McCree Harris

McCree Harris (July 10, 1934 – July 24, 2000) was an American educator and political activist leader. Harris worked at the all-black Monroe Comprehensive High School, where she taught Latin, French, and Social Studies.

McCree L. Harris
Born(1934-07-10)July 10, 1934
Albany, Georgia
Died(2000-07-24)July 24, 2000
Palmyra Medical Centers
Resting placeRiverside Cemetery (Albany, Georgia)
NationalityAmerican
Education
OccupationSocial Studies Teacher
Known forCivil Right's Activism
Home townAlbany, Georgia
Children1
Parent(s)
  • Rev. Isaiah A. Harris
  • Katie B.
Family
  • Bill Harris
  • Emory Harris
  • Rutha Mae Harris

Early life

McCree Harris was an African American activist born in 1934 in Albany, GA. Her family life was sheltered as she was raised by Reverend Isaiah A. Harris and Katie B. Harris who both dedicated their time towards the Racial Equality and Economic Empowerment of African Americans. As the founder of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, the Reverend used the church as a means to support this empowerment with the goal of increasing voter registration among African Americans in the south. Rev Harris a minister, architect, church builder, and entrepreneur passed in 1951 long before the Albany Movement began. He was an active leader in the Black Church movement throughout Georgia and deemed as one of the prominent ministers in Georgia. [1] At this time, attaining voter registration was very difficult in the south primarily for African Americans. Whites used intimidation including poll taxes and tests to African Americans that were necessary to pay or pass in order to attain voting privileges. These tests often included minor trivia details about the US constitution which many of the white test administrators could not answer themselves, resulting in African Americans not successfully passing the test or gaining voting privileges. The Reverend compensated by attempting to educate the voters in preparation for the exams to become registered. These tests and racial unfairness sprouted from the Jim Crow laws that enacted racial segregation in the south.[2] Katie Harris, began her education at Albany State College after the birth of her eight children. She devoted her life to the education of children as an elementary school teacher. McCree had seven siblings John H, Rosetta (Bae), Juanita (Neat), Alphonso, Elijah (Peter Rabit), Rutha Mae and Emory Harris, each actively participating in the movement. "Janie Culbreth Rambeau, who began working with SNCC while she was a student at Albany State College, stresses that there were many women in southwest Georgia “who didn’t actually march and go to jail, per se, but who made contributions that you would not believe.” "Katie B. Harris, for example, whose children include Rutha Harris, one of the original SNCC Freedom Singers, her brother, Emory, and sister, McCree, all of whom were extremely active in the movement, opened her home to any movement worker who needed something to eat or a place to sleep. Rambeau says, “People would come in and they would sleep on a pallet on the floor, just to be with Mama Katie B.” Women in southwest Georgia made their homes gathering places for the movement, and their rooms were filled with young participants who felt a sense of responsibility toward them and sought security in their homes and under their care."[3] Rutha, Alphonso, Elijah and Emory provided their services to the movement as members of the Freedom Singers. Rutha was an original Freedom Singer and Emory was a founding member of a chapter of male Freedom Singers in the early 1960s.[4] Freedom Singers originated in an African American congregation, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, that followed fellowship through singing that developed common spiritual lyrics to embody the purpose of the civil rights movement that was developing across the south. As a following of the Albany Movement under the leadership of C.B. King the SNCC formed along with the support of Freedom singer's fundraising. McCree Harris attended graduate school at Columbia University and started her career as a teacher at Monroe High School where she taught French, Latin, Social Studies and African American History. She encouraged students to participate in the movement, leading them to protest segregation of stores and theaters.[5] Rutha participated in Freedom Singers, who performed across the country and raised money for the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee (SNCC).[6] These Freedom Singers were likely to be imprisoned for protesting, which allowed them to boost morale and increase positivity through song whilst they remained committed to their movement. The Albany Movement led to over 1,000 supporters to be jailed. In the summer of 1962, Martin Luther King and Abernathy returned for the sentencing of December convictions for which they would rather be jailed then pay the fine. Albany sheriff Lorie Pritchett, who encouraged officers to use nonviolent tactics in public/media settings, took care of the fines so that King and Abernathy were released against their will. Unfulfilled immediate efforts left Albany's African American community to rally around other leaders.[7] A lot happened outside of the public eye in the Albany Movement. McCree and others of her family actively worked behind the scenes of the movement tirelessly protecting protesting students both black and white, developing strategy, preparing meals, and donating finances, all to keep the cause running smoothly while avoiding jail time. McCree Harris believed strongly in Albany's movement for equality and rights in conjunction with the civil rights movement as a whole, by educating black youth to build a larger movement for years to come.

