George Raymond Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Raymond Jr.
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Mugshot from Freedom Ride arrest in Jackson Mississippi on August 14, 1961
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| Born | January 1, 1943 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Died | March 8, 1973 (aged 30) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Occupation | activist |
| Spouse(s) | Myrtis Evans (m. 1965) |
| Children | Two |
George Raymond Jr. (born January 1, 1943 – died March 8, 1973) was a brave and important leader in the American Civil Rights Movement. He worked tirelessly to achieve fairness and equal rights for African Americans in the United States. George was a key member of groups like the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in Mississippi and was known for his courageous participation in the Freedom Rides. He inspired many other activists, including Anne Moody and Annie Devine, to join the fight for civil rights. George Raymond Jr. played a big part in major events like the Woolworth's lunch counter sit-in in Jackson, Mississippi, the Meredith Mississippi March, and the Freedom Summer voter registration efforts. He dedicated his life to making sure all people had the right to vote and were treated with dignity.
Contents
A Champion for Civil Rights
Early Life and Family
George Raymond Jr. was born on January 1, 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana. People who knew him described George as courageous, someone who took action, and wasn't afraid to speak up. He went to Tommy Lafon Elementary and Samuel J. Green Junior Elementary School. He graduated from Cohen High School in 1960. In 1965, George married Myrtis Evans. George even inspired Myrtis's mother, Laura Evans, to become a Freedom Rider. George and Myrtis had two children together.
Fighting for Change: The Civil Rights Movement
George Raymond Jr. became deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, a time when many people worked to end unfair treatment and segregation.
The Freedom Rides: Challenging Segregation
When he was just eighteen years old, George Raymond Jr. was living in New Orleans. He bravely joined the Freedom Rides. These were bus trips taken by civil rights activists to challenge unfair laws that kept Black and white people separated on public transportation. On August 14, 1961, George and another activist, Pauline K. Sims, were arrested at the Trailways bus terminal in Jackson, Mississippi, for their peaceful protest.
Leading Voter Registration Efforts
In the early 1960s, George Raymond Jr. moved to Canton, Mississippi, to work with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a leading civil rights organization. CORE, along with other groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO), sent workers like George to Canton. Their main goal was to help African Americans register to vote.
At that time, it was very difficult for Black people to vote in places like Madison County, Mississippi. Out of about 10,000 potential Black voters in 1963, only 121 were registered. Officials often threatened people with guns if they tried to register or vote. Another unfair rule was the poll tax, which made people pay money to vote. George, along with Dave Dennis, Robert Chinn, Anne Moody, and many others, led the important effort to register voters in Canton.
George was the project director for the Freedom Summer in 1964. This was a big effort to help many African Americans register to vote. He continued to lead these efforts in the years that followed. In 1965, he expanded CORE's activities to other counties, including Rankin and Leake.
The Woolworth Sit-in: A Stand for Equality
On May 28, 1963, George Raymond Jr. took part in a famous protest in Jackson, Mississippi. He joined Medgar Evers, Anne Moody, Pearlina Lewis, Prof. John R. Salter, and Walter Williams. They sat down at the "whites only" lunch counter at Woolworth's department store in downtown Jackson. Their goal was to peacefully challenge the unfair rule that kept Black and white people separated.
For two hours, these brave demonstrators faced insults and physical attacks. People poured food on them and called them names. The police deputy chief, J. R. Ray, watched as the violence grew. The store owner finally closed the store when the crowd started throwing items from the shelves. This sit-in was one of many peaceful protests that eventually led to Woolworth's changing its policy of racial segregation in the Southern United States.
Annie Moody, another activist, wrote about George in her book, Coming of Age in Mississippi:
George appears in the only photograph of the lunch counter scene that day. In it, the camera's flash and his deep black skin provide a double shadow against Pearlena's bright summer suit. He sits stone-faced, staring straight ahead while a pint bottle of silky white cream is poured down the back of his muscular neck and onto his white T-shirt and crisp bib overalls – clothing that would become his trademark in the Mississippi movement.
The Meredith Mississippi March: Continuing the Journey
In June 1966, George Raymond Jr. participated in the Meredith Mississippi March near the town of Canton. This march began when civil rights campaigner James Meredith started walking from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. His goal was to encourage African Americans along his route to register and vote. After Meredith was shot and injured, other civil rights campaigners, including George, bravely continued the march in his name.
The Club Desire: Music and Meetings
The Club Desire was a famous nightclub in Mississippi from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. It was founded by Clarence Chinn. Many top music stars, like B. B. King and James Brown, performed there. In the 1960s, the club also became an important meeting place for civil rights workers.
Later, George Raymond Jr. became one of the operators of the "New Club Desire." He worked with C. O. Chinn, Clarence Chinn's brother. Both George and C. O. Chinn were leading civil rights activists in Canton. Besides being a popular place for Blues music, the New Club Desire hosted meetings for many community and civil rights groups. The club closed in the 1970s.
A Lasting Legacy
George Raymond Jr. passed away in 1973 at the young age of 30. Many believe that the intense stress and dangers he faced during his years of activism may have affected his health. His courage and dedication left a lasting impact on the Civil Rights Movement and helped pave the way for a more equal society.
