‘63 Boycott

Using archival footage and narration by individuals involved in the 1963 boycott of Chicago Public Schools, this film reveals several historical truths about America’s past and efforts to fight racial discrimination in schools.  Author Natalie Moore (The Southside) describes how the great migration of African Americans to Chicago resulted in families being forced to live on the south side of the railroad tracks in the 'black belt'.  When real estate developers warned of this migration, white people moved to the suburbs with ease using the newly constructed interstate 94 freeway and obtaining Federally subsidized loans.  The message in the film is clear: segregation in Chicago was intentional. Despite the 1954 rulings ending segregation in schools, Mayor Daly reinforced it by hiring Benjamin Willis, a racist and segregationist, as Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools.  Even though white schools had classroom spaces available, African American children were not allowed to move from overcrowded schools to schools with predominantly white children. Children stated they were given used books, had to share books, and their schools lacked the same resources as the white schools.  Sandra Murray recalls how even though she was admitted to a white high school, her guidance counselor told her she would never be able to become a research scientist because she was an African American girl. Superintendent Willis incensed parents and students by setting up mobile units (converted house trailers) nicknamed 'Willis wagons' to address overcrowding.  Students stated they were crowded and stuck out in the middle of school parking lots.  Members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) protested the mobile units effort by laying down in front of bulldozers, sitting on scaffolds, chaining themselves to police cars, and picketing Daly’s house.  Willis planned to set up 100 units between an alley and railroad track.  Willis eventually turned in his resignation, but it was rejected by the School Board; this action incited the CORE members, community organizer Rosie Simpson, and others to plan a city-wide school boycott. After sending out leaflets encouraging attendance at Freedom Day, parents agreed to allow their children to march in protest of segregation.  On October 23, 1963, over 200,000 parents, children, and sympathizers peacefully protested in the Freedom Day march with signs like 'Willis Must Go' and  'Freedom'.  Nearly 15 schools registered zero students for attendance that day.  Although the school system did not fundamentally change, the protest had profound impacts on those who protested.  Sandra Murray—now a Ph.D. and research scientist—said that knowing people supported her is what helped her achieve her goals.  With bonus materials useful for discussions on contemporary issues of race, youth engagement, and school closures, this film reinforces the right in this country to speak out and be heard.  Recommended.  Aud: J, H, C, P. (T. Root)