think that all the Negro families should allow their children to come to this wonderful school.

  Listen, my fellow friends. It is time for you folk to wake up; you’re letting yourself go astray. Wake up, people, and pull yourselves together before it’s too late. You have a chance to get your freedom, you have a chance to change his myth about you that the white man has put out.

  Do you want to make this myth seem as if it were true. Is that what you want? For God’s sake, No! You want to be shown the way to the Freedom road but your afraid to ask for a guide for fear that you might get bombed, beaten, or killed. That’s what’s wrong with the Negro race today—they are afraid and won’t pull together.

  Remember what I said—wake up before it’s too late and get a move on. You should have been letting your children come to Freedom School. They learn more in Freedom School than they do in public school because subjects such as Negro History are not taught in public school to kids. So remember, friends, there is no progress without struggle.

  Brenda Allen

  Everyone’s Equal

  If one would refer to the history of the Negro, he would see that it was not the Negro who insisted upon entering this vast country in which we now live. It was the Caucasian who invaded and captured the Negro and brought him to this country to work as a slave. It is not for the Caucasian to add to or detract from the intellect of a man.

  Moving up on the ladder, we see where the Negroes were treated more and more cruelly than the lowest animal. During the time of the Emancipation Proclamation, people still wanted to ignore the Negroes purpose in life.

  And the Caucasoids evolved an image of high society around the idea of white supremacy. The Caucasoids, supposed to be the high class groups, are still stupid and foolish enough not to see their brothers around them.

  Yes, we the Negroes are their brothers. But have our brothers felt that we should be treated as brothers? They say we are ignorant. But have we had a complete chance to develop our ability to the utmost?

  Where we have strived to build, they have torn down. Where we have tried to better education, they destroyed our purpose.

  Yes, we are, as some would say, bound or devoted to live off the Caucasians. But can the devoted do without the persons who are devoting?

  Now ask yourself, “Why does all this supremacy exist?”

  During the time of slavery in America, the white Lords told their slaves that they (the lords) were supreme over them. Yet they revolted then and we, the free, are still revolting. Yes, we have the so called lords of the manor existing today, but do you and I believe that they are supreme?

  Some are too blind to let life exist among both races.

  When all of these wealthy processions are gone, to whom shall our brothers turn?

  They, our brothers, have converted the words of the Supreme Being to meet their own needs.

  Yea, they are sinners, great sinners, but as it is, we are all sinful.

  These acts which I have discussed are not indicated by all our brothers, for some have come to realize our position, and theirs, to meet the world’s standards.

  So friends, citizens and statesmen, think of your position in society and help to show our brothers where they are wrong and where their forefathers were also wrong.

  Let’s not conde
mn the whole world for a few people’s acts.

  Thank You.

  Anonymous

  You’re Free to Have Some Fun Tongue Twister

  Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, while sifting a sifterful of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb.

  Advice to the successful thistle sifter; never thrust three thousand unsifted thistles through the thick of your thumb.

  Success to the successful thistle sifter.

  Perceta Rollins

  Freedom Star (Meridian, MS)

  The Freedom Star was published by students attending the Meridian Freedom School. Although Hattiesburg was known as the “Mecca of the Freedom School world,” Meridian actually had the largest single Freedom School, regularly drawing over two hundred students per day. If Hattiesburg was the Freedom School world’s “Mecca,” then Meridian was its epicenter. Meridian Freedom School students were among the most visible Freedom School leaders in the state and played major roles in organizing and leading the short-lived Mississippi Student Union (MSU). Because of its size and active student body, Meridian was chosen as the site of the Freedom School Convention that convened between August 6 and 8. Opening on the night of murdered activist and Meridian native James Chaney’s funeral, the Freedom School Convention brought together representatives from dozens of schools across the state. The students shared ideas, formed the MSU, and welcomed a powerful slate of guest speakers that included A. Philip Randolph, Bob Moses, and Staughton Lynd. Meridian Freedom School leaders used the Freedom Star to organize the convention, using the paper to request housing, plan activities, and later report on the convention. The defacto class president of the Meridian Freedom Schools, a seventeen-year-old student named Roscoe Jones, still lives in Meridian and is active in that community.

  July 23, 1964

  Meridian to Host Freedom School Convention

  On the weekend of the 7–9 of August, Meridian Freedom School is to be the host for the convention of all the Freedom Schools across the state. Each of the schools will be sending approximately three delegates to find housing for 75 students and 25 coordinators. If you would be willing to put up one or two of the students in your home please call 402-1045.

  Details of the convention will be announced later; they are being worked out this weekend by delegates from the various schools at a meeting in Jackson.

  Rev. King to Visit Meridian

  This Friday, July 14, Meridian will be honored by a very important visitor. The Rev. Martin Luther King will be here to speak in behalf of the Summer Project. We will speak in the First Union and St. John Baptist Church; both meetings will begin at 7:30. We urge that everyone attend these meetings.

  We also urge that anyone over 21 years of age who has not yet Freedom Registered do so immediately. Any questions will be gladly answered at the COFO office—462-6103.

