Man who worked with Rosa Parks, MLK speaks here

A woman who is nationally known for her accomplishments in the Civil Rights Movement and another woman who is locally known for her efforts to initiate desegregation in the 1960s were honored and remembered at a Black History Month program Saturday afternoon at R.L. Turner High School.

The Rev. Peter Johnson, who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks during the 1960s remembered the latter as “The mother of the Civil Rights Movement.

Lue Green and Renette McReynolds, who did a skit showing the woes of Carrollton black children having to ride an old bus to school in Denton, described Annie Heads Rainwater as a “Torchbearer for Justice.”

Johnson, who said he often drove Rosa Parks in his red Mustang, noted that she is best remembered for being arrested in 1955 after refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Ala., to a white person. However, Johnson said she also made numerous other contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and served as president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) until she died at the age of 92.

He said she was also the first Negro woman to vote in Montgomery.

The Rev. Willie Rainwater, director of Christ Community Connection which sponsored the program, noted that his mother, Annie Heads Rainwater, provided leadership for a lawsuit asking that black students in Carrollton be allowed to attend R.L. Turner High School rather than having to ride an old bus to attend a black school in Denton.

Judge Sarah T. Hughes, who less than three months later would perform the oath of office for Lyndon Johnson immediately following the death of John F. Kennedy, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

On Sept. 3, 1963, 25 black students, including several who were present at Saturday’s program, entered R.L. Turner High School and were the first black students in the Dallas area to attend a formerly all-white school.

Willie Rainwater described those students as heroes, because they did not know what conflicts they might be facing. There were a few minor incidents, but in general, Turner had been peacefully desegregated.

Johnson, who lives in Dallas, said, “I have tremendous respect for Carrollton. They did the right thing.”

Before Johnson spoke, the Kay Lynn Dancers, made up of white children, danced to “Happy Birthday to You” and 6-year-old Kanae Wise rattled off some facts about Rosa Parks.

Johnson said the little girl “is a hard act to follow.” About the dancers, he quipped, “Who said white people don’t have rhythm? These kids do.”

He concluded his speech by saying, “We must find common ground and continue to bring the races together. The future of our nation will be determined, not by looking back, but by looking forward.”

Other portions of the program included a skit featuring Demekia Wise titled, “This Seat is Taken.” Alishia Fowler sang, “To God be the Glory for the things He has done.” Mal Heron sang, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” which was written by the Rev. Thomas Dorsey, a black minister, following a tragedy in his life.

Toward the end of the program, Dr. Bobby Burns, president of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school board, welcomed the crowd. He told the people he was only six years old in 1963.

Carrollton Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Andonian brought a welcome mat and invited everyone present to come and walk over it. Several did after the program concluded.

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