"Apollo: When We Went to the Moon" opens at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Recently, the Isle of Wight School Board passed a resolution that declared, “There is no systemic racism or bigotry perpetuated by the United States or any governmental entity.” We were reminded of the classic western “Tombstone” and the words of Doc Holliday: “My hypocrisy goes only so far.” Our hypocrisy does not allow us to let the resolution go unchallenged.
To provide context, Isle of Wight was a leader in defying the Supreme Court desegregation order stemming from the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling. That Virginia defiance, known as Massive Resistance, was described by Virginia U.S. Sen. Harry Byrd as a way to “prevent a single Negro child from entering any white school.” The legacy of segregation lives on in Virginia’s schools today. Since 2003, the number of Virginia schools that are racially isolated and underserved has nearly doubled.
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The Isle of Wight School Board’s resolution is part of the current debate surrounding the adoption of an updated history curriculum by the Virginia Board of Education, a body on which each of us has served. The debate has focused on whether Virginia’s history courses should tell the complete history of Virginia – “the good, the bad and the ugly” – or whether it should, as the Isle of Wight School Board conveniently did, forget “the bad and the ugly.”
We believe the entirety of Virginia’s history must finally be addressed in our curriculum so that our children understand that intentional racism and discrimination have detrimentally affected all aspects of Virginia life, from opportunities for education, advancement and the concomitant accumulation of wealth resulting in the average Black family’s wealth being one-eighth the average white family’s, to the physical and mental health of generations of children, both Black and white.
Any discussion of Virginia history must include recognition of laws enacted during the colonial period, Reconstruction, the Readjusters, the Jim Crow era, Massive Resistance and the civil rights era that in some cases constricted or eliminated the rights of people of African descent as well as women. The Board of Education must adopt standards that include these issues and provide guidance in a manner that encourages students to better understand what they can do to help eradicate the remnants of past discrimination. That approach will better the health and well-being of all Virginia’s children and grow Virginia’s economy by better preparing our students and our future workforce to function effectively in a global economy that is multiethnic and multicultural.
We urge elected officials and our business leaders to meet the moment, to speak out against actions such as those taken by the Isle of Wight School Board, to demand that our telling of Virginia’s history be honest and complete, based on facts and not partisan opinions so that Virginia becomes a national leader in providing a truly inclusive community. Thus far, we have witnessed the absence of participation from elected and appointed officials to tell us that Virginia’s history of governmental racism and discrimination, especially in education and housing, has been reprehensible, and to demand intentional government action to eliminate the vestiges of that discrimination.
Some public officials are disingenuously blaming either the COVID-19 pandemic or the emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion for the current achievement gap between white and minority students. That gap, however, is the result of the intentional, systemic racism of Virginia’s government over many decades. That truth cannot and should not be whitewashed.
We call upon our elected officials at every level to demand the truthful and inclusive telling of Virginia’s history. Virginians must insist that “our leaders” indeed lead. If they do not, they should leave the arena and let others willing to fight for a better Virginia assume their responsibilities.
If our leaders continue to turn a blind eye to the truthful and complete telling of history or decide that lies are better taught to our children, then they run the risk of having to defend their actions to their grandchildren when history’s “bad and ugly” repeat themselves, as they most assuredly will. We need leaders who can affirm that they took action to guarantee every Virginia resident a complete and honest education that provided the opportunity to develop to their full potential, to grow Virginia’s economy and to enrich the quality of their life.
Virginia, it’s time for leadership, a commodity that at present is woefully lacking.
From the archives: In 1960, The Richmond 34 were arrested during a sit-in at the Thalhimers lunch counter
Demonstrators are arrested and charged with trespassing at Thalhimers department store on Feb. 22, 1960. Those arrested would not leave after being refused service at a tearoom and a lunch counter.
Crowd inside Thalhimers department store the day of demonstration and arrests. Photo was not published. Photo taken Feb. 22, 1960. Was received by Times-Dispatch library on February 23, 1960
The Rev. Frank Pinkston, a 23-year-old Baptist ministerial student from Silver Springs, Fla., is arrested and charged with trespassing at Thalhimers department store on Feb. 22, 1960. Those arrested would not leave after being refused service at a tearoom and a lunch counter.
Crowd at city lock-up after 34 demonstrators were arrested and charged with trespassing at Thalhimers department store. Those arrested would not leave after being refused service at a tearoom and a lunch counter.
Front page of the Richmond Times-Dispatch from Feb. 23, 1960. An article about arrests at the Thalhimers sit-in is in the bottom right corner.
The story that ran on the Feb. 23, 1960 front page of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Page 4 of the Richmond Times-Dispatch from Tuesday, February 23, 1960.
Photo from page 4 of the Richmond Times-Dispatch from Feb. 23, 1960.
Published caption: "Mounted and K-9 Squad Policemen Break Up Crowd at Lock-Up After Arrests"
Thalhimers picket and protest
Thalhimers picket and protest.
Thalhimers picket and protest
LeRoy Bray arrested at Thalhimers department store as students from Virginia Union University attempt to get service in whites-only dining areas.
Frank Pinkston, lower right, at Thalhimers department store, outside the Richmond Room, Feb. 22, 1960, in an attempt to be seated in segregated dining areas.
Protest at Thalhimers department store in downtown Richmond as Virginia Union University students attempted to get served in whites-only dining areas. Dr. Marshall Banks is at left, against the wall. Cornell Moore is behind him.
Pickets outside Thalhimers department store in downtown Richmond as Virginia Union University students attempted to get served in whites-only dining areas.
Pickets outside Thalhimers department store in downtown Richmond as Virginia Union University students attempted to get served in whites-only dining areas.
