- Collection:
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection
- Title:
- Series of WSB-TV newsfilm clips of students at the University of Georgia responding to an unidentified reporter's questions regarding the schools integration in Athens, Georgia, 1961 January
- Creator:
- WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Contributor to Resource:
- Bireley, Denoe A.
King, Mary Matilda
Hunter-Gault, Charlayne
Holmes, Hamilton, 1941- - Date of Original:
- 1961-01
- Subject:
- College students--Georgia--Athens--Attitudes
African American college students--Georgia--Athens
Reporters and reporting--Georgia--Athens
Interviews--Georgia--Athens
College integration--Georgia--Athens
Segregation in education--Georgia--Athens
Government, Resistance to--Georgia
School integration--Massive resistance movement--Georgia
College integration--Georgia--Athens--Public opinion
Public opinion--Georgia--Athens
College sports--United States
Athens (Ga.)--Race relations--History--20th century - People:
- Bireley, Denoe A.
Hunter-Gault, Charlayne
Holmes, Hamilton, 1941-
King, Mary Matilda - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Clarke County, Athens, 33.96095, -83.37794
- Medium:
- moving images
news
unedited footage - Type:
- MovingImage
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this series of WSB-TV newsfilm clips from Athens, Georgia in January 1961, unidentified white students at the University of Georgia respond to an unidentified reporter's questions regarding the university's integration as they stand in front of Sanford Stadium. The interview of the first student is not completely recorded, but the student does indicate that there is a difference in feeling regarding integration between his father's generation and the students currently enrolled in the university. The second student affirms his belief in the equality of man and doesn't believe the university's integration will effect his education. The third student interviewed agrees that integration at the university will not effect his education. When asked about his parents' feelings on the situation, the student replies that while his parents help fund his education, he thinks that they will trust his decision. The fourth student who also believes in the equality of man asserts that students who pass the requirements to attend the university should be able to do so, regardless of their race. When asked about the opinion of other students on campus, he replies that he knows there is a variety of opinions on campus, but still believes that integration should be tried.
Next, the reporter interviews a female student, identified as Denoe "DeeDee" Bireley from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Bireley says that she doesn't believe that people on campus will like integration. She adds that she, like other people from Ft. Lauderdale, does not associate with African Americans; however, she thinks her parents would still want her to get an education. If integration begins at the university, she says, the university will not go back to being segregated. The next student, possibly junior Mary King, believes that African Americans as university day students would not be much of a problem, confirming that she would not have a problem with attending classes with a black student. However she believes that there would be problems if an African American student lived in the dormitories. While the trouble in such a situation may not be violent, she asserts that the other girls in the dorm would resent an African American student. King is next asked about criticism of athletics at the university made by a Dr. Condit; neither the reporter nor the student explain who Dr. Condit is or what his criticism entails. She replies that while she has not participated in any sporting events on campus, she believes competition is good for school spirit and feels the university would be harmed if athletics ended. The reporter again speaks to Bireley, asking her about Dr. Condit's comments. After a misunderstanding, Bireley responds that she believes the whole school should be involved in football and school spirit because education is more than just studying. Another male student interviewed by the reporter in the school of arts and sciences feels that too many resources are going to athletics instead of academics. After the person-on-the-street interviews, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, the first two African American students at the university, are seen walking on campus. A reporter asks Hunter about the ruling, but her reply is not recorded. Finally, Hunter and Holmes get into a car, refusing to answer more questions from reporters.
Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes first applied to the University of Georgia in the summer of 1959 but were denied based on lack of space according to the university. After several other unsuccessful applications, lawyers for the two students filed a federal lawsuit against the university. On January 6, 1961 federal judge William A. Bootle ordered the university to admit the students and to stop rejecting applicants solely based on race; Hunter and Holmes began attending classes at the University of Georgia on January 11, ending 176 years of segregation.
Title supplied by cataloger.
IMLS Grant, 2008.
Digibeta Center Cut (4 x 3) downconvert from HDD5 1080/23.98PsF film transfer. - Local Identifier:
- Clip number: wsbn42771
- Metadata URL:
- https://crdl.usg.edu/id:ugabma_wsbn_wsbn42771
- Digital Object URL:
- https://crdl.usg.edu/do:ugabma_wsbn_wsbn42771
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/ugabma_wsbn_wsbn42771/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: wsbn42771, Series of WSB-TV newsfilm clips of students at the University of Georgia responding to an unidentified reporter's questions regarding the schools integration in Athens, Georgia, 1961 January, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 0950, 12:20/19:04, Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia
- Extent:
- 1 clip (about 6 mins., 44 secs.): black-and-white, sound ; 16 mm.
- Original Collection:
- Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.
- Contributing Institution:
- Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection
- Rights:
-
