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The statues were
dedicated May
17, 2007. Fifty
years ago on this
day, Bobby Cain
became the first
African-American
to graduate from
a public high
school. Click
here for some
photos of the
statues.
About
the Statues
The Large Art Company has been selected to create
one of the most important sculpture displays in
the United States. Twelve life-size statues of
each of the students will be erected in front
of the museum. In addition to the importance of
this sculpture to the Civil Rights movement, it
also will be one of the largest sculptures in
the United States. For more information on the
statues, click on the Large
Art Web site.
Fifty
years later,
the Green McAdoo Cultural
Center opened its
doors.
August 27, 2006
Reunion Dinner/Dance
Photos
Thursday, August
26, 2006
Reception
Taking a bold step
by
Johanne Jean-Jacques
reprinted with permission from
The Courier News
August 27, 2006
editor@hometownclinton.com
Tennessee Governor Frank Clement was
an aberration when
it came to governors
in office during
the height of the
Civil Rights movement.
When Clement heard
the city of Clinton
was embroiled in
racial protests
against the integration
of Clinton High
School, he sent
the Tennessee National
Guard to quell the
violence. The governors
of Alabama, Mississippi,
and Arkansas would
never had made such
a decision. "That
was a bold step
for a southern governor
in 1956," said Frank
Clement Jr. Clement,
the son of the former
governor, made that
statement before
a crowd of 400 people
at a private reception
given in honor of
the Clinton 12 Thursday
afternoon. The outdoor
reception, held
under a big white
tent on N. Bowling
Street was the kick-off
event for the 50th
anniversary of the
integration of Clinton
High School. . .
.
In his speech,
Clement recognized
the former black
students in the
audience. "You stood
in the face of evil
with the threat
of bodily harm,"
said Clement to
the students. "But
by doing that you
impacted Clinton,
Tennessee, and the
nation." When Clement
specifically acknowledged
Bobby Cain, the
audience gave him
a standing ovation.
Cain was the first
black male to graduate
from a public high
school in the South.
Clement also gave
credit to the city
of Clinton for standing
behind the law and
not allowing segregationists
to control the town.
"The good people
of Clinton were
neither silenced
nor indifferent.,
he said. Clement
said a new generation
would have to step
forward and continue
the fight against
indifference and
hatred. "On behalf
of Gov. Bredesen,
I want to thank
the Clinton 12.
. .for teaching
us how to act,"
he said. Other speakers
included included
State Sen. Randy
McNally, State
Rep. Jim Hackworth
and Mayor Rex Lynch.
. . .To cap off
the reception, Shoopman
and the c ity of
Clinton presented
each student a key
to the city. The
students who received
a key included:
Bobby Cain, Minnie
Ann Dickey Jones,
Alvah McSwain, Robert
Thacker, JoAnn Corzier
Allen Boyce, Ronald
Hayden, Gail Ann
Epps Upton, William
Latham, Regina Turner
Smith, Alfred Williams,
Anna Theresser Caswell
and Maurice Soles.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Frank Clement
Jr. |
L to R from
Top: Alfred
Williams, William
Latham, x, Regina
Turner, Bobby
Cain, Minnie
Ann Dickey Jones,
Gail Ann Epps
Upton,x,x,Anna
Theresser Caswell. |
Thursday, August
24, 2006
Premier of the documentary, The Clinton 12: A
Documentary Film
'Like
it happened yesterday'
by
Johanne Jean-Jacques
reprinted with permission from
The Courier News
August 27, 2006
editor@hometownclinton.com
A few minutes after
9 Thursday evening, Clinton's main thoroughfare
was a sight to behold. The marquee of
the Ritz Theater was lit up and crowds
of people milled around Main Street,
talking about a film they will long remember.
Just 90 minutes earlier that same crowd
walked across a red carpet strewn across
Main Street to watch the world premiere
of "The Clinton 12: A Documentary
Film." The film, narrated by famed
actor James Earl Jones, depicts the events
surrounding the integration of Clinton
High School in 1956. Fifty years ago
full scale rioting broke out on Main
Street. White citizens, led by segregationists,
banded together to protest the admission
of 12 black students to Clinton High
School.
"Fifty years ago
we were in the streets rioting," said
Rev. Alan Jones, of Asbury United Methodist
Church of Clinton. "Fifty years
later we're in the same streets celebrating
the commemoration of this wonderful legacy
of Clinton, Tennessee." That celebration
is due in part to filmaker Keith McDaniel,
who wrote and directed the documentary.
McDaniel has spent the last several months
conducting interviews, collecting photos
and rare film footage to create a film
that captured an historical event that
changed the course of American public
education. Clinton High School was the
first state-supported high school in
the South to desegregate. The former
black students present at the private
screening were pleased with McDaniel's
artistic efforts. "It's how it happened." said
Gail Ann Epps Upton. Upton, one of the "Clinton
12", enrolled in Clinton when she
was a junior. McDaniel said he received
good comments from the black students. "The
Clinton 12 liked it. . .", he said, "That's
the greatest compliment." . . .
The documentary's emotional
impact was evident as most talked about
the film. Carol Hayden, a sister of Ronald "Poochie" Hayden,
said the film evoked sadness and brought
back a lot of memories. Hayden, said
she wished her brother, one of the Clinton
12, were here to see the documentary.
Ronald was diagnosed with a brain tumor
after his first year at Clinton High
School. He died in his early 20s. "It's
sad that he couldn't be here, she said.
All the living students were present
except Robert Thacker. Thacker, who lives
in Michigan, could not make the event
due to illness. But his eldest daughter,
Valerie Weaver, came to represent her
father. Weaver said she lov ed the documentary.
Clutched in her hand was a key to the
city, given to honor her father. "I
cried," she said.
Probably some of the
most heartfelt moments of the film came
when McDaniel had his subjects talk about
the lasting effects of racial pride.
Some talked about the bitterness they
suffered, while others contemplated the
ugliness humans are capable of. Jones
summed up the sentiment. "That level
of trauma imprints on your soul to the
point it's going to be with you forever," he
said.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Grand Opening
On Saturday,
August 26, 2006,
ten of the Clinton 12, and a family
member, walked up Foley
Hill to officially
open the Green McAdoo
Cultural Center.
John Lewis, a leader
in theCivl Rights
Movement and friend
of Rev. Martin Luther
King, Jr., was the
keynote speaker. " "I followed the
drummer of the Clinton 12," You inspired
us to stand out. Now
you're showing to the
nation and the world
that we can lay
down the burden
of race and not
sweep it under the
rug or into a dark
corner but celebrate
our history and
see that our children
and their children
will not forget
it,." Lewis said.
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101
School Street