DIY History | Transcribe | Social Justice | May Tangen Christmas Letters, 1961-1974 | 1969-12-07 May Tangen to Mr. and Mrs. John Stanley Page 1

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May Tangen Christmas Letters, 1961-1974

1969-12-07 May Tangen to Mr. and Mrs. John Stanley Page 1

December 7, 1969

Here it is a week later and I haven't got these letters off yet. The events of the week make this first page practically prehistoric, so I'd better make an account.

Doxey Hall, our music hall, auditorium, chapel, names after Miss Doxey, burned last night, a terrific loss. Band instruments, choir robes, mus-ic scores all ready for students to learn to sing with Miss Leontyne Price when they prepare for recording with her in January, pianos, or-gans, the meat of our pride in our music all gone. 

The cause is unknown, though I haven't heard official word. The events of the week are so various that I have to recount them like a leading up to the climax. 

There is this boycott, there is this campaign to get city funds for the building of the Physical Education building which will provide, in addi-tion to the usual gym, swimming pool, and bowling alley, a large enough place for an auditorium. The boycott queered the fund raising, though it has done surprisingly well among thoughtful whites who see beyond the boycott. 

The president wrote a letter to the editor saying that Rust College was not participating in the boycott, that we were still spending out money in Holly Springs. But in the same breath of time, the students, led by the head of the Student Government Association, back the boycott, even starting a new news sheet to air their views. 

The the merchants uptown, as is their custom during a boycott threat, break down the sales resistance of the poor blacks by having very allure-ing sales. They advertised a big Santa Claus parade for yesterday, Saturday, and asked Rust College band to participate in the parade. This caused a big ballyhoo which even I heard and felt, even to being vocal in asking that they not participate. Placards went up over the campus, the slogan of which ended in saying"Pray that the band will not march in the parade." Friday night it began to rain and it rained steadily all day long, cold, blustery, nasty. If God decides the rain pattern he certainly answered that prayer. The whole parade was of course called off. 

But I should again back up and say that I went to the NAACP reorganizatin meeting Thursday night. The college had it rigged, with a slate of of-ficers from the college and college-crowd townspeople. But the boycotting group also had made their decision and had packed the hall (Doxey Hall, which might be another reason why it could have been burned - its participation in NAACP affairs). With a few exceptions, they elected all the officers from their own group. But ow could it have been hoped that this would not occur? They are most numerous, theirs, not ours, is the need, it was democratic, we are few and elite and many college people don't participate. I was the only one from our dorm, from the library, from the white community on campus. It will, of course, also mean that since the college people sponsored the reorganization they must stick with it, which will lead to more unity in the community, one of the greatest needs. Also-rans were voted as executive committee mem-bers, a good thing for the unity

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December 7, 1969 Here it is a week later and I haven't got these letters off yet. The events of the week make this first page practically prehistoric, so I'd better make an account. Doxey Hall, our music hall, auditorium, chapel, names after Miss Doxey, burned last night, a terrific loss. Band instruments, choir robes, mus-ic scores all ready for students to learn to sing with Miss Leontyne Price when they prepare for recording with her in January, pianos, or-gans, the meat of our pride in our music all gone. The cause is unknown, though I haven't heard official word. The events of the week are so various that I have to recount them like a leading up to the climax. There is this boycott, there is this campaign to get city funds for the building of the Physical Education building which will provide, in addi-tion to the usual gym, swimming pool, and bowling alley, a large enough place for an auditorium. The boycott queered the fund raising, though it has done surprisingly well among thoughtful whites who see beyond the boycott. The president wrote a letter to the editor saying that Rust College was not participating in the boycott, that we were still spending out money in Holly Springs. But in the same breath of time, the students, led by the head of the Student Government Association, back the boycott, even starting a new news sheet to air their views. The the merchants uptown, as is their custom during a boycott threat, break down the sales resistance of the poor blacks by having very allure-ing sales. They advertised a big Santa Claus parade for yesterday, Saturday, and asked Rust College band to participate in the parade. This caused a big ballyhoo which even I heard and felt, even to being vocal in asking that they not participate. Placards went up over the campus, the slogan of which ended in saying"Pray that the band will not march in the parade." Friday night it began to rain and it rained steadily all day long, cold, blustery, nasty. If God decides the rain pattern he certainly answered that prayer. The whole parade was of course called off. But I should again back up and say that I went to the NAACP reorganizatin meeting Thursday night. The college had it rigged, with a slate of of-ficers from the college and college-crowd townspeople. But the boycotting group also had made their decision and had packed the hall (Doxey Hall, which might be another reason why it could have been burned - its participation in NAACP affairs). With a few exceptions, they elected all the officers from their own group. But ow could it have been hoped that this would not occur? They are most numerous, theirs, not ours, is the need, it was democratic, we are few and elite and many college people don't participate. I was the only one from our dorm, from the library, from the white community on campus. It will, of course, also mean that since the college people sponsored the reorganization they must stick with it, which will lead to more unity in the community, one of the greatest needs. Also-rans were voted as executive committee mem-bers, a good thing for the unity