Frank Pinkston, lower right, at Thalhimers department store, outside the Richmond Room, Feb. 22, 1960, in an attempt to be seated in segregated dining areas.
Protest at Thalhimers department store in downtown Richmond as Virginia Union University students attempted to get served in whites-only dining areas.
Protest at Thalhimers department store in downtown Richmond as Virginia Union University students attempted to get served in whites-only dining areas.
Thalhimers picket and protest.
Elizabeth Johnson Rice was the speaker of the "Civil Rights Day of Remembrance" at the former Thalhimers Department Store on Broad Street on Sunday, February 22, 2004. Rice returned to Richmond to commemorate the 44th anniversary of their protest over lunch counter segregation.
Viewers stand under umbrellas on Feb. 22, 2010 during the unveiling of a marker commemorating the Thalhimers sit-in and the Richmond 34.
Elizabeth Thalhimer-Smartt (left) and Elizabeth Johnson-Rice pull back the cover over a marker commemorating the Thalhimers sit-in and the Richmond 34 on Feb. 22, 2010.
Rev. Leroy M. Bray, Jr. photographed Wed. Feb. 10, 2010 in Richmond. Mr. Bray was one of 34 VUU students arrested for defying segregation and will be speaking at 50th anniversary events.
Elizabeth Johnson Rice, one of the 34 VUU students arrested in 1960 lunch-counter sit-in at Thalhimers.
Elizabeth Johnson Rice in her VUU yearbook photo
Del. Mamye E. BaCote, D-Newport News, center, received a standing ovation during the floor session of the House of Delegates in Richmond on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. BaCote had just revealed that she was one of the "Richmond 34" who staged a sit-in at the all-white Thalhimers lunch room when she was a student at Virginia Union University.
Ford T. Johnson of Maryland unveils the historical marker commemorating the "Richmond 34," a group of mostly 34 Virginia Union University students arrested during a sit-in at the Thalhimers department store. Johnson, who is one of the 34, was accompanied by three others who took part in the sit-in: (from left): Johnson's sister, Elizabeth Johnson Rice; Raymond B. Randolph Jr. of Farmington Hills, Michigan (third from left); and Wendell Foster of Richmond (fourth from left). The unveiling took place along Broad Street, between 6th and 7th streets on June 28, 2016.
Elizabeth Johnson Rice speaks during the unveiling of an historical marker commemorating the 1960 "Richmond Sit-In" of 34 Virginia Union University students at the Thalhimers department store lunchroom. Rice is one of the 34 students who took part in the sit-in. The ceremony took place on Broad Street between 6th and 7th Streets. June 28, 2016.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, right, welcomed the Rev. Leroy M. Bray, Jr., left, and his wife, Cynthia, center to the Executive Mansion in Richmond on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. They were part of a group of black leaders, some of whom were members of the Richmond 34, who stages a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch counter in 1960.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, right, talks with Rev. Dr. Claude Perkins, left, and his wife Cheryl, center, inside the Executive Mansion in Richmond, on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. They were part of a group of black leaders, some of whom were members of the Richmond 34, who staged a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch counter in 1960.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, left,, welcomed Dr. Roland Moore, right, and his wife, Blanche, center, to the Executive Mansion in Richmond, VA Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. They were part of a group of black leaders, some of whom were members of the Richmond 34, who staged a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch counter in 1960.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, left, welcomed, from left, retired judge Birdie Hairston Jamison, Dr. Anderson J. Franklin and Elizabeth Rice to the Executive Mansion in Richmond on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. They were part of a group of black leaders, some of whom were members of the Richmond 34, who staged a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch counter in 1960. Franklin and Rice were two of the original 34.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, center, welcomed black leaders and some members of the Richmond 34 to the Executive Mansion in Richmond on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. They were part of a group of black leaders, some of whom were members of the Richmond 34, who staged a sit-in at Thalhimer's lunch counter in 1960.
Virginia First Lady Pam Northam, left, watches as her husband, Governor Ralph Northam, right, talks with Rev. Dr. Claude Perkins, center left, and his wife Cheryl, center right, inside the Executive Mansion in Richmond on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. The Perkins were part of a group of black leaders, visiting the Mansion, some of whom were members of the Richmond 34, who staged a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch counter in 1960.
Rev. Dr. Claude Perkins, left, and his wife Cheryl, second from left, talk with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and First Lady Pam Northam inside the Executive Mansion in Richmond on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. The Perkins were part of a group of black leaders, visiting the Mansion, some of whom were members of the Richmond 34, who staged a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch counter in 1960.
Elizabeth Johnson Rice, center, surrounded by lawmakers and several other original members of the Richmond 34, were honored by the House of Delegates inside the State Capitol in Richmond on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. The Richmond 34 staged a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch room in 1960.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, center, welcomed black leaders and some members of the Richmond 34 to the Executive Mansion in Richmond on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. They were part of a group of black leaders, some of whom were members of the Richmond 34, who staged a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch counter in 1960.
Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, left, stands with Elizabeth Johnson Rice, center, surrounded by several other original members of the Richmond 34, from left, Dr. Anderson J. Franklin, Rev. Leroy M. Bray, Jr. and Wendell Foster, pose after they were honored by the House of Delegates inside the State Capitol in Richmond on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. The Richmond 34 staged a sit-in at Thalhimers lunch room in 1960.
Timothy Sullivan is former president of the College of William and Mary. Contact him at tribechief@icloud.com.
James W. Dyke is former Virginia secretary of education. Contact him at jameswdyke@gmail.com.
Alvin J. Schexnider is a member of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Contact him at alvin@schexniderllc.com.
