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77 7 Threats and Intimidation The ominous presence of the Ku Klux Klan soon became personal and inescapable for our family. As late as December 27, 1961, Dad wrote to Alabama Council Vice-President Nat Welch of Auburn: “I have not had any crank phone calls. I had expected that it would only be a maer of weeks when I came in August that I would be under very heavy fire so I can say that I am rather surprised that I have not come under aack other than through the Baptist Church that I joined.” That was about to change. At first the threats came through surveillance, intimidation, and slander against the Alabama Council. On the same day that Dad wrote to Nat Welch, he informed Paul Rilling of the Southern Regional Council that two men from the Beer Business Bureau had visited his office asking for the names of the ACHR board of directors. This was the same type of request that Bob Hughes had denied fi#een months before. Dad gave them the names of officers , but refused to divulge other names. The Beer Business men said they had recently received dozens of calls about the Alabama Council, “and I don’t have to tell you the nature of these calls.” Dad told Rilling: “I’m guessing the heat will be on us this spring.”™ On Tuesday, January 9, 1962, we woke up to several inches of snow on the ground. No school! Dad was on a business trip, so we didn’t have the hot cereal he usually prepared—oatmeal, Ralston, cream of wheat, or a mixture, if there wasn’t enough of one for all of us. We ate corn flakes and Wheaties quickly, then ran out to enjoy the rare snowfall. This was one day we could put our Yankee background to good use, showing the Alabama kids how to make snowballs, snowmen, and snow angels. But we had to hurry, since the snow was already beginning to melt. 78 shattered glass in birmingham Dad came home that evening, a#er a long bus ride delayed by the snow. He had been in the Tri-Cities in northwestern Alabama to aend a local ACHR council meeting. During supper we regaled Dad with stories about our “snow day.” “We made a snowman!” Susie said. “Mommy gave us a carrot for his nose, and we had rocks for his eyes and mouth.” Paul added: “And we got sticks for his arms! And your old hat!” “I showed Susie and Paul how to make snow angels,” Ann said. “Mike and I had a snowball fight with the kids across the street,” I said. Susie added: “The best part was sliding down the hill in a box!” Dad said: “I wondered why the front yard was so muddy! What did you do with the grass?” He laughed, so we did too. While we were eating ice cream, Dad told Mom about his trip. At the local chapter’s monthly meeting, everyone was talking about the TV show sponsored by the Golden Flake Potato Chip Company being cancelled . In October a black mother had called up to see if her daughter could be on the early morning children’s program. She was told on the phone that her child would be admied, but when the girl arrived at the station she was told she could not be in the program. The black community became upset . Representatives from the local council of ACHR had talked with the TV station and the advertising firm representing the sponsors, but each side blamed the other. Dad said, “Things rocked along for a while, but now this show has been cancelled, and local Negroes have started a campaign to educate Negroes and whites not to buy Golden Flake Potato Chips.” I dropped my spoon. “Does this mean no more potato chips?” I asked. Dad frowned, and said: “Well, we want to send a message to the company about not discriminating.” “But you need Golden Flake bags for the free movies!” I said. “Besides, Coach Bryant is on the ads for Coke and Golden Flake: ‘A great pair, says the Bear.’” “If you’re going to stand up for your principles,” Dad said, “you have to make some sacrifices.” The corners of his mouth curled up, but he bit his lip to keep from smiling. “Yeah, well, I can just pick up empty Golden Flake bags along...

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