What Did Virginians Do To Black Students in 1959?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.พ. 2022
- The speaker is Thomas Mayfield - a World War II veteran who lived through and saw huge changes in America and in his culture in Farmville Virginia. He became a teacher and taught in a segregated school which, when the Supreme Court ruled that schools must be integrated, because the entire County - Prince Edward County Virginia, to shut it schools rather than integrate. For almost 6 years, white students went to private schools while black students fought to integrate the schools and did their best to provide education. This interview was conducted in 1989 as part of a television series I was making on the 1950s and 1960s. We selected mostly ordinary people describing their experiences rather than "famous folks." Thomas Mayfield told me that he would "tell it like he saw it" and indeed he did. He saw a segregated America in the library when returning from World War II. He saw segregated schools, high schools, colleges, elementary schools, and he became a teacher and deputy superintendent of schools. I post this video interview as part of American history and because I admired Thomas Mayfield for his clarity and honesty - describing what he saw and how he felt.
Mr Hoffman...amazing video! I was born and raised in Farmville Virginia (just turned 50!) and I'm almost sure I knew Mr Mayfield or know some of his relatives. Growing up, I really didn't understand or realize the sacrifice that people like Mr Mayfield made so that I could be successful in life. In my heart, I've always wanted to talk to each and every one of them and simply hug or shake their hand and say thank you. If for not their sacrifice, I would not be an Air Traffic Control Supervisor at the world's busiest Air Traffic Control Tower in Atlanta. May Mr Mayfield rest eternally in heaven. Thanks again for the video, David!
I found out my whole family is from Farmville & buried there. I didn't get a chance to meet anyone in person, I just went off my ancestry.com history and visited Graves across the street at the cemetery. I visited 2 years ago and went to the Moton H.S. museum. Sooo much history. I'm still searching for my living family there. I have all the census records going back to 1890
@Eric Lamar farmville is small enough Eric that I guarantee I know someone in your family! Always willing to link up and fellaship my man! My family on my father's side is buried in that same cemetery. I used to live right down that side street.
That is amazing 💜🔥✊🏾
Thank you for this priceless preservation of oral histories that would otherwise be lost to time or degradation of physical media (tapes, reels, discs, etc.) which is now stored digitally on sites like TH-cam
Thank you for your comment Michael. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Doc! you did it again.
Magnificent interview with a real person.
You don't cut, you don't make it a point of view.
You let one person talk.
You are doing God's work, amigo.
He told it like he saw it alright and with much dignity.
Mr Mayfield was a man of great stature- The ending is amazing
It's impossible to really put yourself in someone else's shoes but you can feel a bit of there pain when you listen to a man that lived it . If you can't see it in this man's eyes you're blind ! God bless you sir and thank you for sharing your story...
This wasn’t even long ago. His eyes are
so sparkly and familiar like you already know him. 🥺 What a beautiful soul, still proud to serve the people out of love even though his own country didn’t serve him. I can’t believe this was ever acceptable to treat anyone this way. There is still so much that needs to change. Only people who are leaders like him with actual inner power and love can make change
Also I think black men and women in the 80s already realized that society is stupid as fuck and there is no need to try so hard to be accepted by society who only wants to you be a modern slave for a little change every two weeks and struggle to survive because you have to eat and pay for things this earth already provides while doing work for them while they make all the money and the people have no free time to do what they love. Way past that. We need to connect back to nature and love. I think we’re all meant for so much more, but only evil people want to rule and order and steal and destroy and kill
I just want to thank you for documenting people's lives and experiences.
I hope this Elder rests well beyond this world. His comments remind me of this great book which details some of the events in Virginia post-Brown v. Board; the title of the book is "Democracy in Chains".
I do too. Thanks for the book recommendation. I just purchased it on Kindle.
this man passed away on my birthday February 5th. Awesome interview.
History matters and should be read and researched. Thank you for sharing this video lesson.
Thank you Mark.
