LaVilla's Faculty and Staff:

What They Remember About the Civil Rights Movement

These pictures show the Civil Rights Movement in action.

 As part of LaVilla's Living Legacy we interviewed LaVilla's Faculty and Staff on what they remembered about the Civil Rights Movement. We appreciate those who talked to us and shared their memories about that time.

    Mrs. Moulton recalls segregation; things were separate such as schools, restrooms, water fountains, and entrances at the movie theatres. " When I went to school we were not integrated yet, so my childhood didn't really change that much," said Mrs. Scroggins. 

     Mrs. Rink grew up in a Christian home and her family was not prejudiced. At the time of segregation she did not give any thought to black people at all. Mrs. Scroggins also didn't give any thought to it and segregation did not bother her much. For her the fighting was the worst. "I didn't feel anything because I didn't live it, I felt the tension between races, and observed how whites had certain things blacks didn't have, and it was not fair," Mrs. Mullen, journalism teacher, said. Some whites participated in the Civil Rights Movement such as Mrs. Moulton. Even though she was not heavily involved and did not participate in sit-ins, she did attend protests. Mrs. Rink and her family thought of the Movement as it time for schools to be segregated.

    Events clearly remembered include Martin Luther King's March on Washington and his messages. Many believe Rosa Parks courage set the tone for the movement, and did something violence could not accomplish.  A few of the staff believe that the Civil Rights Movement gave people equal rights and jobs. It brought people together and broke down barriers for integration to begin in neighborhoods and schools. "I  think it made the country the way it was meant to be. This was one of the best things that happened to America," stated Mrs. Moulton. 

    The staff is also aware of some of the Civil Veterans (members of the NAACP) that helped our country, such as Harvey Jones and Marsha Joyner.  Here is a timeline of some of the events that took place during the Civil Rights Era.

    Talking to people about this time helped us understand more about life, and the way people lived during the Civil Rights Movement. We got a chance to visualize the experiences and situations that both blacks and whites went through. This was a very educational and interesting time for both of us. 

Meryl Rigdon and Tess Henderson

7th Grade Journalism