The Albany Movement

McCree Harris became a political activist leader as a result of her teaching job at the all-black Monroe Comprehensive High School. She had known that she wanted to help change the segregated south for her whole life. Harris went back to Albany, Georgia, and joined the Albany Movement because she felt that something wasn't quite right in Albany. The town of Albany, as Harris says, was hard to desegregate. Harris' work in the Albany Movement eventually brought many changes to segregated Albany.[8] Harris advocated for equal rights and desegregation, and her main goal was to "raise the educational status of black youth".[9] When the Albany Movement started in the fall of 1961, she encouraged her students to boycott the public transportation system, to take part in local sit-ins, and join marches.[8] Because Harris "had direct contact with the student body", the marching lines increased. Albany as a precursor to the Birmingham movement strategy allowed the students and young people to participate in the movement because they did not have jobs to lose while being arrested. [9] This work was done with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee(SNCC).[8] McCree Harris also took her teachings from Talladega College and told students, "Don't pay for segregation."[9] The phrase was used as a reminder to stay away from businesses that practiced racial segregation, like her local movie theater.[9] The one exception was when Harris took her students to see a popular film. When the "white section" was filled and individuals came to the "black section" for seats, she told her students not to give up their chairs.[9] Eventually, the authorities arrived and threatened to arrest the kids so McCree Harris left with her class.[9]

McCree Harris was one of the original board members of the Albany Civil Rights Movement.[10] She was a teacher at her old high school, Monroe High School when she joined.[9] Harris joined the board against the advisement of the superintendent of schools, who told her joining would result in her arrest and subsequent loss of a teaching job.[9][11] Despite this, she was able to contribute a considerable amount to the movement, and she participated in civil rights marches and evaluations of public facilities. These evaluations weren't always without resistance. Harris herself gave an account of one such event where a man threw a hot drink on her while she did not retaliate.[9]

She worked vigorously and privately for the Albany Movement because she could not jeopardize her job as a Social Studies, Latin, and French school teacher at an all-black Monroe High School.[12] At Monroe High School, McCree Harris was also involved with The Freedom Singers.[13] She often went on field trips with the schools music teacher, Ann Elizabeth Wright, and the school chorus at statewide competitions.[14] She even often organized protests on voter registration and brought groups of her high school students to protests after school hours.[15] Local college students would come to protest with Harris too; she worked hard to bring the community together to fight for the racial inequality that was happening in the south. In Albany she also started working for the SNCC. This work on voter registration was with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This organization was unique because it allowed people with little or no power the opportunity to help in the fight for voter rights.[16]

The work she remained involved in was very demanding. Afterward, being a life long diabetic, the stress and wear caught up with her body. She took an entire year off work to get restored to health.[9] Despite this, she retained a strong loyalty to her school and concern for her students.[17] Known to them as "Teach", she valued them beyond measure.[9] In a personal statement, Harris said, "My main goal in the (Albany Civil Rights) Movement was to raise the educational status of black youth in our community." [9] Her work and accomplishments reflect this, and in 1999 upon the recommendation of her niece Deidra L Fryer, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) named her the State of Georgia and National Community Leader of the Year.[10]

After the first civil rights meeting was held on November 25, hundreds of civilians were being arrested and beaten in the streets.[18] 700 African American residents of Albany were jailed just days after the meeting.[19] During an interview, McCree Harris stated, "I thought I would get involved in politics because it would help my race, which is who and what I am interested in."[17] She joined several community groups during her lifetime. McCree was on the board of both the Economic Development Council and the Water, Gas, and Light Commission. She was also a member of the National Urban League, the National Association of Colored People(NAACP), and the community relations council.[8] During her participation, she worked alongside Shirley Sherrod and Martin Luther King Jr. to lead voter registration marches.[20] Harris also went with Martin Luther King Jr. to Saint Augustine, Florida, in an attempt to desegregate the Munson Motor Hotel.[21]

Activist meetings were held at Old Mount Zion Baptist Church; and although fearful of being caught and thrown in prison, Harris attended every meeting. During the 1990s, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[18] Individuals wanted the transform the Zion Baptist Church into a museum to show the hard work and dedication of those who participated in the Albany movement, Harris being one of the participants included.[18] McCree Harris was a secretary of a non-profit organization that helped transform the church. The board used $750,000 to convert the church into "Albany's Museum at Old Mount Zion Church," which officially opened in November 1998.[18] The executive director of the Albany Civil Rights Movement Museum, Angela Whitmal stated, "From the inception of the idea of a museum, 'McCree Harris' worked very hard to make it a reality."[18]

