In October 1949 The Lake Weir Theatre Guild presented the following play.  Besides Barbara there was the following: Joyce Curl, Herbert Parris, Anne Schneck, Tolliver Armstrong, Herman Rigdon and Bonnie Gale which were seven of the twelve in the Senior Class that year.

 

Comment

   A Ghostly Evening would never be accepted, much less performed in this day and time with its portrayal of Azaleen described with “speech and mannerisms those of the true darkey.” and her boyfriend with “all the characteristics of the real negro.” But those times were different, the south was segregated with separate facilities for the “colored” and Weirsdale High being a “white school”.  I am sure that Joyce and Herbert who played Azaleen and Florian were painted in black face.  The audience, parents and family of students would have laughed wholeheartedly and thought nothing of the portrayal of the black characters.  The difference between the north and the south was shown by Barbara the previous year while in Michigan visiting relatives when she expressed surprise upon seeing negros in the movie theater (see July 30, 1949 letter).  In would not be until six years later in 1956 that the Supreme Court ruled for the end of segregation.  Even so, segregation continued in Florida for many years. It wasn’t until 1970 while in my senior year of high school that the black “Lincoln High” was closed, and the students integrated into Gainesville High.   Progress has been made since 1950 but inequalities still exist.                                                                                                                   Larry Mixson, 2021