January 13, 1970
Describes the Colbert County Board of Education submitting a desegregation plan to the federal courts system. The plan that was proposed sought to increase the number of black students in white schools. Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and Muscle Shoals are excluded from the zoning divisions. A map is included to show closer detail of the school zoning.
November 3, 1961
Describes Charlie Brown, a Florence ‘Negro’ previously taken into custody for “breaching the peace”, pleading guilty to his charge and paying a fine of $10. The articles goes on to say that the incident had no connection with any planned “sit-in” movement and was a misunderstanding.
November 2, 1961
This article describes Charlie Brown, a ‘Negro’ man, sitting down in a downtown drugstore in Florence, Alabama. Police were called after Brown made no effort to leave despite being asked to do so by store owners and he was taken into custody. The police assumed he would be charged with breach of the peace.
February 18, 1965
The writer says that whites should not resent the peaceful demands that ‘negroes’ make in relation to their civil rights.
May 11, 1963
Describes a Decatur resident vouching to keep desegregation in place. He also says that ‘negroes’ are less developed and meant to be separate from whites.
March 7, 1963
Writer calls for those who believe in desegregation who have not spoken out to do so in the midst of the events that have transpired across Alabama and in the South. Writer is from Florence, Alabama.
March 9, 1956
Describes a minstrel show put on by the Florence Lions Club in the Coffee High School auditorium. Participants are shown in a photo wearing blackface.
March 6, 1956
May says that all segregation laws should be repealed and replaced by the law of love. He also says that whites do not need segregation in order to “get along with Negroes.”
February 26, 1956
Burgess, a Sheffield resident, urges other white southerners to break down their own racial barriers. Says that he does not believe it to be a quick or easy process, but a necessary one.