Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 12 March 2009 — Page 7

The Muncie Times • March 12, 2009 • Page 7

Wilson Middle School student lauds Jordan for pioneering school desegregation work

By Hannah Wilhoite The following essay is a proud view of a man that came from common, public life as a child and turned himself into a leader for change in the African American community and throughout America. This was during a time when segregation was a problem, especially in the Southern states. Vernon Eulion Jordan Jr. was born Aug. 15, 1935, in Atlanta, Ga.. As youth, Jordan attended public schools. This public education made him able to relate to children from everyday lives, neighborhoods and cultures. In 1957, Jordan went to DePauw University, which is a well-respected school here in Indiana. In 1960, he attended Howard University Law School for legal training, before receiving his and law degree. Jordan finished school and returned to Atlanta, to practice law. Soon

Vernon Jordan

after his return, he became involved in what is one of the nation’s most memorable civil rights cases of the era. It was a landmark case, which involved two other fellow attorneys from Atlanta. They sued the University of Georgia, on behalf of two African American students, for not allowing them to attend their university. This lawsuit would open the world’s eyes to th e

discrimination that was going on in the United States. Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes were allowed admission into the university. Jordan had the nation’s attention as he helped Hunter walk through a violent mob of whites that were protesting her attendance. This was the first time in the history of Georgia University that it allowed African American students to go

to classes. That day in history was a statement about desegregation to everyone. In 1962, Jordan decided to go into private practice and was then able to work full time for the Civil Rights Movement. He was appointed as the Georgia field director for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1966, Jordan became the Southern Regional Council’s Voter Education Project director. This sponsored voters’ registration companies' in 11 different Southern states. Having a prominent African American figure of the time as the director, helped gain interest in voting from African American. In 1970, he took on a 6-month appointment at the Kennedy Institute of Politics at Harvard University. Mr. Jordan then became the main

director of the United Negro College Fund. During the net two year he raised awareness and funds for underprivileged African American youths to have a chance to attend college and further their education. Jordan was giving kids the same opportunity he had been given as a young person. Vernon Jordan’s hard wo rk and dedication, over the years, and his struggles agaipst issues that many people were afraid to deal with, has affected countless lives. His accomplishments, in working on- civil rights issues and the way they have changed the social, political and working issues of African Americans, have helped us have better things in the present and future. Hannah Wilhoite 6th Grade Wilson Middle School Muncie

Jesse Jackson inspires Muncie student to keep hope alive, push for ‘change we can believe in’ ’

By Kacie Johnson The Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson has helped our nation through many difficult civil rights; changes; and he will continue to help us make positive changes that are still needed in our nation today!

Jesse Jackson demonstrated early in his life his great leadership abilities. In school though, his teachers never thought of him as a “bright” student. Instead, his teachers described him as “a charmer” and “a tough competitorD.

He first gained interest by the political parties of our nation while he was a college student at North Carolina’s Agricultural and Technical College. At this time, he became not only a member of the Council on Racial

Equality or CORE; but he was chosen as its president. Jackson demonstrated early in his life his great leadership abilities. In school, he was voted president of his class. and was named “State Officer of the Future Teachers of America.”

However, his teachers thought of him as more of a “charmer” and a “tough competitor”. During the 1960s, Jackson became a “foot soldier” in the national Civil Rights continued on page 45