Thank you for sharing♥️
I lived this (Nottoway ,VA)… I am proud to come from a family that knew education was important and made it a focus. I always had to fight be in better classes. I was told in Middle school that I should just be happy where I was. My assistant Principal said he knew what was best for me. If I had not persisted, I would have never been moved into advanced classes and never been challenged. I would have never known of the opportunities that education and asking questions would bring. My grandparents and grand aunt and uncle worked at the black segregated school, which became the non-segregated school from which I graduated. I remember the stories of how difficult the transition was and how horrible the people of color were treated. I remember not being allowed into some places even in the 80’s. ( People would say, just don’t go there. It’s not for you) I am thankful for the all the TEACHERs that chose to teach us ALL. There were some that did not do this and it was evident. Looking back it was hard and maybe one of the biggest reasons I avoided going home to the south. (Sad to say). I love my family and just invite them to visit me. NO ONE should be afraid or want to avoid going home for any reason, especially due to something they have no choice in being, their color. The baggage that racism puts on to people often goes unresolved for years, sometimes generations. TEACHing LOVE and RESPECT for ALL is the only way, we will ALL be BETTER. Let’s stop stereotyping people in general and look to their character. I have come across some amazing humans as well as some not so amazing and the key has been, I go where I am wanted and shed that the negative. As adults, we get to choose who and where we live and love. I child in school does not have that choice. An opportunity for one, should be available to all in this LAND of the FREE! My grandfather David L.Fitzgerald and Mr Mayfield were friends. I heard my G POP speak so highly of him, and totally understand every word spoken from my own life experience. WE CAN CHANGE! LOVE ON! WE JUST HAVE TO WANT IT!
Man, that is crazy. I never knew all that.. Everyone should be given a fair chance at an education..
What a thoughtful and well spoken man Mr. Mayfield was. Listening to him speak of a time I, as a Canadian recall witnessing with some confusion with such clarity is beautiful. I traveled south of the Mason Dixon line during the 60s, and recall the signs that said whites only, and black fountain, separate waiting rooms at the bus station. I’m not sure I had fully grasped the problem until I went there, even though I had been following the human rights movement in the news. Hearing this man speak so calmly about the things he experienced speaks volumes. Thank you for sharing this with us David.🖤🇨🇦
I grew up in rural VA. I used whatever water fountain I found before I could read & my mom struggled to get me to use the white fountain without poisoning my mind with racist BS. Ignorant
Thank you for sharing this video!Mr Mayfield was distinguished man,and he seemed so genuine!He described segregation and integration in a way that no matter what race you are ,you felt that experience, the frustration,intimidation etc..Rest in eternal peace Mr Mayfield ,I hope to meet you in Heaven,where there is no color barriers or discrimination,
Agree - amazing video. Good history lesson in this video. Hope more people will watch it.
Thanks forever sharing this video.👍👍 Thanks Dave Hoffman film maker.🎥
I wish I could have known this gentleman. I was nine when our schools in Rockingham County were finally integrated in 1965.
A beautiful capsule of living in an older part of our society. It's truly sad that he would even have to speak of it. I'm glad he did. I was born mid 50s and saw most all of what our society did during those times of integration. However, even today, Separate But Equal holds more sway than anything else between our societies. Still. Thank you, David for another enlightening look at our past. 🙂
Thank you David Hoffman for sharing these moving interviews with the world and giving us a glimpse at the reality of racism in America until relatively recently.
Wow. In a lifetime this world has changed so much, and still is. Its intresting how he alluded to the idea that in some ways integration negatively impacted his ability to communicate.
My grandmother Dorothy Brown went to Moton. I never met her but found out her history on ancestry.com. I found her school pics thru ancestry and I went to farmville to visit the school and it's now a museum. To my surprise she was apart of the walkout and her pic is apart of the museum. My father had no idea because she died when he was 19. My dad was so overwhelmed to learn she was apart of history. Across the street from the school is a graveyard with my ancestors are in. I had no idea. My father and brothers/sisters was born in Farmville but grew up in Atlantic City so that's all they know. Im happy to learn about my grandmother.
Mr. Hoffman. Thank you for you contribution to the history of people. Nothing short of extraordinary you are offering these insights. Truly needed. Beyond appreciated!
Thank you Kenneth for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the support and your membership. It matters to my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Remarkable video. Thank you.
Beautiful articulate man! Thank you David!
I shared it.
