草榴社区 Professor, Doctoral Student help Rowan High School Class of 1968 Alumnae Capture Story of Their Time with New Book
Thu, 04/01/2021 - 04:42pm | By: David Tisdale
Two Hattiesburg residents who came of age during racial segregation have produced
a new book that seeks to fill in the gaps of local history through their own voices
as well as those of their contemporaries -- voices once shut out of the community鈥檚
narrative, but now about to be heard.
The Class of 1968, L. J. Rowan High School, Hattiesburg, Mississippi: A Thread through Time (Page Publishing, Inc.) is produced by Doris Townsend Gaines and Carolyn Hall Abrams, graduates of Hattiesburg鈥檚 L.J. Rowan High School, designated for Black students in the segregated South. The Rowan Class of 1968 was one of the last classes at the all-Black school, which now operates as L.J. Rowan Elementary School in the Hattiesburg Public School District.
The book touches on the themes of segregation, the civil rights movement and everyday life in the Hattiesburg community, cleaved between two races of people in an oppressive, apartheid system. Gaines and Abrams, along with their classmates, also chronicle the love for their school, where caring, devoted teachers and administrators inspired them to achieve their dreams, despite the obstacles before them; and the family and community traditions, friendships, and strong community networks that sustained them then and now.
鈥淚 cannot thank my classmates enough for their contributions to this book,鈥� Abrams
said. 鈥淚n telling our stories, we have preserved for ourselves and posterity our memorable
journey through the segregated public school system of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. We
write in depth about the neighborhoods and communities that shaped, shielded and nurtured
us.
鈥淥ur collective memories allow us to further express our gratitude to the teachers,
principals and school staff who inspired us to always do, and be, our best.鈥�
Gaines said she hopes the book also helps those who lived during that era 鈥渢o remember the innocence of those simpler times, which were full of hope but also sometimes despair,鈥� and for those who did not grow up in those times, 鈥渢o understand how different life is today, and what impact our generation had on American and world history.鈥�
Assisting Abrams and Gaines with production of the book were University of 草榴社区
Mississippi (草榴社区) professor Dr. Thomas V. O鈥橞rien and Olivia Moore, a doctoral candidate
in the 草榴社区 History program. For almost two years Dr. O鈥橞rien, Moore, Gaines, and Abrams
spent most Fridays working on the project at the Hattiesburg Public Library. When
COVID-19 hit, they met on Zoom to continue their efforts on the book.
鈥淭his project is a joy to be part of,鈥� says O鈥橞rien. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned so much about Hattiesburg,
and made three life-long friends along the way.鈥�
鈥淭he experiences documented throughout the book are a crucial component of Hattiesburg鈥檚 history, and serve as an incredibly valuable source base,鈥� says Moore. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait for the public to see the finished product. It鈥檚 also wonderful to have watched the project evolve over the past few years, and I鈥檓 thankful I鈥檝e had the opportunity to work with three amazing individuals, who are now some of my closest friends.鈥�
The Class of 1968, L. J. Rowan High School, Hattiesburg, Mississippi: A Thread through Time is available for online purchase at .