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4
Booker T. Washington ,
1856-1915
He lifted the veil of
ignorance
iili
tabli heb 1865
"Tis Better To Light A Candle Than To i
r~
Students who attended the court-ordered desegregation of
Macon County Schools in 1963-64 through Lee y. The
Macon County Board of Education case are shown on cover
of Tuskegee Civic Association program. Front row. from left,
are: Carmen Louise Judkins, Helois Elaine Billis, Harvey
These 12 students paved way for integration of Macon Schools
Lynn Jackson, Janis Laverne Carter and Edith Elaine
Henderson. Back row: Anthony Tilford Lee, Patricia
Camille Jones, Shirley Jea Chambliss, Willie B. Wyatt Jr
Wilma Jean Jones, Mar aa Marie Sullins and Robert L.
Judkins Jr.
Were first students to integrate Macon schools
Editor's note: On May 22, 2006, U.S.
District Court Judge Myron Thompson
dismissed the Macon County Board of
Education from the Lee v. Macon Board
of Education case that was filed in 1963.
Lee v. Macon led to the integration o
Macon County schools and was later
expanded to include 99 school districts
in Alabama. The case has been upheld
several times by the United States
Supreme Court and is still spplicable to
many school districts in Alabama.
Tuskegee News" editor Guy Rhodes
takes an in'depth look at the case and
what has become of some those involved.
See Pages A-4, A -6 and A- 7 [or addition-
al stories and commentary.
By GUY RHODES
Ed/tor
She was only 13 years old as she sat
in a witness chair at the federal court-
house in Opelika. It was in early 1964.
"The lawyer for the state of Alabama
was pretty rough, rd say badgering
me," Marsha Sullins, now Marsha
Sloctlm, remembers.
The eighth-grade student had been
prepped to testify by a young civil
rights attorney, Fred Gray, who was
still located in Montgomery before per-
sonally moving to Tuskegee, and John
Doar, first assistant attorney general
to U.S. Attorney General Robert E
Kennedy. Doar was one of the top men
in the U.S. Justice Department's Civil
Rights Division.
Sullins was attempting to relate
resistance she and a 11 other African-
American students had encountered
in their bid to become the first of their
r'~ [ ft. i,r
Photo by Jeff Thompson
Marsha Sullins Slocum, left, and her mother
Della Sullins look over school case legal papers
race to attend previously all-white
schools in Macon County.
The judge was none other than
Frank Johnson, a legendary figure
who often butted heads with George
Wallace. Alabama's segregationist gov-
ernor. The two had been law school
classmates at the University of
Alabama.
Wallace had ordered all-white
Tuskegee High School closed rather
than admit black students in compli-
ance with Lee v. the Macon County
Board of Education ruling that
ordered the county's school integrated.
Johnson was Wallace's worst enemy.
Not only that, Wallace used the
delaying tactic to solicit funds to
establish all-white Macon Academy.
He even took steps to provide state-
provided transportation and tuition
(See DIFFERENCE, P. A-6)
, r
, i
TU
By JEFF THOMPSON
Tuskgee News Staff
Democratic Macon County Board of Education candi-
dates are nearing the second hurdle in their races for
Places 3 and 4 on the School Board. Two of the four vying
for the positions won't quite clear the bar. though.
When more than three candidates are on a Primary bal-
lot for the same position and none receive 50 percent plus
one of the popular vo e. the top two must face off again in
postdate election: a runoff. The runoff in Macon County,
part of the process for selecting party candidates to run
on the November ballot, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18.
This year, the paper at the polls for the Democrats will
look sparse with only four names on it, but those names
have been through the fire to get there.
For Place three, Elnora Smith-Love challenges former
board member Aaron Robinson for his seat at the table. In
the Primary, Smith-Love barely .missed the "home free"
mark, obtaining 43 percent of the vote, while Robinson
Claimed a distant second-place, receiving 27 percent of
the vote. Sherry A. C. Sullen finished third with 17 per-
cent, followed by Jene A. Carter with 13 percent.
They are seeking the seat being vacated by former board
president Harold White is decided not to seek a fourth
six-year term.
When asked about his positions and expectations for the
runoff, Robinson said he just wants people to go back out
to the polls.
Mrs. Smith-Love did not respond to .The Tuskegee
News' messages for comments about the runoff.'
The race for Place4 has been much more active,
unearthing considerable tension between candidates
Katy Campbell and Chris Hunt since flyers were distrib-
uted after the Primary that referred to Hunt as a con-
Victed murderer.
Incumbent Campbell maintains that she knew nothing
and had nothing to do with the matter. She also believes
her supporters can trust her statements.
In reference to the flyers, she said, "I don't think that
(See ELECTION, P. A-6)
Milan B. Williams, an original member of the interna-
tionally acclaimed band The Commodores, passed away
Sunday, July 9, 2006 at MD Anderson Hospital in
Houston, Texas.
Milan was born on Easter Sunday in Okolona, Miss. on
March 28, 1948.
He was inspired and encouraged by his older brother,
Earl, to begin playing piano as a child. His career began
in high sc]aool when he formed his own
three-piece piece band in Okolona.
His musical desire was further nur"
tured as keyboard player with a band
in Tuskegee called The Jays, which
was the predecessor to the GrammY
Award winning Commodores, of
which he was a founding member.
Milan wrote the very first hit for
the Commodores, "Machine Gun" as
well as many others with the band
"The Bump", "Let's Get Started,"
"Brick House," and "Wonderland," Milan Williams
just to name a few.
Milan, with all of his success and stardom, was a very
humble and caring man who loved life. He grew up in
North Mississippi, attended Tuskegee Institute where he
was an engineering major. He settled in the Los Angeles
area and was a member of the Commodores for 20 years.
In October of 2000, NIilan married his sweetheart of 10
years, Melanie Bruno-Williams, who remained by his side
at all times until his death. Their deep and profound love
is and always will be an inspiration to all of their family
and friends.
Since the day he was diagnosed with cancer, he was
(See COMMODORE, P. A-6)
eral court
4
It is not very often when there is a queen
dispute in Macon County or Tuskegee. And
it is very rare to have one at Tuskegee
University. Unfortunately however, there
is a dispute Currently at Tuskegee
University.
Earlier this year, Tuskegee University
had its Miss Tuskegee University Pageant
dhuring which Emili$Sykes was crowned
Miss Tuskegee 2006-07. on that evening
there was a discrepancy with the judging.
Runnerup Calida Joy McCampbell was
deemed to have gone over the allotted time
for her speech.
After a long appeal process, Tuskegee
University officials stripped Sykes of her
title and give it to McCampbell, who had
not gone over the three minutes for her
speech.
Sykes has filed a lawsuit in federal court
against Tuskegee in an attempt to regain
her crown. According to reports, Sykes'
attorney Percy Squire of Ohio, Sykes'
home state, stated that Tuskegee over-
stepped its bounds.
Although Sykes believes her crown was
taken from her wrongly, McCampbell
received more of the votes from the stu-
dent body than Sykes and was leading in
the competition until the penalty. Sykes is
enrolled in summer school at TU, but has
delcined to publicly comment on the pro-
ceedings. Attempts to reach McCampell
were unsuccessful.
At stake is the TU scholarship that goes
with being selected Miss Tuskegee
University.
Minnie Austin, director of student life at
Tuskegee University, wrote in a prepared
(Miss TU, P. A-6)
A