Beschreibung:

4 x 6 in. with green printed wraps, saddle stapled, with Notebook on front. Ten pages filled in with tiny hand, many abbreviations. In the summer of 1963, civil rights protesters rallied at the Martin County Courthouse in Williamston, NC for over 32 days, singing and praying. This group was made up primarily of teenagers and young adults under the leadership of Sarah Small and Golden Frinks, a friend of Martin Luther King, Jr. The primary focus of the protests was desegregation. In November, Boston area members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) sent 15 white ministers to Williamston to increase media attention led by Paul Chapman and John Harmon (1921-2010). The writer of this little journal did not put his name in it anywhere. We have tried to identify him, without success. It is clearly not Chapman or Harmon, since he refers to them in the third person. It is also not Harvey Cox, since he is also referenced. It should be possible to identify him, since he mentions that he and Harvey led the march to the courthouse on Thurs., Nov. 14. Hopefully, that information will appear in Amanda Hilliard Smith's new book, "The Williamston Freedom Movement," due to be released this Spring/Summer (2014). Ms. Smith has recognized the importance of the North Carolina Civil Rights actions and tried to tell their story before all of the principles are gone. A few entries from this little journal tell the story in the first person: Mon. Nov. 11 [1963] – Drove to Newton – meeting Harvey Cox ???? @ 3. Drove up to Boston – St.Paul for Press interviews. …left @5.30 – Walpole – HJs supper – onward – 2 cars – 9 men – NJ turnpike – Richmond – Williamston. Went directly to church….lunch in Hayes school…Back to church. Questions & disc. w Frinks. Taken to James Small’s for rest and cleanup. Supper at church. {note: he gives every meal} Marvelous meeting. 136th night. Youth choir. Freedom songs & hymns. Sermon on I John 4. … ‘We shall overcome’ last….Big tapestry of Lord’s supper in front. Great confidence. Are you willing to go to jail? Will win! God is good. Wed. Nov. 13 Great Day in Williamston…Some training in nonviolent action in the late AM…. .more nonviolent training. …Wonderful evening meeting till 10.45. Singing, marching, speaking, praying. Text: I Cor. 13 – charity. These people love the enemy / and want freedom. Great kids. What spirit / what a faith. They’re carrying me along. One man said: “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” I’ve never seen people with such a singleness of purpose who know the power of Christ. Singing as I’ve never heard before…. Thurs. Nov.14 Up @ 8.30…..Some nonviolent training…. Public meeting – Paul Chapman led it – John Harmon spoke about Jesus Christ who has already united us / already forgiven us / frees us from fear….[During the day a policeman came & gave us an order not to march / later hand-typed names on same order (we refused to take them)….Much phone talk with SCLC lawyer in NY – in Georgia – Gov’s man in N.C.]. About 4, Harvey & I led the march up the street carrying crosses. (Just before we left a police car with loud speaker told us not to go.) Very few onlookers – lots of state police helmeted. TV cameras. When we got to Court House the sheriff said we were all under arrest – We had agreed to surrender without protest. Took the crosses from us. Went on to bid pine panneled [sic] Martin Cty. Court room. Filed into rows. People all around – [During the AM a white man walked up to church – I’ from Newport, R.I. & wish you good luck.] We went up 4 at a time & gave info re: selves – Kids under 16 treated separately. Lots of singing in the courtroom. Taken off to the jail – hand in hand, singing ‘We shall overcome.’ Separated from Negroes at separate jail. J. Harmon prayed…..Brought down in groups of 5 – more (same) info – Arraigned…. - $500 bonds Pictures taken. Singing as we came back. Refused to eat our supper (penitential)…. Reporters came. Evening pray