Democratic Party Involvement

After her time working for the Albany Movement, she worked as a political operative for several local Albany candidates. Harris has been a huge part of the desegregated civic effort in Albany. [8] Harris worked as an advisor to several members of the Democratic Party in Albany, including John White and former Mayor Paul Keenan,[17] who recalled her as "a valuable personal friend and a valuable citizen." [8] Harris was his consultant during Albany's flood of 1994. After the flood, many black citizens of Albany accused the city of purposely diverting floodwater away from wealthy white families and towards their neighborhoods, creating more racial tension.[22] Harris advised Keenan on the difficult task of admitting the greater property damage to black homes while denying any sort of manipulation by the government.[22]

gollark: Yes, seriously.
gollark: I have no idea who is doing this or how.
gollark: It's not the real bot.
gollark: What? WHO is using the WEBHOOK in this way?
gollark: QualityBot is 3 (three) bad units of bad.

References
  1. Barnett, Bernice McNair. "Invisible Southern Black Women Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: The Triple Constraints of Gender, Race, and Class". OCLC 5548887490. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Brown, Nikki; Stentiford, Barry. "Jim Crow: A Historical Encyclopedia of the American Mosaic". ebookcentral. University of Missouri.
  3. [Janie Culbreth Rambeau, interview with author, by telephone, Jan. 25, 2001APA (American Psychological Assoc.) Boswell, A., & McArthur, J. N. (2006). Women Shaping the South : Creating and Confronting Change. Columbia: University of Missouri Press.]
  4. "Harris Family". SNCC Digital Gateway, SNCC Legacy Project and Duke University.
  5. Fletcher, Michael (July 17, 1996). "Veterans of the Movement Find Time Outstripping Its Gains". Washington Post.
  6. Garner, Ken. "McCree Harris". Albany Herald.
  7. Minor, Elliot. "Rebirth Comes for Church at Heart of Civil Rights Struggle". ProQuest 256629633. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. Garner, Ken. "Albany Herald". Veterans Of the Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  9. Holsaert, Faith S. (2010). Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts by Women in SNCC. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252035579. JSTOR 10.5406/j.ctt1hj9xfc.
  10. Browning, Joan C.; Garner, Ken. "McCree Harris: Memories". www. crmvet.org/mem/mharris.htm. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  11. Barnett, Bernice McNair (1993). "Invisible Southern Black Women Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: The Triple Constraints of Gender, Race, and Class". Gender and Society. Sage Publications Inc. 7 (2): 162–182. doi:10.1177/089124393007002002. ISSN 0891-2432. JSTOR 189576.
  12. Fletcher, Michael A. (1996-07-17). "VETERANS OF THE MOVEMENT FIND TIME OUTSTRIPPING ITS GAINS". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
  13. Brown and Stentiford, Nikki and Barry (2014-10-28). Jim Crow : A Historical Encyclopedia of the American Mosaic. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781610696630.
  14. Reagon, Bernice (2000). If You Don't Go, Don't Hinder Me : The African American Sacred Song Tradition. University of Nebraska Press.
  15. Barnett, Bernice (June 1993). Invisible Southern Black Women Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: The Triple Constraints of Gender, Race, and Class. Sage Publications, Inc.
  16. Boswell and McArthur, Angela and Judith (2006-12-01). Women Shaping the South : Creating and Confronting Change. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 9780826216175.
  17. Fletcher, Michael. "VETERANS OF THE MOVEMENT FIND TIME OUTSTRIPPING ITS GAINS". The Washington Post. The Washington Post(WP Company LLC). Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  18. Formwalt, Lee. "Albany Movement". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  19. "Georgia Church to Become Rights Museum". Desertnews.com. Desert News. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  20. McNair Barnett, Bernice (1993). "Invisible Southern Black Women Leaders in The Civil Rights Movement: The Triple Constraints of Gender, Race, and Class". Gender and Society. Sage Publications, Inc. 7 (2): 162–182. doi:10.1177/089124393007002002. JSTOR 189576.
  21. Chalfen, Michael (1995). "The Way Out May Lead In: The Albany Movement Beyond Martin Luther King, Jr". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 79 (3): 560–598. JSTOR 40583289.
  22. Harrison, Eric. "Flood Fills Georgia City With Discontent: Disaster: Many black residents of Albany charge that water was diverted into their neighborhoods. Officials say no one could control the deluge". LA Times. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.