THE BLACK EXPERIENCE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
(U.N.C.-G, February 23, 1985)
It is with considerable emotion that I stand before you this evening
on the occasion of the Neo-Black Society's Reunion Weekend. In the fall
of 1956, when Bettye Ann Davis Tillman and I entered this university as
its first two black students, we both felt that what we were about was
not only for us but for all of those who would come after us. This
evening, for the first time since my graduation in 1960, I am priviledged
to see, to talk with, to touch, to laugh with, to share this meal with,
to reminence with, and most importantly, to be a part of all of you in
this place who have indeed come after us. I wish that Betty could share
this moment also. It is a thrilling experience. I am deeply moved and
overwhelmed.
I must admit that I have been very nervous about this occasion.
Making a banquet speech is not my idea of something wonderful to do. Nor
have class reunions been activities I necessarily look forward to. I
don't know about you but when I think of reunions, I think about seeing
people who have gone on these crash diets so that their classmates will
think they have been thin all these years and never gained a pound; or
those who don't care and have gotten fat and out of shape and who don't
look at all like you remember them; or as in my case, you are the only
person in your class to return. You don't know anyone else and it gets
kind of lonely. Worse still you're the oldest person there and can't
remember the words to the school song. I am pleased to come back, however,
before all my hair turned grey, while I can still move about without a
cane or a wheelchair and before I gained too many extra pounds. It's a
little too late, I fear, for the school song! I won't be able to make it
through the first verse.
THE BLACK EXPERIENCE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
(U.N.C.-G, February 23, 1985)
It is with considerable emotion that I stand before you this evening
on the occasion of the Neo-Black Society's Reunion Weekend. In the fall
of 1956, when Bettye Ann Davis Tillman and I entered this university as
its first two black students, we both felt that what we were about was
not only for us but for all of those who would come after us. This
evening, for the first time since my graduation in 1960, I am priviledged
to see, to talk with, to touch, to laugh with, to share this meal with,
to reminence with, and most importantly, to be a part of all of you in
this place who have indeed come after us. I wish that Betty could share
this moment also. It is a thrilling experience. I am deeply moved and
overwhelmed.
I must admit that I have been very nervous about this occasion.
Making a banquet speech is not my idea of something wonderful to do. Nor
have class reunions been activities I necessarily look forward to. I
don't know about you but when I think of reunions, I think about seeing
people who have gone on these crash diets so that their classmates will
think they have been thin all these years and never gained a pound; or
those who don't care and have gotten fat and out of shape and who don't
look at all like you remember them; or as in my case, you are the only
person in your class to return. You don't know anyone else and it gets
kind of lonely. Worse still you're the oldest person there and can't
remember the words to the school song. I am pleased to come back, however,
before all my hair turned grey, while I can still move about without a
cane or a wheelchair and before I gained too many extra pounds. It's a
little too late, I fear, for the school song! I won't be able to make it
through the first verse.
