Whilbr Heading
Search | Use Google Search
Collection:


Words or Phrase:


Search Method Help Image
Left Nav Image    Home   |   Links   |   Contact Us   |   Facebook   |   Digital Whilbr
Yellow Bar image
Description ImageWhilbr Description
        
 

  


Collection Dropdown Image
Allegany County
Category Divider
Garrett County
Category Divider
Washington County
Category Divider
Civil War in Maryland
Category Divider
Genealogy Resources
Category Divider
Photographs and Prints
 
The recent past - Segregation/integration


The recent past - Pam Harper Click on the MEDIA ITEMS below for more information
   



THE RECENT PAST

Pam Harper described what it was like to grow up black in Cumberland. "It wasn't until 1957-1968 that blacks here began to be treated like people. We weren't 'allowed' in movie houses. We had different schools (Harper attended the all-black Carver School which was located on Frederick Street). We weren't 'allowed' to eat with whites and we had different bathrooms and water fountains. We went swimming in the 'black pool.'"

Linda Scott, a 1973 graduate of Frostburg State University, is now a field producer for a national television news service. She recently recalled her student days at FSU.

"In 1969 there was only a handful of black students at FSU," she said. "We were elated to be on our own, but scared about how the community would accept us. We had a lot of problems with the fraternities. They would write 'Nigger Go Home' on our doors. Trash cans would be placed before our doors and set afire.

"A huge banner with KFW (for "Keep Frostburg White") was displayed across the second floor of the dormitory. One fraternity put on minstrel shows with white students wearing blackface, making fun of blacks. I had to take a landlord to court to get him to rent an apartment to me. He said before witnesses, 'No colored allowed.'

"We were scared and huddled, afraid to walk the streets at night. Black students tried to stick together. It was difficult until Bill and Pansye Atkinson and Gregg Rhodes came to the school and gave moral supports.



ID:
acaa236

Notes:
Cumberland Sunday Times

Date:
1988-03-27

Collection Location:
Allegany County, Maryland

Subject:
African Americans, History; Allegany County (Md.), History.

 Coverage:
Allegany County (Md.), 1890-2008

  
 
Western Maryland Regional Library
100 South Potomac Street
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Footer Image     Contact Webmaster  |  Copyright Information Top Line Image