Ms. Deloris Campbell Taught Reading and Racial Justice with Compassion

In this episode, Ms. Deloris Campbell recalls her time as the librarian and only African-American educator at Stony Point Elementary School in Albemarle County, Virginia. She talks about the books she chose to read with her very young students and the ways in which she helped them open their minds and encourage their compassion. She also talks about her own educational experiences from being one of the only graduate students of color at UVA's education school to witnessing the Orangeburg Massacre in South Carolina in 1968 while she was an undergraduate student.

You heard footage from Ruby Bridges’ first day of school at William Franz public school in New Orleans. That was recorded on November 29th 1960 and can be found in the WSB-TV news archive at the University of Georgia.

You also heard from Harry Floyd, the owner of the segregated bowling alley in Orangeburg, Dr. Benjamin Payton then-president of Benedict College, and a South Carolina State student. They were all recorded in 1968 by WLTX TV news and the clips can be found in archives of the University of South Carolina.

Reporter Paul Clancy and local NAACP leaders were recorded by WIS 10 News in 1968. That footage is in the WIS archives also at the University of South Carolina.

You heard Cleveland Sellers reflecting on the Orangeburg massacre. That interview aired on WIS News 10 in 2014.

You also heard from Ella Baker speaking in 1974 at a solidarity rally in Puerto Rico and Fannie Lou Hamer speaking to the Democratic National Convention in 1964.

Our theme music is Summer Night by Vanilla. You can find their music at https://vanillabeats.bandcamp.com