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Fifty Years Ago in Orlando Civil Rights

Orlando in the Summer of 1963: “The Summer of Schools and Pools”

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This is the first in a series of articles focusing on the momentous local changes and events in the civil rights struggle, fifty years ago in Orlando, by Doug Head, former Orange County Democratic Party Chair. 

Fifty years ago the United States and the South were very different places. Segregation was alive and well in Orlando. We ought to remember some of the history as this Summer progresses, for it was in 1963 that Orlando had its own struggle with civil rights and integration. Here are some facts from fifty years ago to start the story: 

In early June of 1963, the South, (including Florida), was being wracked by spasms of violence as Black people tried to integrate public accommodations and schools. Violence had broken out in a lot of places and it was getting to be a hot Summer, which would start with murders and end with the giant March on Washington where over 200,000 gathered to support civil rights. On the 6th of June, George Wallace was forced (with Federal Troops backing up the order from President Kennedy) to step aside from the University registration door in Tuskaloosa, and to allow two Black students to register. In the following days, police riots convulsed Jackson Mississippi and on the night of June 11, Medgar Evers was assassinated.

Meanwhile, other southern cities got busy trying to solve the problems to avoid conflict. On the day Evers was shot, Orlando and Miami appointed “bi-racial Commissions “ to encourage dialogue and non-violent progress. The Orlando Sentinel reported that Orlando Mayor Bob Carr had appointed an “expanded” committee on the 11th. This built on the work of an earlier (smaller) group.

The following people were on the Committee in 1963. They are all gone, I believe. But people ought to remember them.

  • Judge John G. Parker, Chair
  • Harlold E, Scott, Vice Chair – “insurance man”
  • E. J. Pendergrass – Pastor of Frist Methodist Church
  • John A. Johnson – Restaurant Association President
  • William E. Davis – Downtown Council Representative
  • John Cooper – President, Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce
  • J. R. Partlow – Representing Theaters
  • James Cooper – Orange County Commissioner
  • Ormund Powers – Orlando Daily Newspapers
  • O. P. Hewitt – President, Florida National Bank
  • R. H. Lawrence – President, Central Florida Development Committee
  • Joseph I. Brechner – WFTV Broadcaster
  • Rev. N. G. Staggers – Pastor Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
  • Rev. C. J. Jackson – Pastor Shiloh Baptist Church
  • Rev. J. W. Burroughs – Pastor Mt. Olive A.M.E, Church
  • N. D. Woolfork – Attorney
  • F. R. Johnson – District Manager, Central Life Insurance Company
  • Mrs. Mabel Richardson, Civic Worker
  • Mrs. Annie H. Crooms, Retired School Teacher
  • Mrs. Elaine B Cox – Civic Worker
  • Willie J. Bruton – Mortician
  • Elder F. A. Stokes – Pastor, Mt. Sinai Seventh Day Adventist Church
  • William C. Lewis – Salesman
  • Dr. I. S. Hankins – Physician

When the group met the next day, they were pretty clearly terrified about events elsewhere. The Sentinel headline announced the Evers shooting and there had been more violence in Jackson. On the 12th, the Sentinel reported that Judge Baker had opened the meeting saying “ This matter must be approached and solved not under the shadow of fear or threats of violence, but by the light of what is right…. We should make haste, but deliberately. We must make progress and have such progress be substantial and permanent….We should not reach for extreme solutions.”

He went on to praise the City for “notable progress” and the Mayor for forming the Committee. “Our task is to establish further objectives and to help smooth the path for their accomplishment.”

He said the Committee would reconvene in two weeks.

First of a series of articles on Orlando civil rights struggle.

 

 

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