UTM hosted “Segregation in West Tennessee”, a panel of people who grew up in segregated West Tennessee communities, in Watkins Auditorium on Feb. 20.
The panel discussion was one of many events associated with the 19th annual Civil Rights Conference, “Towards the Radical Revolution Of Values”, which continues at UTM through Feb. 23rd.
Six panelists shared their experiences growing up during segregation and how desegregation changed and affected their lives.
Many panelists pointed out the impact educators had on their lives, whether positive or negative.
Panelist Robbin Johnson stated her inspiration to become an educator came from her first grade teacher.
“She demanded a lot of me, sometimes I thought she was being a little too hard on me, but it is because of her that I wanted to become a teacher,” Johnson said.
Johnson also shared an account of racial injustice she experienced as a masters student here at UTM in the 1970s.
Johnson’s professor used a racially charged word, which cannot be printed through this outlet, repeatedly throughout a presentation, to which Johnson addressed the matter.
“I have a problem with an educator standing before a group of educators mispronouncing or calling people names other than what they are designated to be called. And don’t you think we would learn to pronounce these words correctly if we’re going to teach children? Because children learn from their experiences with adults. Well nevertheless, I was shunned from the rest of that quarter.”
Johnson finished her masters degree and went on to teach at South Fulton Elementary School.
Another panelist, Johnny Shanklin, shared how his high school football coach, Jim Graves, took a special interest in him and went out of his way to take him to practice and competitions.
“That coach lived on the north side of town and would pick me up and take me to practice at Martin High School on the south side of town. He took me to Jackson for the boxing team. He took me to Nashville to compete in the Decathlon,” Shanklin said.
By the time of Shanklin’s graduation he was offered a football scholarship to UTM.
“I’m telling you this to let you know how one person can make a difference, not only with one other person, but in a whole community.”
The panelists also gave the audience several examples of injustices they have experienced, from giving up extracurricular activities when public schools were integrated in the 1960s, to business owners refusing to serve them.
Johnson described not wanting to go to school because she couldn’t participate in any extracurricular activities.
“I went from an environment where I was a participant, to an environment where I was an onlooker. No longer was I a member of the basketball team, I could only look. My husband was one of the best basketball players in the area in 1962-63 yet he could not play. They could not assure his safety, is what they told him.”
Shanklin shared some of his experiences with racial injustice.
“We experienced a few times where restaurants didn’t want to serve us because there were three blacks on the team. My coach simply told them we won’t eat here. That became known and things began to change in our conference, because that man stood up and said that’s not the way we’re going to deal with this,” Shanklin said.
When an audience member asked panelist Edgar Earl what advice he would give to young men today he emphasized the need to “cherish and nurture those things that are dear to you while they are still near to you, because the day will come when these things will be gone.”
Earl also encouraged the audience to, “Never forget the people who built the bridges for you to cross.”
All events within the Civil Rights Conference are held in Watkins Auditorium and are free of charge unless noted otherwise.
For more information regarding the events or ways to get involved with the annual Civil Rights Conference contact civilrights@utm.edu.