  Statewide Freedom School Softball League to Be Formed

  Our Meridian Freedom School will be entering a team in the statewide softball league this summer. The games will be held every Saturday at the different school in the state. It is hoped that everyone will support our team and help us to win the championship.

  Interview with Steve S.

  Meridian Freedom reporter Fatu. interviewed busy Steve S. the other morning as he was on his way to class. Fat was interested in finding out Steve’s impressions of Meridian after coming here from New York City.

  She asked Steve how the police force in New York differed from that in New York. He answered that he felt that the Meridian police represented only the white person; he added that if he took a wrong turn in a Negro neighborhood in New York the police would probably simply stop him and help him find his way, but when the same situation occurs in Mississippi, the police ask you where you are going and what you want. Steve did say that he couldn’t speak about all the police in Mississippi.

  Next Fat asked how Steve felt about teaching Negroes. He answered that he felt wonderful; he said that he had heard that the children here wouldn’t accept white teachers from the North because they were used to the Southern whites. He also said that he was glad to be teaching because he felt very strongly about the fact that the people here are being denied many rights which are due to them.

  Two Interviews with the Famous Ronnie De S.

  Q. I want to ask you something about your life in England. Can you describe what kind of homes you live in and how different was your life in England from what it is in the U.S.?

  A. In many English towns there are long rows of houses that all look the same; They are all made of red bricks and the fog has made them gray. It nearly always rains in England, so that people don’t sit out on porches like they do here. In England most people don’t have cars, many people ride public transportation. When I left England two years ago there were only two channels on TV, one of them was commercial, like the ones here, but the other is publicly owned and has no commercials at all.

  Ben C.

  Q. How do you feel about teaching Negroes here in Meridian?

  A. I feel that I am down here to hasten the day when no one will talk any more about “teaching Negroes” or “teaching whites,” but just teaching people. I am here to agitate among Negroes, but to teach people.

  Q. How do you like your students?

  A. Love them, especially the pretty ones. And the clever ones. They are just about all pretty and clever—therefore I love them all.

  Q. In what ways is Meridian different form your home town?

  A. 1. Hotter

  2. Wetter.

  3. Nastier

  4. Much the same.

  5. Don’t have a home town anyway.

  Q. Who the h— are you anyway?

  A. Ronnie de S. and who the h— are you?

  Q. Shirley H.

  I Am a Negro

  I am a Negro and proud of its color too,

  If you were a Negro wouldn’t you?

  I am glad of just what I am now

  To be and to do things I know how.

  I’m glad to be a Negro so happy and gay

  To grow stronger day by day.

  I am a Negro and I want to be free as any other child,

  To wander about the house and the woods and be wild.

  I want to be Free, Free, Free.

  Rosalyn W.

  How I See Myself at “21” or Over

  My aim in life is to be a lawyer. There are not enough Negro lawyers in Mississippi defending their fellow brothers and sisters. Some people living in Mississippi leave after or before they finish school. I do not see myself in some fancy mansion nor do I see myself living in the scums of places. I just want to live in a decent home living in the neighborhood with people. When I say people I mean both black and white. I do not believe in segregation. I want to help people. To stop this police brutality. I see myself as a decent, respectable citizen. I want to be a nice person. And I would like for people to treat me the same way. If I do be a lawyer or whatever my profession will be, I will not marry until I finish school, grade and law school, and have a job. I mean a good job. Not babysitting or housekeeping.

  No I do not plan to leave Mississippi. To help others. I want to look as well as be respectful. Although looks don’t mean everything. It’s what you know. It’s the work that you do and your aim in life. If you lead a good clean life, people will respect you no matter how you look.

  With this closing I will say that “I will strive to do the best that I can.”

  Anonymous

  Because I’m Black

  Sometimes I ask myself why did I have to be born black?

  And there are times when I feel as if I want to turn back!

  But then I ask myself again didn’t God put me here for a purpose? Then I know that’s why I’m not going to be satisfied within the Negro circle.

  Just because God saw fit to paint me black; I’m the one that always sits in the back.

  I’m a man and I want to be treated as a man and not as
a left hand.

  One day God’s gonna lift his hand over this great land, I want to be a left or a right but a man.

  I hope we all be around when God brings the high and mighty to the ground.

  Ruth P.

  Interview with Betty L.

  Q. In what ways is Meridian different from your home town?

  A. The main difference is that my home town—New York City—is in the North and Meridian is in the South. In New York, being a Northern city, problems of racial injustice do exist but are more subtle and more difficult to grab onto and deal with. In Meridian, being a Southern city, these problems are more blatant and out in the open. But I also feel that here there is a great deal of spirit, hope, and strength with which to struggle against these injustices. Once changes can occur here perhaps my own home town and the rest of the nation can change also.

  Q. How do you like teaching in the Freedom School?

  A. I’ve found teaching in the Freedom School very exciting and rewarding. The students are alert and interested—the future leaders of the Mississippi Freedom Movement. Their understanding of the problems that they and all of us face is amazing. Together we have all grown in our understanding of each other and of the tasks that still need to be fulfilled. I hope that we can try to apply our understanding and actively work toward realizing our goals.