Oral History interview with Tartt Bell by William Chafe
Item description
This October 13, 1977, oral history interview conducted by William Chafe primarily documents Tartt Bell's work with the American Friends Service Committee toward desegregation of businesses and schools. Bell discusses moving to Greensboro to work for the AFSC office at Woman's College (now The University of North Carolina at Greensboro); finding places to hold interracial meetings; and the willingness of many Methodist ministers to host interracial events. He also discusses the AFSC's Employment on Merit Program, including conversations with J. Spencer Love on business desegregation; hiring Sarah Herbin; and eliminating the "colored only" signs at Sears Roebuck and Co Of AFSC's activities in school desegregation, Bell describes the work of William Bagwell and Charlie Davis; discussions with school board members; dinner meetings at the YWCA; working with black leaders; Benjamin Smith; Charles Carroll; the Pearsall Plan; the Greensboro Daily News' position; several court cases; and Luther Hodges and his unwillingness to listen to advice on school desegregation. Bell also recalls meeting with Josephine Boyd during her year at Greensboro Senior High School and Principal A. P. "Red" Routh's response to Boyd being harassed by other students. Other topics include the importance of race relations in Hodges' efforts to sell North Carolina as a potential industrial center; the Greensboro sit-ins and strategy sessions; Floyd McKissick's involvement; and Jesse Jackson's participation.