Summer 1964 pivotal in national changes

“Freedom Summer” has evolved to refer to both the drive for racial equality in Mississippi and the loosing of binds by passage and signing of the federal Civil Rights Act. Men and women who walked the walk 50 years ago are now senior citizens, able to reflect on where the nation and Eunice were then and are now.
Freedom Summer began in Mississippi where Robert Moses organized the event with help from the NAACP, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Congress on Racial Equality. In the half-century since, integration has progressed considerably. Entire integration in school systems and public service areas are examples of what has become social norms.
A year after President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, he signed the Voter Rights Act. The combination provided the impetus for momentous change.
Acknowledging all that has been gained, some of those who have lived in that time say that bad has come with the good.
St. Landry Parish teacher Cynthia Richard grew up in the aftermath of Freedom Summer. “I remember one incident when we were talking about St. Patrick’s Day and a teacher made a comment when we all wore the green color and said ‘There are no black Irishmen.’”
Richard has taught kindergarten through eighth grade, and she has witnessed one of the effects Freedom Summer has had upon the youth living in the post-1964 years.
“I think some of it changed for the better and some of it changed for the worse because we sort have lost ourselves along the way. You were raised that one particular group was better than another group and so everybody wanted to be in the group that was better so you sort of lose the person who you are because you’re taught to fit in with another group. It’s sort of good and bad.”
Richard also said that respect was important during the time period. “You were taught, when I was growing up, that respect is the key. Whether you were treated a certain way or not you were told when you should talk and when you should not talk.”
Carlton Frank, as active as any African American in civic and religious activities in the city, has a similar view.
“During that time, you had a little more unity. People wanted things to change.”
Frank said that it wasn’t just African Americans who wanted change. “There were a few whites who wanted to change because they knew it was the right thing to do.”
Frank is chairman of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. “I’m trying to do what I can to keep the torch burning. It was passed on and I happened to catch it from my father and uncle.”