I did my little part of Freedom Summer (1964) in the Sonora Desert of New Mexico 750 feet underground as the first black Park Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. I thought what I was doing took bravery and courage until I found out what was going on back home in Mississippi. While my adventure was 1000 miles from Marks, Mississippi and later proved to be somewhat significant, the most important things were going on in my home state. When Freedom Rider Hank Thomas spoke at the Jackson State University Founders Day, I thought about my own Freedom Summer activity and how scared I was going down underground everyday, five days a week; how apprehensive I was about representing all black people and making two speeches everyday before 5, 000 white visitors to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. So intent was I on being competent and doing a good job, I returned in 1965 and again in 1966 until I went from good to great in my evaluation. I certainly hope this pushed the envelope for blacks who followed me in the National Park Service. I also hope that my little bit out west enhanced the Civil Rights Movement to offset my absence from the going-ons back home in Mississippi during Freedom Summer. At least I have a handsome photo to remind me of my rock star status. It wasnt all bad.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 12:06:34 +0000
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