February 2, 2009 is the 50th anniversary of the end of Massive Resistance in Norfolk. From Wikipedia:
Massive Resistance was a policy declared by U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr. on February 24, 1956 to unite other white politicians and leaders in Virginia in a campaign of new state laws and policies to prevent public school desegregation after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954. Although most of the laws created to implement Massive Resistance were negated by state and federal courts by January 1960, some policies and effects of the campaign against integrated public schools continued in Virginia for many more years.
The Virginian Pilot did an excellent six-part series on the topic last fall. Last year, at the Norfolk State of the City address, Mayor Paul Fraim mentioned the anniversary and said that something would be done to recognize it. Ultimately, an 18-member commission, co-chaired by former Vice Mayor, Rev. Joseph N. Green and former Mayor, Joseph A. Leafe, was formed. Little by little, information on the celebration of the end of this era in our city is coming out.
Until last week, I was quite unaware that a website regarding the event had been established. It was this announcement, which, as of this writing, appears in the RSS feed I have in my sidebar for Norfolk.gov press releases. Unfortunately, the announcement contains a link to a non-existent website – www.emr50th.com – instead of the real site, which I finally found here. An indication of things to come?
Perhaps.
One part of the observance started last Friday. Members of the Norfolk 17 and the Lost Class of 1959 gathered to view the Chrysler Museum exhibit, “50 Years Later: The Lessons of Massive Resistance.” A private viewing for those who lived through it seems an appropriate start. But what about public events?
Looking at the website, I see that the Unity March, which has been going on for several years after being started by former Vice Mayor and current council member Daun Hester, is now part of the 50th Anniversary Observances. Hmm.
Then there is the invitation-only reception at the Chrysler Museum on January 29, a dedication of an as-yet-unidentified site on January 30, and an invitation-only reception at First Baptist Church, Bute Street on February 2.
The public is able to visit the Chrysler on Sunday, February 1 from 1pm – 5pm to view the special exhibit. And thanks to the Norfolk – Portsmouth Bar Association, there will be a public forum on Wednesday, January 28 at 7pm at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center. Not that the information about this is on the website, though. Here’s what I got on it via email:
Please join us Wednesday, January 28, 2009, when we proudly host “The Triumph of the Rule of Law Over Massive Resistance: A Community Forum” moderated by Juan Williams. This noted civil rights author and National Public Radio and Fox News Analyst will lead a discussion, open to the public at no cost, that will include the Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court and Norfolk native, The Honorable Leroy R. Hassell, Sr.; constitutional and civil rights law scholar, Professor Davison M. Douglas of the William & Mary Law School; and Professor Charles Ford, Chair of the History Department at Norfolk State University.
There will also be a play by the Virginia Stage Company. Entitled “A Line in the Sand,” the play will run February 24 through March 15.
To say I am disappointed that Norfolk won’t be doing more public events would be an understatement. When the announcement was made last June, it appeared that there would be ample opportunity for Norfolk’s citizens to come together in a celebration of how much progress has been made. Instead, I see the special events of this commeration being “invitation only,” much too close for me to the segregation of people of yesteryear.
Will they never learn?
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
As disappointing as it may be that there aren’t more public events, you completely missed the opportunity to point out what events ARE public. My children and I will be attending the following:
January 19, 2009 (Monday)
“Unity March” in conjunction with Norfolk’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day observance. The route passes by institutions that played a key role in school desegregation: The Walter E. Hoffman U.S. Courthouse, The Virginian-Pilot, and First Baptist, Bute Street, where the Norfolk 17 were tutored and prepped to enter previously all-white schools. The day’s events will recognize the Norfolk 17, the Lost Class of 1959, U.S. District Judge Walter E. Hoffman; Lenoir Chambers, Pulitzer Prize-winning editor (editorials) of The Virginian-Pilot; First Baptist Church, and others.
10 a.m. March begins at Scope Plaza
11 a.m. Program at Chrysler Hall, featuring remarks by a Norfolk 17 representative and a Lost Class member, and musical performances.
Hope to see you there 🙂
Um, perhaps you missed the mention of the Unity March above as well as the information in my sidebar under “Stuff to Do.”
Yes, apparently I did. Thanks for pointing it out!
I was only ten and living in Iowa when Senator Byrd declared Massive Resistance as a policy in 1956, so it’s understandable that I missed it then. Unfortunately, I continued to miss it until today. Thanks for the post and the links.
I’m amazed by the “invitation only” nature of so many celebratory events. The more I think about that, the stranger it seems – particularly the invitation-only event at the Baptist Church. I may have missed a lot more than I realize, but I can’t remember ever hearing of an invitation-only event at a church, apart from weddings and such.
In terms of invitation-only events, (OT) the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Middle School and High School in Cumberland was …wait for it…
invitation only.
I was told it was ‘protocol’.
I think Massive Resistance can never be discussed enough. The bigger picture needs to be told over and over.
And in terms of Virginia Heritage Day, that’s a heritage that needs the light of day badly. The good with the bad, all of it on the table for everyone to see.