Southern Witness: Unitarians and Universalists in the Civil Rights Era

by Gordon D. Gibson

At last, here is the largely untold history of Unitarian and Universalist involvement in the civil rights movement in the South. Covering congregations in nearly thirty cities and towns and spanning ten Southern states, this extensive study sheds new light on the often heroic efforts of laypeople and clergy in confronting segregation. Author Gordon Gibson witnessed some of this history firsthand, as the only UU minister in Mississippi between 1969 and 1984. His interviews with dozens of other activists from the 1950s and 60s has produced many stories, some never before recorded. We learn about Rev. Donald Thompson, shot in the back and run out of town by segregationists in Jackson, Mississippi; Rev. Albert D'Orlando, whose parsonage and church building in New Orleans were firebombed by the KKK; Robert Williams, the Black Power pioneer and radical, and many more. Southern Witness explores institutional history as well, revealing patterns in the way these congregations faced the challenges of racial injustice patterns deeply influenced by the fellowship movement, which planted scores of small, lay-led congregations in that area. Many Southern UUs were radicalized by the movement. These pages tell their tales, as well as the sadder accounts of some who resisted change.

Genres: Religion

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 12, 2015

Reviews

[Barbara Kemp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a look at how the Civil Rights movement in the South was affected and impacted by UUs and how UUs grew during this time. Overall a sad picture of the times when people negatively judged others if they were nice to Negroes. Dry, boring and repetitive at times, the impact of the book as a whole was pretty substantial. Good to know what happened, perhaps we can't keep it from happening again.

[Betsy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide and pretty comprehensive look at the impact of Unitarian and Universalist congregations in the South and/or their members on the Civil Rights movement. I loved his opening essay, then wasn't sure I would like reading about church after church. But the author re-engaged me every time with an anecdote about a hero/ine for civil rights or an atrocity of segregation.
I don't think I ever fully understood before how fully entrenched, not just in custom, but in law, segregations was. A number of UU churches were targeted because "mixed" meetings were illegal. There were shotoings and bombings, and teens who had to leave for boarding schools elsewhere simply because they spoke in friendly ways to black youth newly added to their schools. Also, a few obstructionists.
An inspiring story, to be sure!
Full disclosure: the author is a friend. One of the Black women noted was for many years a next-door neighbor here in San Francisco.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gordon Gibson writes compellingly about southern Unitarian Universalist churches/fellowships and their involvement in the issues of the Civil Rights era. He explores what helped and hindered a congregation' s /minister's response to the segregation. I believe this book can provide insight for ways to meet the challenges of today's social justice issues: institutional racism, gender/sexual identity, immigration, economic disparity, health care, etc.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at the history of Unitarian and Universalist churches in the South. How churches dealt with issues of civil rights, e.g., supporting preschools for all children, welcoming members of all races. Different churches handled issues differently, based on their communities, history, and resources. Particularly interesting because we have now visited some of these places on a tour led by the author, the only UU minister in Mississippi in 1969.