New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-04-10
Equal school Rights.

| GRENADA, Miss, March %, 1873.
To the Editors Of the Ner National Era:
/ There was an indignation meeting held at
the NJ. F.. Church by the colored citizens Of
Grenada on the Goth of March, 1873.
| The colored children have been left out in
| The cold ever since the free-school system
mas been established, in many places the
school board refusing to locate schools for
them, and instead Of the fraud decreasing it
Is increasing. The school board has given
to the white children Of Grenada eight
months free school, and the colored children
only four months. This is wrong. These
men who do this are pretended Repubi-
cans.
Early on the night of the Goth, large
crowd OF the citizens met at the NJ f. Church,
both male and female. The meeting was
called to order by the writer of this article,
and after stating the object of the meeting
in few words, Mr.. William Ross was called
to the chair by unanimous vote. Joseph
Phillips was then elected Secretary. 1t was
then moved that committee Of five be ap-
pointed by the Chair to draw up preambles
and resolutions expressing the sense of the
meeting. The following names were selected
by the Chair: Alex. Phillips, Robert Brown,
Gabriel Mckee, Amos Kimbal, and Marcus
Cause. Several speeches were made by the
friends Of the cause.
After delberation the following preamble
and resolutions were passed:
Whereas the constitution Of the State of
Mississippi has declared that the colored
people are free and that they are no longer
things but people;
And whereas 1t was the intention Of the
trainers Of the said constitution that no dis
elimination should be made before the law
on account Of race, color, or previous con-
dition of servitude
And whereas it is plainly stated in said
constitution that there should be public
free school in each school district for the
benefit OF the children of said district Of
proper school age;
And whereas the Legislature of this State
has enacted law called the school law, and
said Legislature has said that there should be
school or SCHOOLS in the reach of every
child OF proper school age;
And whereas said Legislature has created
an Office known as the Board of School Di-
rectors to carry out the intention of the law
and to deal out equally to all the benefits of
said school law;
And whereas the Board of School Directors
of this sub-district has failed to carry out the
law as intended by the Legislature of this
State, by refusing to give the colored children
equal benefits in the free schools and in many
localities they have not been provided for at
all, yet the people all have to pay their tax
And whereas Miss Fanny Isom has been
teaching a school at Tuskahoma and her
school has not been provided for by said
Board OF School Directors, and that she has
been teaching in an open house and without
any fireplace or any stove. She has had for
the last two months over forty scholars, as
| her reports will show, with only three pam
| chion seats with no backs to them; and that
the said Board Of School Directors refuse to
do anything for said school because it is fo-
colored children
And whereas the directors of sub-dstrict
No. ], in the town of Grenada, have made
contracts with the teachers Of the white
schools Of this town for eight months and re-
fuse to make contracts with the teachers of
colored schools for but four months And
this Is all on account of the color of our
skin, and thereby wronging the colored
children out Of several hundred dollars !:
therefore be it
Resolred by the colored people of Grenada
county, That we do condemn the course pur-
sued by the Board of School Directors of this
county in that they have been, and still are,
kefrauding the colored children out of their
just rights.
Resolred, That we will do all in our power
hereafter to put such men in Office as will
deal justly and honestly with the public
money belonging to the school fund of this
county.
Resolred, That we know our strength in
this county, and that we will use it wisely
when we come to the polls again to select
officers, and try to put trusty men in office,
as there are many Of our officers that we cam
not longer trust.
Resoired, That copy Of the proceedings of
this meeting be sent to each the Jackson
Pilot and the New NATIONAL ERA, Wash
ington, D. c.
ALEX. PHILLIPS, Chairman.
ROBERT BROWN,
AMOS KIMBAL,
| GARRIEI, MCKEE