1960s Segregation and Jim Crow Laws: A Glimpse into Orangeburg

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Recommended: Segregation in the united states essay

The majority of the South was still segregated in the 1960’s. Jim Crow Laws kept many people of color from doing simple things. Some states didn't allow African Americans to be out at certain times of night. Most Africans-Americans were silenced out of fear. The fear of not being able to see your family the next day. Just because they decide to speak up for their rights. It makes it even more, scarier when you know that someone your age was killed. Yes, I mean a college student or a young adult. Let me take you back to Orangeburg, SC in the 1960’s.
During this time there were Jim Crow Laws. Each kept blacks (Negros) from reaching their full potential as US citizens. The laws kept blacks and whites from mixing in the general public. There were also some unwritten laws. Some towns were sundown towns. …show more content…

When he looked around there were almost three hundred law enforcement offers in Orangeburg. This includes FBI, Army Intelligence, National Guards, and the local and state police. Cleveland was soon arrested and taken to jail. He was charged with inciting a riot and assault on a police officer. Later news indicated that three students were killed during the event. Samuel Hammond (18), was a quiet freshman, who had also played running back for SCSU. Henry Smith (18), was a tall, slender, ROTC student. He died of five separate gunshot wounds. The third victim was Delano Middleton (17), who was a high school student at Wilkinson. Middleton was a basketball star. Unfortunately, he waiting for his mother on freshmen dorm steps. She was a maid there, he died while asking his mom to say the 23rd Psalm to him.
At a press conference, the next day, Governor Robert E. McNair called it “one of the saddest days in the history of South Carolina” and called it an unfortunate incident. Even with all the evidence, McNair said the shooting was off campus. He blamed the “black power advocates” and shame them for the

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