Supporters for Dexter Bell
As riots and violence break out in Baltimore, in Chattanooga the Howard School students and alumni who participated in the civil rights sit-ins, are taking to the streets together in peaceful protest of injustices they see in their city and their school.
Over 50 years ago, the Howard School in Chattanooga was the only high school in the nation to participate in lunch counter sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement. A source of pride for the African American community in Chattanooga, the Howard School has a long history and legacy of leadership.
As Chattanooga's inner city public high school, administrators and teachers have long struggled to boost academic scores and graduation rates, but under the recent leadership of beloved former Principal Paul Smith, the school was making an impressive turn-around. That is, until the heart of the Howard School's renaissance was pulled out.
Smith was pulled out from the school, appointed to serve as a public safety coordinator under the current city mayor. In just two years since Smith's departure, the Howard School, which was in a fragile but steadily improving condition, suddenly began to tailspin.
Students, parents and alumni who participated in the civil rights sit-ins years ago appear to now be in an uproar over the lack of compassionate leadership and the abrupt changes that are being made to the very things that embody the school's history and culture. A new principal has attempted to change things like the school colors, school mascot and even the school song. For the first time in years, the Howard School band was told this year that they could not march in the Armed Forces Day Parade, which they have participated in for years. The Howard School takes great pride in their band, music, and ROTC program, which has been a success for so many students. And most recently, a beloved band teacher and mentor Dexter Bell has been suspended and escorted off campus without explanation.
With the last straw of Bell's departure, students, parents, and alumni took to Market Street in front of the Howard School on Tuesday, May 5, (which happens to be Cinco de Mayo) to peacefully protest Bell's expulsion and the changes that are ripping out the school's history and legacy and very being.
Senior Jessica Cummings has been involved in the school's "Talented Tenth" a nationally-inspired leadership program originating in African American communities across the country. Several years ago, Cummings spoke out on nonviolence and addressing gang violence issues during the "Gandhi Visits Chattanooga" program at the Howard School and during the "Talent 10th" classroom visit. As a student leader today, she is using her voice to speak out for her school and fellow students, taking a stand and coining the term #HowardLivesMatter.
Gandhi’s Be Magazine spoke with Dr. Elenora Woods, Chattanooga/Hamilton County Branch NAACP, regarding yesterday’s prayer vigil and protest at the Howard School. Woods said, “We have been made aware of many issues concerning the Howard High School and the issues are being handled according to the policies and procedures of the local, state, and national guidelines. We will update the community once we have received and reviewed full details about the complaints. The NAACP has as its mission the goal of eliminating race prejudice and removing all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes."
Some Background: The Howard School Sit-in History
The Howard High School Class of 1960
A chronology in Prose By JoAnne Humphries Favors
Tennessee State Representative
The Howard High School Class of 1960 is a very unique and historic one indeed. For we started the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In the year 1942 or thereabouts, when most of us were born, America was engaged in a major conflict and very much war torn. The infamous World War II was taking place, with many battles being fought overseas. Our men being sent to combat in foreign lands kept our families on their knees.
Four thousand fifty-four babies were born in Hamilton County that year, 823 of them were black. That most of us were born in the southern states is certainly a well-known fact. We entered our neighborhood elementary schools in the year 1948, and we soon learned to arrive before the second bell rang to avoid being late. The year was 1960. I doubt any of us in first grade ever gave it a thought. Our priority then was to study hard, be good, and learn the lessons being taught.
Most of us began our friendships in kindergarten and elementary school. We played together and worshiped together and learned the Golden Rule. We shared our times of joy and sadness, and loved each other’s families as our very own, and we still experience an inseparable bond, although we are now grown. Chattanooga Avenue School from the Southside and yes, Spears Avenue from the North, Orchard Knob, Second District, Park City, from all over Chattanooga we came forth.
We came from Fort Cheatham and East Fifth Street, Joseph E. Smith and Calvin Donaldson, from West Main Street, and James A. Henry, what embedded memories of fun. When the time came to attend high school, Howard was the only one for us to choose. So we all came together as sophomores, never expecting to make the news. Even though almost 100 years had passed since the end of the divisive Civil War, in 1960 we were still not allowed to dine with whites, not even at a luncheon bar.
We detested the Jim Crow laws in effect then, which forced us to sit in back of the bus. We were discouraged by the lack of job opportunities for people who looked like us. There were no black bus drivers here, no bank tellers, no firefighters nor engineers, no detectives, television stars, airplane pilots, no elected officials or bank cashiers. “For Whites Only” signs over water fountains and restrooms were posted everywhere, as constant reminders of the many civil injustices that we were forced to bear.
In February 1960, as southern college students began to protest and express disgust, not having a black college in Chattanooga, this challenge rested sorely on us. The date was Feb. 19, 1960, when Howard students dared undertake this noble feat, that lead to a sit-in at McClellan’s segregated lunch counter, at 713 North Market St. The students were guided by three courageous classmates, as history was made that day: Robert Taylor, Robert Winston and Andrew Smith, were the students who lead the way.
Our principal, Dr. C.C.Bond and his assistant, Mr. R.O. Vaughn, were purposely not informed. Because they would dread retribution and fear that we would be harmed. Negroes “Sit Down Here: No Incident, No Service,” was the headline in the local news, and many of our parents, teachers and pastors became worried and really gave us the blues. The walls of segregation began toe crumble that summer, bringing us release from our dark past. We prayed that this was just the beginning of effecting social change that would last.
We still could not attend the local university, so many graduates left to pursue their goals. Some returned home, others did not, but the quest for equality continued to sear our souls. The assassinations, murders and other dastardly acts of racism will always be blight. Laws, such as the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, helped to rescue us from this plight. We have now experienced a period of increased knowledge, high technology, and rapid change. As a result of telecommunications and the space age, our society was rearranged.
Many graduates of this historic high school class have definitely made their marks, by attaining excellence in education, business, politics, religion, music and the arts. We were blessed and happy to reach yet another major milestone in the year 2004. When we all reached retirement age, could now refocus, or chose to work no more. We have been passionate about our commitments, and we have really kept the faith! When our end times come, we pray our Maker will receive us into the pearly gate.
An award wining documentary, No Incident, No Service was produced in 2003, and is archived at the Regional History Museum to document our legacy. Yes, the Howard High School Class of 1960 is a very unique and historic one indeed, for we started the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Revised and rededicated on the occasion of our 45th Class Reunion August 5, 2005
By Class Member, JoAnne Humphries Favors
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"First they came for the socialists and i did not speak out because i was not a socialist
then they came for the trade unionists and i did not speak out because i was not a trade unionist
then they came for the jews and i did not speak out because i was not a jew
then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me
—Pastor Martin Neimoller
Missy Crutchfield
Supporters for Dexter Bell