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09.07.10 - 8:20 PM
"Lord, Don't Move My Mountain, Just Give Me the Strength to Climb."
We mourn the death and honor the life of Jefferson Thomas, who as a gangly 15-year-old in 1957 joined eight other black teenagers to integrate Little Rock High School - jeering, spitting mobs and all. Thomas, who died of cancer at 67, was said to keep up his cohorts' spirits with his indomitable sense of humor. He was the first of the Little Rock 9 to die. His inevitable fears notwithstanding, he stood up for what was right; we could use more of his kind today.
Jefferson Thomas, with classmates Minnijean Brown and Thelma Mothershed
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Show AllA hero has died. The definition of a hero is one who stands up to their fears.
Like so many others who dared, he will get little recognition in life or in death.
He will always be a hero.
He may never get the just recognition from this flawed society but to know that he lived and died well is the stuff of heroes, racists notwithstanding.
Good-bye Mr. Thomas. And thank you very, very much for what you did for us all!!!
Over the weekend, on CSPAN's BookTV, I saw a 1994 interview with Melba Beals, another of the Little Rock Nine. She wrote a book called "Warriors Don't Cry."
Beals' stories about that horrific year were tragic and disturbing. The things these high school students had to endure, from their classmates as well as most of the adults who were supposed to caring for them, were awful. Acid in the face, ink sprayed on clothes, threatening phone calls, teachers intimidated by segregationists to ignore classroom taunts, beatings, and non-stop bullying. A day didn't go by that they didn't fear for their lives. I had read that people gave them a hard time. but I didn't know just how hard until watching this interview.
My thoughts are with Mr. Thomas' family. Yes, he was a true hero.
Also on Book TV I heard a program that challenged the idea that only the South needed the Civil Rights movement. They mentioned Levittown, PA where a black family tried to move in the same year as the Little Rock school integration. The author of a new book described how civil rights issues went under the radar in the North.
I personally remember this, since as children we spent summers and holidays with relatives in the "country" in Levittown, PA. My uncle and his friend cleaned their guns in the driveway and were talking about how they were "prepared". A cross had been burned.
I was about 10 years old. Coming from the projects in the Bronx, and knowing and liking many people of African-American and Puerto Rican descent, I argued with them that it was wrong to discriminate. They said I no longer knew the difference between blacks (that is not among the many words they used) and whites. Meanwhile, the minister in our church preached that God wanted us to be separate and did not answer a letter I wrote to him challenging this view. The phrase "Civil Rights troublemakers" appeared in several sermons.
While we applaud the Little Rock school kids, we in the North should avoid self-righteousness. It is not warranted. The problem continues, now in its most rabid expressions against Muslims and immigrants. Blacks are not off the hook either. Criticisms of Obama are warranted, but it makes my skin crawl when his race and veiled calls to violence are mixed in with the legitimate resentments of his elitist economic agenda and his dishonesty.
Joe
Yes, America is a deeply racist nation always looking out for another victim.
True, but it's hard to deny that a lot of progress has been made since those days of school shut-downs,Federal marshalls escorting kids up High School steps, 'colored only' facilities all over the place, and out-front, in-in-your-face racism. This man, and others like him, were a big part of what made that progress possible.
Blessings,
Brother Jefferson Thomas, your actions still resonates in my heart and many others...Yes, I to just want climb the mountain, where Torahs, Korans and Bibles are not burned. The America I know has the possiblity...
A warrior-hero, I salute thee!
Being reminded, when a hero passes, that we're all called to be heroes of peace.
Dr. Vincent Harding, colleague and co-writer of Dr. King's first draft of the speech delivered at Riverside Church - coming out against the Viet Nam war - among his many academic (emeritus) continuing activities is also part of the project Veterans of Hope. Stories of people, studies, videos and more...
http://www.veteransofhope.org/
no doubt Jefferson Thomas will be added