Greetings from me to you,am very happy for your comment, i love meeting people and having new friends around..
Wonderful day David. So very interesting.
Good stuff you put up, David!
It's a disgrace how schools are run. Schooling should be the same for every child. Inner city outer suburbs ....really really rural..it should all be the same.
Every child should have a good teacher..a good lunch..and a safe place to be taught ...and the best education our tax dollars can afford..no matter what color you are...black ..white..red.. yellow.. blue..we all pay freaking taxes..
The effects of racism are like the tentacles of an octopus or squid that have reach in EVERY SINGLE SHARED ASPECT of American society in the present day. But folks don't want to dare acknowledge that. Laws don't change what is in the hearts of man and everything written to address inequality has been skirted around throughout the history of this country. EVERY. SINGLE. LAW. Or amendment. Or act. Or court decision. The choice to make America a racial caste system after Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 was the original sin we have NEVER rectified. That hierarchy has coalesced and hardened in the 348 years since and people honestly expect that some simple law or bill is going to change 3 1/2 centuries of white people believing and being led to believe they are the superior people of this country? Yeah right.
inner cities full of welfare receipients do not pay taxes. so the schools have no money.
@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 earn your own way through life. i am white, and i support my family. that is all i am responsible for. not you, not any black man.
@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 I'm sorry your dad left before you were born.
@@fingersmcoy that makes you a racist
Fantastic video. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing this content🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Thank you.
Love these gems, and there here forever for future generations to see watch and learn how it REALLY was back in the day .❤️✌️
You're excerpts are amazing.
Your documentaries of a different era are pivotal for the next generations' ability to understand our society's past through a compassionate human level/lense. These interviews will stand the test of time and hopefully provide the future with an understanding of people on an individual basis; something we have never had the technology to do before with such accuracy. Thank you for all of your work !
Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Done. Being a student myself, it's not much, but your channel is top 3 for me!
Unfortunately, it's a perspective of time that I believe can only come with age but if kids today could only understand how recent this was.
Keep them coming, David!
Thank you so much for the support. I will try to keep them coming.
I’m forever gobsmacked at the way that humans Instinctively separate and divide what they see as their normal and therefore not normal… becomes …different. Normal weight - fat, normal hair..curly, normal dress-ridiculous, white-yellow-brown-black, average height-very short-ridiculously tall. My thesis investigated this human effect in part. It is truly amazing. Some try to see past it, others see they just live with it, whilst some insulate themselves against what they see and actually feel as threatening. The human race. Truly incredible how man has developed and the effect of tribal immersion over millennia.
Awesome visual time capsule
🙏
Who missed the fact that he laid the blame (politely) on the 'folks in power?
And it is truth
Wow, what a great story. What a great example this man is. It really struck me when he mentioned that he was proud of being an American and didn't harbor any hatred or anger. We need more comforting words like this in these chaotic times.
Once again, thank you for the support and the and the comment. He was a person without anger in his heart. A much healthier place to be it seems to me.
David Hoffman filmmaker
👍
There weree schools in 90's and prior where students weren't taught to read. They closed many schools rather than to give the students a better education. I had a family member that was illiterate who was gainfully employed never was on welfare and took care of his family of ten. There are educated people on welfare.
What kind of terminology is he referring to at 14:30?
black lingo
There's a paradox here folks---during WW2, servicemen like Mr Mayfield flawlessly served and furnished the supply and re-supply needs of multiple armies (including foreign) in active combat theaters in different countries. They did this daily and endlessly, in addition, they cooked, they cleaned, evacuated the wounded and transported the in need to safe zones whilst constantly been under fire from strafing enemy units---MANY DIED at the helm of their supply trucks, and were never honored by their own country...
The paradox is we are watching Russia in Ukraine struggle to supply and resupply next door in the Ukraine---if only they had the dedication of our forgotten boys....
Se ele tivesse nascido no Brasil ele teria tido uma carreira honrosa no nosso exército e uma vida sem o racismo do seu próprio governo.
Desegregation is still much better than segregation.
🤡
@@-Evo what’s clownish about the comment?
Thanks!
Thank you for your support.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Thanks!
Thank you Kenneth.
David Hoffman filmmaker