The Clinton Twelve

Love Overcomes a young man's anger
by Johanne Jean-Jacques
reprinted with permission from
The Courier News
June 4, 2006
editor@hometownclinton.com

Alfred Williams never knew that when he pulled a knife against a mob of white kids, it would end his high school career.

He was only trying to protect his younger brother Maurice. But the verdict was in. The superintendent of schools made the decision to expel him just four months shy of graduation in 1957.

Williams, 69, never returned to school, but he still made a contribution to America's education system.

Against a wave of protest and assault, he and 11 other students became the first black students to integrate a public high school in the South. Clinton High School made the national news in 1956,

Williams describes his first year at Clinton as troublesome. Life inside the walls of the school meant being shoved against a locker, having objects thrown at one's head in class and being called the "N" word.

He said the kindness of teachers made a difference. His favorite teacher was Margaret Anderson.

"She was a nice person," he said. "She always had that nice smile."

"[Her smile] would put a glow in you."

He said her kindness helped him face the animosity he encountered daily.

Williams, who came to Clinton in his senior year, said tuition at Austin High School in Knoxville was a real burden for his family.

"They were not about to pay that," said Williams. "We were poor."

Williams, born in Anniston, Alabama, wa one of four boys. An uncle and a grandmother raised the boys after his mother died from tuberculosis.

His uncle took Alfred and his brothere Charles to Clinton in 1947 to look for work. His uncle found a maintenance job at a car dealership in Oak Ridge.

Eventually Alfred's grandmother and his two youngest brothers Eddie and Maurice joined the family.

Education became a mainstay in William's life. He was enrolled at the Green McAdoo School. After completing grammar school, he went to Vine Junior and Austin High School in Knoxviile.

But a federal judge in Knoxville changed his world, ordering Clinton High School to integrate.

"When they integrated Clinton High School, we had to come here," he said.

But with integration came protest from white supremacist groups.

Williams said before integration, Clinton was a peaceful town. He said whites and blacks, including the children, got along.

"We played together," he said.

Williams doesn't deny the signs of segregation that marked the times. He said a black person couldn't sit downstairs at the Ritz Theater or sit at lunch counters in Clinton.

"That's the way things were back then," he said.

Williams said the change came when white supremacist John Kasper came to town.

"He got the people riled up around here", he said.

Williams said during that time he was prepared to defend himself.

He said it was normal for him to carry a knife. The day of the incident he was late leaving school, he said. His younger brother Maurice went ahead of him. But when Williams caught up with maurice he saw a group of white kids hovering around him.

"He had no way to get through," said Williams.

Williams said he heard the kids say, "We're going to kill him."

His gut reaction was to pull the knife and defend his brouther.

"A lot of people say you should hold your peace," said Williams. "But you are not going to hold your peace."

When the white kids saw the knife they scattered. Word of William's actions reached the ears of the principal and the superintendent.

"They told me I shouldn't have had a knife," he said.

Williams admits he was prone to anger in his youth.

"I had that hot temper," he said, "I still have that hot temper, but I can pass it up."

Williams said being expelled made him angry. After taking a year of abuse, he had nothing to show for it.

"I was just the scapegoat," he said.

Williams said he wishes things had turned out differently.

"The only thing I wanted was an education," he said.

When asked why he never went back to school, Williams said he thought about getting his GED.

But not having an opportunity to graduate with his fellow classmate and good friend Bobby Cain discouraged him.

"It didn't feel right for Bobby and I not to graduate together," he said.

Williams said he and Cain had grown up together.

Williams said once expelled, he turned his mind to making a living. He said as a young man he wanted some wheels, so he set out to make money. Williams said he worked several different jobs and enventually met and settled down with his wife Vera. They have no children of their own.

But Williams said his life is filled with kids. For the last 11 years, he has served on the janitorial staff of Clinton Elementary School. Staff and parents will attest the children are fond of Williams.

"The kids do love him," said Mollie Scarbrough, chair of the Clinton Board of Education. "And I think they look up to him. He's just a part of the school."

Clinton Elementary School Principle Gary Lukat agrees.

"Alfred enjoys being in the school because of the kids." he said.

During the school year, Williams said he hands out candy treats to the children every Friday and chats with them, too.

"Those kids are my life", he said.

Williams said teachers have invited him to their classes to talk about his school experience. He said he lectures the children about the pitfalls of getting into fights. He admits that over the years he's learned to curb his own temper.

"How can I say I love the Lord and I don't love you?" he said.

Williams said thanks to children, he's developed a more tender heart.

"I turned my anger into love with the kids," he said.

he said he's pleased the city and the Green McAdoo Cultural Organization are erecting a museum in honor of the 12 black students. He's modest about the project.

"I'm not a hero," he said. "I had something to do. I had no alternative, but to go to school."