Norfolk 17 Celebrate 50 Year Anniversary

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY.com) -- The Norfolk 17 were honored Sunday, for their role in the civil rights movement.  The 17 stepped in to one of the toughest times of their lives in the hopes of making life easier for those who followed. 

Nearly 50 years ago, 17 African-American students, now known as the Norfolk 17, became the first black students to attend Norfolk's all white public schools.

Sunday was a very emotional day at the First Baptist Church on Bute Street in Norfolk.  12 of the Norfolk 17 were there, three have passed away and two couldn't make the trip, but in that church all of them were honored for everything they've done.

First Baptist Church members came face to face with heroism and bravery Sunday.  The Norfolk 17 were home at the church where they got their education until the "massive resistance" was struck down.

On February 2, 1959 the men and women became the first to integrate Norfolk's public schools.

"It's hard to believe it's been 50 years but sometimes my body tells me that," laughs Louis Cousins, the only member of the Norfolk 17 to graduate from Maury High School.

A snapshot of Louis sitting by himself in the front of Maury's auditorium on that first day of school became one of the most popular symbols of desegregation in Norfolk.

"I didn't know that picture would become a lightening rod for integration in Norfolk. It was just a matter of finding a place to sit so I could see what was going on."

Patricia Turner of the Norfolk 17 will never forget her first day of school at Norview. She talks about that day when she was 12 as she made the walk to school with her late brother, James Junior. 

"It was exciting, but it was no longer exciting once we go to that invisible line.  The invisible line was the division between the blacks and whites and then the fun ended. We did not speak. We didn't say one word because the police had on their black outfits and had rifles on their shoulders and lined the streets and parents of the white children called us names and threw things and it was just not a happy time," says Patricia. 

"We did not speak at all until we got to the school.  Once we got to the school, I had to let my brother's hand go because he was a 7th grader, I was an 8th grader and we went into totally different buildings."

Patricia now says her life has come full circle.

"My class, graduating class, Norview High School 1963, found me and I'm working on our 45th reunion.  The reunion will be on my birthday."

At the historic First Baptist Church on Bute Street, it was a day to celebrate and to remember, the story of the Norfolk 17's mission doesn't have a final chapter yet.

"Steps have been taken, but there's a lot more to be done," says Cousins who is now retired from the Air Force.  "The kids today have reversed it in some ways and the kids today like I said, they think you're obligated to give them their education.  Education is there but you have to work for it."

Patricia agrees with  Louis.

"You need an education in order to accomplish anything in this world."

A representative from Governor Tim Kaine's office was at the ceremony, Sunday, to a say a civil right's memorial will be unveiled in Richmond on July 21st.  It's yet another way to say thank you to the Norfolk 17 and those who are still working hard for racial equality.