Demopolis High School - Vine and Olive Yearbook (Demopolis, AL)

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The Valedictory by Melanie Walthall Roberts The Southern way of life we love, this proud and gentle land we cherish is rapidly being swallowed up by the 20th century. A serene bit of our historic countryside gives way to the neon jungle and we lose a little of ourselves as something special, something unusual in history--of ourselves as Southerners. The South of our fathers and grandfathers, even the South of our own childhood is rapidly disappearing and we are a part of that history. Many people have never heard of Demopolis at all, but there are plenty of people in Boston and other cities who should hear about our small Southern town, because over the past ten years our town has changed from one with anxiety for its school systems into a town of racial harmony with a school that is a showplace for peaceful intermingling--and we the Seniors of '75 are the living proof. In 1970 when freedom of choice rules were struck down, Demopolis was ordered to integrate. We were in the 8th grade and this is our story. A large part of our townspeople were de ad set against our school's success--some were quietly for--but the large majority were willing to sit back and see what would happen. No one person could make it work, but many said, O.K., I can't make it work, but it won't fail because of me. Look how far we came on that attitude, posse ssed by so many of us. It won't fail because of me has a great deal of application in our society today. I can't do a thing to alter the course of events in this world. A lot of things I don't like and a lot of things I do, and often my efforts as an individual seem rather frustrating, but still it won't fail because of me. And with this attitude one can accomplish amazing things. Hundreds of people dedicated to a goal proved this. As the years went on the things many people had feared never happened at all. The idea was that there would always be racial hate and fighting, there would not be any discipline, and the students would suffer academically. But this did not happen. The reasons for our success after such despair? 1. Let's credit the faithfullness of the faculty to the students and to the cause. 2. The athletic program which provided a rallying point for black and white students. 3. Our ruralness--the basic trust of small town people. 4. The principles of Christian Love. Let's characterize this love as a deliberate caring for the needs and feelings of others A lot of credit for alleviating the fear and mistrust that stood in the way of integration is this--Christian Love. In a time when it is vogue to blame God for war, poverty, starvation, greed, and everything else that is very wrong with mankind, it's quite good to give him credit for a little something that is very right with mankind. 'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile: What am I bidden, good folks, he cried, Who'll start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar, who'll make it two? Two dollars and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once, three dollars, twice, Going for three But no, From the back of the room a gray haired man Came forward and picked up the bow, Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, And tightening the loose strings, He played a melody pure and sweet As a caroling angel sings. The music ceased and the auctioneer, With a voice that was quiet and low, Said: What am I bid for the old violin? And he held it up with the bow. 'W thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand and who' ll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, 'lAnd going, and gone, said he. I The people cheered but some of them cried, We do not understand 152 What changed its value. Swift came the reply: The touch of a master's hand.