'We Just Didn't Fit In'

James Lee Jr. | Farmville, Virginia

In 1960-61, I went to Iowa City to go to Iowa City High School. That was a year after they closed the schools where I lived in Prince Edward County, Virginia, to avoid desegregation. I returned to Iowa City in 1961-62 to the same location and graduated from there. It was an experience because it was a large school in a college town, and the population was virtually all white, except for two sisters, Barbara and Ruth Penny, and two of my cousins from here. The second year, my cousins chose not to go back, but I wanted to go back and complete my education. James Ghee (he's an attorney now) went back with me. We were angry. We were trying to get as far away from Virginia and Prince Edward as we could.

Before going to Iowa, I missed a whole year of school. I mostly just played because I was too young to work, and they weren't hiring any black youngsters my age. The school in Iowa was much tougher. I was an honor roll student in Prince Edward. I lost that when I went away. The classes were tougher: I never was an honor roll student again. We had all black teachers in Prince Edward; there I had all white teachers. They didn't know us as well, and they taught us differently than our teachers taught here. They didn't teach black history. We just didn't fit in.

"My mother had worked so hard for us to complete school, and she didn't have the money to come out there, and I didn't have any to send her."

Missing a whole year of school was damaging, but it wasn't as damaging as those who missed five years. I was able to regroup. Iowa City didn't have but 10 black families in the whole city. I stayed with a white family there: They were nice. They've sent me a shirt and sweater for my birthday and Christmas every year, from '62 to the present. I was invited back to class reunions, but I chose not to go back because I didn't have the money.

After I graduated, I returned to Farmville, worked several different jobs, and then went into the Army for two years. Then I came back here and worked various jobs. I worked at the shoe factory for 26 years.

I enjoyed my time in Iowa. It was a great experience. But what hurt me the most was I didn't walk across the stage in Prince Edward. None of my family could see me march in Prince Edward County. My mother had worked so hard for us to complete school, and she didn't have the money to come out there, and I didn't have any to send her.

I always wanted to be a teacher. I did some teaching after I returned; I taught senior citizens to read. If things had turned out differently, I probably would have a master's degree, and I could do the teaching I always hoped to do. But by not having the money to go to college, all that went down the drain. If I had stayed here, I probably would have won a scholarship to college.

I don't want to ever forget what happened. I don't hold any grudges. Those who did wrong will pay for it. Maybe they felt they were right. I forgave, but I haven't forgotten.