-
7. Across the Rubicon
- University of South Carolina Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
7. Across the Rubicon Be strong and of good courage . . . for the Lord your God is with you. Joshua 1:9 In the year 49 b.c.e., Julius Caesar and his army crossed the Rubicon, a little river that marked the northern boundary of Italy proper. Since Roman law forbade any general to lead an army across the Rubicon, Caesar’s action made armed conflict inevitable. Although it is said that General Caesar was unsure what he would do once he crossed, he went ahead and did it anyway. Then, it is said, he declared, “The die is cast.” Two thousand years later, on the night of June 8, 1949, another die was cast. In the little town of Summerton, a small band of NAACP supporters succeeded in making the town’s black community look to Rev. J. A. De Laine, my father, for deliverance. Although the parents in School District 22 were now ready to fight for justice, his acceptance of the role as their spokesperson almost guaranteed that he would lose his teaching job. But there could be no turning back. Charged with doing whatever was necessary to obtain relief for the young people’s grievances, the Committee on Action—Rev. De Laine, Mr. Georgia, and Mr. Bubba—began to work the very next morning. Bearing a letter with the condensed charges made by students, a date of June 9, and the signatures of all three of them, the men went to see Superintendent Betchman. He was on vacation, so they went then to see J. D. Carson, the trustee who served as the school board’s clerk. Mr. Carson took his time before granting the committee an audience. When he did deign to see them, he was as angry as if his three visitors had done him some personal harm. Apparently he had heard about the parents’ meeting. Instead of being attentive and alert for any merit to the allegations, the man heaped abuse on each visitor, trying to humiliate them in every way he could. My father, the parent of two students at Scott’s Branch, was told, “You have no business in this. You have nothing to do with that school.” Then the trustee began to vilify a young woman who lived on his property and had signed the grievance. Across the Rubicon 61 Rev. De Laine had repeatedly taught those who worked with him “to outclass anybody who tries to insult you.” However, his own resolve was sorely tried as Mr. Carson ranted. Nevertheless he and the others managed to maintain their dignity. At a break in the tirade, my father asked for a hearing where formal charges could be presented. Reluctantly the fuming man promised to call a board meeting. Then he added spitefully, “Don’t bring nobody else. I’m not gonna hear no children trying to speak against the principal, so don’t bring them.” He emphasized the hearing would be to hear the Committee on Action—and “only the committee.” The three parent representatives would have to act as proxy witnesses for the young people. Due to leave soon for summer school at Allen University, Rev. De Laine had brought a stamped envelope bearing his name and a Columbia address to facilitate being contacted for the hearing. He handed the stamped envelope to Mr. Carson as he left. The die had indeed been cast. Two days after visiting the trustee, Rev. De Laine received a registered letter from the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Clarendon School District 30. Dated June 11, it informed my father that his service as principal of Silver School was terminated as of that day. Although he was not surprised, my father did confront the man. The trustee, who wouldn’t look directly at my father, confessed, “It ain’t me, preacher. It’s them big fellows that’s over me.” On June 8, 1949, Scott’s Branch School parents elected J. A. De Laine (center) as their leader. With the parents’ approval, he chose Robert Georgia (left) and Edward “Bubba” Ragin (right) to serve with him as members of the Committee on Action. Photograph by E. C. Jones. Courtesy of the De Laine Family Collection [54.210.83.20] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 02:32 GMT) Quest for Equality, 1947–1951 62 When he informed the parents of what happened, Rev. De Laine gave proof of his mettle. “That’s not going to stop me,” he told them. “Nothing’s...