- Collection:
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection
- Title:
- Series of WSB-TV newsfilm clips of African American lawyers commenting on the University of Georgia's integration, students' replies to a reporter's questions, and African American students at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, 1961 January 9
- Creator:
- WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)
- Contributor to Resource:
- Hollowell, Donald L., 1917-2004
Ward, Horace T. (Horace Taliaferro), 1927-
Hunter-Gault, Charlayne - Date of Original:
- 1961-01-09
- Subject:
- African American lawyers--Georgia--Athens
Lawyers--Georgia--Athens
College integration--Georgia--Athens
Segregation in education--Georgia--Athens
College students--Georgia--Athens--Attitudes
African American college students--Georgia--Athens
Reporters and reporting--Georgia--Athens
Interviews--Georgia--Athens
School integration--Massive resistance movement--Georgia
Government, Resistance to--Georgia
College integration--Georgia--Athens--Public opinion
Public opinion--Georgia--Athens
College integration--Georgia--Athens--Press coverage
Georgia--Race relations - People:
- Ward, Horace T. (Horace Taliaferro), 1927-2016
Hollowell, Donald L., 1917-2004
Holmes, Hamilton, 1941-
Hunter-Gault, Charlayne
Tate, William, 1903-1980 - 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 the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia on January 9, 1961, African American lawyers comment on the university's integration; an unidentified reporter questions several white students from the University of Georgia about the university's integration; and African American students Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter integrate the university.
The clip begins with African American attorneys Horace T. Ward and Donald Hollowell standing beside Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes at a press conference. Attorney Hollowell states that they have not requested special protection for Hunter and Holmes as they begin attending the university, believing that the city police with the assistance of appropriate state and federal forces will handle the situation. He continues with his belief that the "the people at the university and around the university are sufficiently fair minded to want to see any Georgia citizen get the best education possible at the facilities which are provided by the state."
Next, as Ward and another African American get into a car parked near the Arch, reporters question the men about the appeal process. The watching white crowd makes comments about the leaving car and the lawyers; one student suggests they have a "nice trip back to Africa."
After the car leaves, there is a brief view of the Athens business district. An unidentified reporter interviews white students about the university's integration. The first student, identified as Ross Butler, feels that if the university is going to integrate, it should be done soon because of the short length of the current quarter. He also believes that the school should be left open even if integrated so all students can continue their education. Edward Stone, the next student interviewed, views integration as something that is happening throughout the South, although he says he will probably transfer to a different school if the University of Georgia integrates. Stone, who says he is working his way through school, says he is willing to give up his education at the University of Georgia.
Next, the reporter interviews an unidentified young man who is willing to accept "token integration" to preserve his education, although he says he is willing to give up his education if integration occurs on a mass scale. When asked about the court-ordered stay of the integration process, the young man replies that he hopes the state's lawyers are able to reverse the integration order but believes that integration is inevitable.
Student Chris Howes thinks that accepting integration is the only feasible thing to do; he emphasizes that "violence won't solve a thing." He reports that while other young men in the dormitories have differing opinions, most want to keep the university open. Howes also views the quietness on campus through the African American students' first visit as the result of "a lot of level headed students on the campus." After the interviews, white crowds mill on campus.
Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, the first two African American students at the University of Georgia, walk into Meigs Hall, the psychology building (Holmes' major). Holmes is also seen getting into a car. University officials, including Dean of Men William F. Tate, and students stand on the steps of the library. Finally, another unidentifed reporter interviews Charlayne Hunter regarding being "jeered at." She replies that she hasn't had much time to pay attention to the reactions of white students on campus.
African American students Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes first applied to the University of Georgia in July 1959. University officials claimed "lack of space" and refused to admit the two for several quarters. In the fall of 1960, African American attorneys Donald Hollowell, Constance B. Motley, and Horace T. Ward filed a federal lawsuit seeking admission for the two students. Federal judge William A. Bootle on January 6, 1961 ordered the university to admit the two students, ending the university's segregation. The students registered for classes on January 9 and attended their first classes January 11.
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: wsbn43781
- Metadata URL:
- https://crdl.usg.edu/id:ugabma_wsbn_wsbn43781
- Digital Object URL:
- https://crdl.usg.edu/do:ugabma_wsbn_wsbn43781
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/ugabma_wsbn_wsbn43781/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: wsbn43781, Series of WSB-TV newsfilm clips of African American lawyers commenting on the University of Georgia's integration, students' replies to a reporter's questions, and African American students at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, 1961 January 9, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 0990, 8:15/16:57, Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia
- Extent:
- 1 clip (about 8 mins., 42 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:
-
