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105 9 Brother Mark As the constant tension of threatening phone calls, social ostracism, and potential danger created intense stress, Mom found comfort in two things: an informal network of white women supporting integration and civil rights, and anticipation of a new baby, due in late July 1962, approximately one year a#er our family’s arrival in Alabama. In Birmingham and its suburbs the Alabama Council and its local chapter , the Birmingham Council on Human Relations, consisted mainly of male members. A small nucleus formed among doctors and faculty at the University of Alabama Medical Center. Council members included white clergymen, lawyers, and a variety of other concerned citizens. However, some women, especially spouses of male members, participated in meetings and assumed active roles in the Birmingham Council. A small group of these women began meeting informally for coffee and discussions at each other’s homes. This support group shared stories of exclusion , hostility, and estrangement. Knowing that other people in Birmingham held similar beliefs helped to ease the sense of isolation and despair that might have otherwise engulfed them. Besides, southern ladies have long enjoyed a tradition of tea-and-coffee socializing. Rather than talk about society gossip while being served by black maids, however, this civil rights group discussed sensitive maers such as integration, racial equality, women’s rights, and resisting peer pressure to conform to the South’s racial exclusion. In the midst of our problems with Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in 1961, Mom recorded this diary entry concerning one such meeting: “Thurs. Nov. 16th: Went to Jackie Mazzara’s with interest group. Had interesting discussion on race. Eileen Walbert has very compassionate feelings. Ann Thorpe, Atlantan, but very much opposed to racial situation, felt that not enough of us speak out—not willing to be unpopular. Helen Knox finds it difficult to talk with people on opposite side—it upsets her emotionally.” 106 shattered glass in birmingham Mom had her hands full with four children, and soon a fi#h on the way. Since Dad traveled frequently, she faced continual challenges keeping up with housework and childcare. She had lile time to get to know people, except this group of women associated with the Birmingham Council on Human Relations. Eileen Walbert and her husband Jim, a music teacher and performer , had moved to Birmingham in 1946 from New York City, where Eileen had been a model. She became involved with the Alabama Council around 1958, through her friend Anny Kraus. Refusing to participate in segregated organizations, Eileen stopped going to the Episcopal Church, which had some members active in the White Citizens Council. Eileen said that she felt shunned sometimes at public events, such as concerts at Birmingham Southern College, because people didn’t want to be associated with “communists.” Originally from Austria, Anny and Frederick Kraus had been active in civil rights concerns almost from their arrival in Birmingham in the early 1950s, when Frederick was recruited to develop a school of dentistry at the University of Alabama Medical Center. Frederick and Anny had helped to form the Birmingham Council as an integrated organization dedicated to keeping lines of communication open between blacks and whites in the deeply segregated city. They were members of the Unitarian Universalist Church. Anny mentored Eileen and others interested in the civil rights movement. Another woman active in this support group, Peggy Fuller, was married to well-known architect John Fuller. Peggy started a group called Friendship in Action, to bring together blacks and whites for social events and parties. At times it seemed to Peggy that John’s firm lost potential contracts because of their involvement in civil rights. Mom had also goen to know Bee Lee Hanson, who had her own a#ernoon talk show on WAPI, a local television station situated on Red Mountain . Because of her professional work Bee was not part of this circle of women who met during the daytime. Using her maiden name to avoid social repercussions, she had invited black guests, such as Dr. Lucius Pis, on her program to discuss issues. But she had to steer clear of direct conversations about racial issues. Bee was prey, fashionable, and a great conversationalist . Her husband, Roger Hanson, played an active role as head of the Birmingham Council. As a research scientist at the medical center, he remained safe from reprisals or threats to his career. He had helped David Vann convince Chuck...

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