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J. Lindsay Almond School Integration Speech, January 20, 1959

CONTENT WARNING

Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation. 

Context

On May 17, 1954, after nearly two decades of legal challenges against racial segregation in public schools and higher education, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas that school segregation was unconstitutional. Their decision paved the way for desegregation of educational institutions. Prior to Brown v. Board of Education decision, legal segregation had existed under the "separate but equal" doctrine. However, the separate educational facilities and opportunities the Southern states offered to Black Americans were inferior, not equal, to those designed for white Americans. In 1956, Virginia's General Assembly adopted a policy of Massive Resistance, using the law and courts to obstruct desegregation and to not comply with changes which were being made nationwide in response to Brown v. Board of Education.

In 1957, in the midst of Virginia’s effort to maintain segregation in public schools, James Lindsay Almond Jr., won the gubernatorial election by pledging to uphold Massive Resistance. In September 1958, he closed schools in Charlottesville, Front Royal, and Norfolk rather than see them segregated. By January 1959, both the federal court and state supreme court demanded that schools be reopened, and Massive Resistance laws overturned. Almond continued to appeal these rulings, however the closed schools ultimately reopened to an integrated student body. The courts ordered the admittance of small numbers of Black students into formally all-white schools around the state. The federal government pressured the state to integrate its schools and the Departments of Health, Education, and Welfare threatened localities with loss of federal funding if they did not comply. U.S. Supreme Court decisions added to the pressure of desegregation, including Virginia’s own case, Charles C. Green et al. v. County School Board of New Kent County, Virginia.

Almond did not retreat from his unyielding stance on desegregation until early 1960, when he allowed Virginia schools to integrate, but only with token efforts that embraced passive resistance. In his speech, Almond reiterates his belief that integrating schools would have a negative impact on children and that court decisions promoting integration should be ignored. Almond and his likeminded government colleagues promoted their beliefs in many forms including written opinion pieces in newspapers and in public speeches, like this one, which were designed to convince or persuade their constituents to supporting their cause.

Citation: J. Lindsay Almond School Integration Speech, 20 January 1959 (WRVA–386), WRVA Radio Collection, Accession 38210, Library of Virginia.


For more information on Massive Resistance, see Encyclopedia Virginia.

For more information about Charles C. Green et al. v. County School Board of New Kent County, Virginia, see Encyclopedia Virginia.

Standards

USII.1, USII.9, CE.1, VUS.1, VUS.8, VUS.13, GOVT.1, GOVT.3, GOVT.10

Suggested Questions

Preview Activity

Scan It: Scan the transcript of the speech. What words of phrases stand out to you?

Post Activities

Context Clues: Listen to the audio clip of Governor Almond’s speech. How does his presentation give clues to the anticipated reactions of listeners? How does his voice give clues to the emotional responses he wished the public to feel?

Be a Journalist: Assume the role of a newspaper editorialist and compose a response to Governor Almond. In your response address at least three statements made by Almond.