It is very customary during this month of Black History to highlight and to celebrate the often suppressed and disregarded achievements of African Americans in our culture. A few years ago, I did a piece entitled, “White Heroes in the Black Struggle.” My aim was to show how many whites were instrumental in our emancipation from both slavery and subsequent Jim Crow. I felt it very necessary, to the historical record, to show that all whites were not racist, biased, or oppressive to our advancement, but on the contrary, many were essential and instrumental in our struggle. Without the help of these individuals, we would not have prevailed. I want to resume where I left off from my previous piece to cite the contributions of five individuals whose stand against bigotry is truly heroic and worthy of posthumous honor.
The Daring and Dynamic Eleanor Roosevelt
When I think of those who have served as the First Lady of the United States and which one was arguably the most beloved and influential during her tenure, the name of Eleanor Roosevelt comes to mind. Admittedly, she did not possess the beauty and royal appearance of Jackie Kennedy, the behind the scene spousal influence of Nancy Reagan, nor the scholarly acclamation of Michelle Obama. However, no First Lady before or since her was as admired and beloved by the American public as a whole. African-Americans owe a debt of gratitude to her for being one of our greatest allies in high places who championed the cause of equality. I want to consider two incidences where her heroic intervention helped to overthrow a bastion of bigotry.
First, in 1939, Marian Anderson, who was one of the finest contraltos of her time, was prohibited from singing at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., because she was black. As a demonstration of protest, Eleanor Roosevelt, along with a group of citizens, arranged a concert at the Lincoln Memorial, which drew an audience of 75,000 people.
Another incident to the credibility of First Lady Roosevelt pertains to an event involving the Tuskegee Airmen. We are all well acquainted with the heroic aerial feats of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II thanks to the movie “Red Tails.” However, what most do not know is that had it not been for the bold endorsement of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and her insistence to fly in the plane with one of the Tuskegee Airmen, they most likely would not have gotten the opportunity to prove their skill and effective ability as fighter pilots.
The Voice
Arguably, one of America’s greatest crooners of all time was Frank Sinatra, who was given the nickname, “The Voice,” due to his mastery of songs in many categories of music. “Ole Blue Eyes,” to which he was also referred, was an Academy Award winning actor who appeared in over fifty films. Many knew him as the leader of the Rat Pack, which included well-known celebrities like Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis, Jr. However, what most do not know about Frank Sinatra is that he took a heroic stance against Jim Crow and bigotry during the height of his celebrity status and career. “The Voice” became a voice of protest by refusing to perform in any nightclub, establishment, or event that prohibited Sammy Davis Jr. from performing because he was black. The courageousness of Frank Sinatra’s stance opened the doors of various venues for many other African-American entertainers. This certifies Frank Sinatra as one of the white heroes in our struggle for equality.
The White Martyr in the Black Struggle
The movie, “Mississippi Burning,” highlighted the tragic slaying of three Civil Rights activist in Philadelphia, Mississippi on June 21, 1964. The three young men were: James Earl Chaney, who was African-American, Michael Schwerner, who was Jewish, and Andrew Goodman, who was Caucasian. They were students who had come to Mississippi to help organize civil rights efforts on behalf of the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) and were murdered in an execution and mobster fashion. In our celebration of the many African-American heroes like Emmett Till, Medgar Evers, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who gave their lives in the struggle for Civil Rights, we often overlook or disregard people like Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman. Although they were not black, they nevertheless gave their life in the struggle for our advancement and equality. God forbid that we ever forget these heroes and martyrs who shed their blood that we might be unshackled from the chains of bigotry. They came out of their comfort zones and privileged positions to assist us in our pursuit for equality.
Why Dean Smith Was More Than a Great Coach
“Some men see things as they are and say, why; I dream things that never were and say, why not.”—President John F. Kennedy
The recent passing of the iconic coach Dean Smith caught many of us by surprise. I have always been an admirer of his every since the days of Charlie Scott and Phil Ford. His coaching record and statistics speak and validate him as one of the greatest coaches of all time, right in the league with Adolf Rupp and John Wooden. However, what set Dean Smith apart, in perhaps a league by himself among the greatest college coaches, was his willingness to be proactive about not only recruiting blacks into his program, but also leading the effort to integrate some of the business establishments in the Chapel Hill Community. One of the incidents that established him as one of my white heroes in the black struggle happened at the University of South Carolina during the illustrious college career of the legendary Charlie Scott. As Charlie was getting ready to enter the game, one of the Carolina fans shouted, “Why are you sending that baboon into the game?” At this racist slur, Coach Dean Smith was enraged and immediately left the bench and headed toward the fellow who had uttered those words. His assistant coaches and players had to quickly constrain him until his righteous indignation subsided. His response to this racial slur convinced me that he was not only concerned about the talents of his players, but also their emotional well-being as well.
Pedro
When the idea came to do this article, I knew that I would conclude it by citing one local Caucasian/Jewish citizen, who was a friend and supporter of the African-American community.
I made some inquiries and did some random surveys about who was the one Caucasian/Jewish person in our locale who contributed the most to black advancement. One name that stood out above every other was the name of Alan Schafer, due to the fact that he helped many African- American families by providing them with jobs when jobs could not be found anywhere else.
I also discovered from a very reliable source that when the Criterion Club needed help Ms. Mary Blue, who knew Mr. Schafer, would not hesitate to ask him for help, which he always came through for them. Mr. Schafer was also responsible for helping quite a few blacks to attend college and to get their degree. The first African-American to be elected to the Dillon County Council was Elwood McQueen, who was prompted and supported by Mr. Schafer in his bid for the office.
As a philanthropist, he also gave donations to quite a few black churches in the area.
In light of all that we have considered, I have to conclude that Mr. Alan Schafer was the best white friend that the African-American community of Dillon County had in its formative years before the fall of Jim Crow and segregation.
It is my prayer that the Almighty will continue to raise up whites like the ones we have considered who are sympathetic and supportive of our struggle.
