A Paragraph on Race Relations

My view on race relations in Columbia was connected with my volunteer work I did in the black community. This was in the 60s and 70s. I was recruited by my church (Trenholm Road United Methodist, TRUMC) to deliver Meals on Wheels in the Waverly District...

I would pick up the meals at the site center at TRUMC and deliver them to very appreciative elderly black women. I was also involved in Bethlehem Community Center serving on the Board and headed a Girl Scout Troop. One of my favorite persons who volunteered at the Center was a lady named Myrtle Gordon, a real community leader. In fact one of the streets near the Center is named for her. I also worked as an interviewer at the Free Medical Clinic. The establishment of their clinic took place under the guidance of the Rev. Bill Bouknight, senior pastor at TRUMC. He found a desperate need for this type of facility and it is still in operation off of Harden Street near the underpass and has volunteer physicians, pharmacists, social workers and interviewers.

One of my vivid memories was the walk to the State House to encourage the legislature to FUND EDUCATION NOW. This was a continuing effort from the Supreme Court Brown VS. Board of Education case fifty years earlier. We assembled at a Black Baptist church near Main Street and took our march to the State House. We had lots of banners and bright blue T shirts. Actually it was pretty orderly and we had a large crowd. Who knows if we had any influence on the legislature?

My two youngest children were involved in the integration of public schools and had no problems that they were aware of. One day as I was leisurely doing nothing, I heard there was a riot at A.C. Flora High School. My daughter was a student there at the time but she didn't think it was a big deal. However, she did tell me that she latched on to two of her African American friends and they happily escorted her through the melee and she walked on home.

The huge positive change is in the entire Waverly Neighborhood. The construction of Drew Park with its fine swimming facility is heavily used by all Columbians. The federal funding that was generated to rebuild an attractive neighborhood of small brick houses and yards benefited the community tremendously. The fact that both African Americans were represented in city and county governing bodies helped spearhead this revitalization.

The only real segregation that remains is in the churches but TRUMC is working to change that by having a wonderful integrated choir that adds so much to our church services. We feel fortunate to have such talent among us.