Some comments on "The Education of Harvey Gantt"...(long)

Feb 10, 2014, 1:14 PM

Hope everyone's had an opportunity to watch the documentary on SCETV about Charleston native Harvey Gantt and the integration of Clemson. I feel sort of able to offer a perspective underplayed in the documenatary since I watched much of it as a kid sitting on the Clemson House hill.

First, let me say that I enjoyed the film and, while nothing really earth shattering was presented as new info, it did a creditable job painting a political image of the South (and much of the rest of the nation) as the civil rights movement gained momentum and success... and detailing the events in SC leading up to that historic January afternoon.

The Clemson area was no bastion of liberalism. But, to the best of my knowledge, no chapter of the Klan existed in our little world. Having said that, the immediate Clemson area was populated with more educated folks per capita than in most of the Upstate and the conservatism still pervasive in the area was tempered by a much wider view of the plight of humanity and the unfairness of much of society's norms towards minorities. We had grown up, after all, with great respect for Herman and Lucia McGee and "Uncle" Bill Greenlee all of whom were visible parts of the fabric of the community. And it was also true, the black community was segmented into one small area of the town.

But don't misunderstand....racism and ignorance existed and would occasionally rear its ugly countenance. As vital to town as the university was, Defore Mill and Utica Mohawk, etc, were large employers filled with proud "lintheads" who lived in a society largely separate from the "university folk" and with their own values.

As well as "The Education of Harvey Gantt" played up the riots and protests at the Univerity's of Alabama and Mississippi and Georgia, there was really none of that nonsense evident in the Clemson area in the days leading up to Gantt's matriculation. And this is the one area the film disappointed me--by failing to mention how quiet and calm the townspeople (and students) remained.

On the historic day of Gantt's arrival, there were hundreds of print and tv reporters AND State Troopers parked all over Bowman and all the streets leading up to Tillman. A large crowd had gathered and deftly examined each vehicle which came and went through the area. And at what seemed to be a mysteriously given signal, they all climbed back into their vehicles and drove away leaving Clemson the sleepy little college town it remains today.

Nothing happened. Zip. Nada. There were no groups of protesting students or "civilians". No lines of policemen with batons out. No politicians foaming at the mouth. Everyone came and went and attended to their own business. The "integration" of Clemson was truly a "non-event". And it disappeared from the headlines nearly as quickly as it had occurred--though the nightly news remained full of problems at universities in other parts of the South.

Local townspeople saw Mr. Gantt from time to time during his time as a student and from what I could tell, he was generally treated much the same as any other student. Once, he even accompanied a group of other architecture students on a visit to our school. Again, he was noticeable in the crowd of otherwise white students, but just as the community had done, it seemed no big deal and his visit to the school house was treated by smiles of acknowledgement from both teachers and kids.

I'm sure Mr. Gantt got a little lonely from time to time, but I'll bet even he was surprised at the lack of hostility--something his parents were probably extremely glad of...Anyhow, I think probably every Clemson alum was proud when Mr. Gantt was elected mayor of Charlotte years later.... and then went on their merry way talking about the football team's prospects for the season.

Just my perspective

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I have not had the opportunity to see the documentary, but I just wanted to thank all of you for your honest perspectives. As a student at Clemson from 85 until 90, I can vouch for the general lack of hostility towards students of negro descent... I use negro because it is the correct anthropological description. For purposes of conversation, I will describe myself as black so as not to get into unnecessary discussions about racial designations.
I chose to attend Clemson because of the general feeling of welcome that I felt there even as a middle school student on a field trip. To later learn that Clemson was the first of the flagship state schools to admit black students was gratifying and that fact furthered my affinity for Clemson. My time on campus was truly some of the best years of my life. My time there was not completely free of racial incidents, but there are pockets of ignorance in every corner of society. But I would not chose any other university ever for my education and I am encouraging my children to make Clemson their choice as well.
Dear old Clemson, I will forever be fond of thee...

Some comments on "The Education of Harvey Gantt"...(long)

Re: Some comments on "The Education of Harvey Gantt"...(long)

I remember years and years ago, going to a Clemson/USC game

From Your Vantage Point at the Clemson House

I got my hair cut by a guy once

Re: Some comments on "The Education of Harvey Gantt"...(long)

Re: Some comments on "The Education of Harvey Gantt"...(long)

Re: Some comments on "The Education of Harvey Gantt"...(long)

My dad was at Clemson when Gantt enrolled and

I watched Harvey come out of Tillman Hall & no problems at

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