Seven Sisters and a Brother: Friendship, Resistance, and Untold Truths Behind Black Student Activism in the 1960s
- 4h 39m
- Marilyn Allman Maye, et al.
- Mango Media
- 2019
The leaders of Swarthmore College’s historic sit-in for black representation tell their story in “this fascinating group narrative” of the Civil Rights era (Henry Louis Gates, Jr.).
In 1969, members of the Swarthmore Afro-American Student Society staged a sit-in at the college’s Admissions Office that lasted eight days. Their demands included increased enrollment and hiring of African Americans, and the creation of a Black Studies curriculum. In Seven Sisters and a Brother, the eight protest organizers tell the story of that fateful week in their own words.
Interspersed with autobiographical chapters, this “choral memoir” provides a cross-sectional view into the lives of student activists during the Civil Rights era. The authors reveal stories about their family backgrounds and discuss their experiences in the youth movement. They share how friendships, alliances, and a commitment to moral integrity strengthened their resilience in the face of adversity.
For years the media and some in the school community portrayed the peaceful protest in a negative light. But these eight individuals deserve credit for bringing greater inclusiveness to Swarthmore, as well as for the example they set for universities around the country. This firsthand account provides a necessary and overdue addition to the history of the Civil Rights era.
About the Authors
Marilyn Maye, Ed. D. Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, New Jersey City University, New York City area
Harold Buchanan, M. Ed., retired Associate Director of Information Systems, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, PA area
Jannette Domingo, Ph. D., retired Dean of Graduate Studies, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Professor of Economics and Africana Studies, New York City area
Joyce Baynes, Ed. D. retired Superintendent, Dunellen, NJ, Englewood, NJ
Marilyn Holifield, J.D, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP, Miami, FL, Swarthmore College Board of Managers, Harvard University Board of Overseers, and University of Miami Board of Trustees
In this Book
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Introduction
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The Takeover Day Zero—Boiling Point
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Children of the Sixties
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The Takeover Day One—Locked Inside
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The Swarthmore Experiment
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The Takeover Day Two—Raising Our Profile
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Not in Kansas Anymore—Myra's Story
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The Takeover Day Three—Flavors of Support
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We Had to Do Something!—Aundrea's Story
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The Takeover Day Four—Sunday Morning
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SASS—On Our Own
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Fearful to Fearless—Joyce's Story
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Photo Gallery
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The Takeover Day Five—Meeting the Press
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Not from around Here—Bridget's Story
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To See the World—Jannette's Story
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The Takeover Day Six—Keeping up Morale
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Seeing the Unseen—Marilyn A's Story
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The Takeover Day Seven—Standoff
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From down South to up North—Marilyn H's Story
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The Takeover Day Eight—Change of Course
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Tao—Finding My Way—Harold's Story
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Epilogue
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References
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