“I refuse & will always refuse to accept a card to be used at the library to be constructed & operated at Alfred & Wythe Streets in lieu of [a] card to be used at the existing library on Queen Street for which I have made application." - Samuel Wilber Tucker (1913-1990) 21 yrs before #GreensboroSitIn & yrs before #Virginia schools integrated, Alexandrian's led by #civilrights attorney #SamuelTucker, staged the 1st sit-in for #desegregation in America. At the time, Queen St. was the only library building in a city w a population of 33,000. It was built in 1937 using the tax dollars of both black & white residents, but had a “whites only” policy. Tucker was sent to local segregated schools & graduated from @Howard1867. Tucker studied law on his own at @LibraryCongress & passed Virginia’s bar exam at age 20. He was too young to be sworn in until the next year. Tucker tried for several yrs to establish #RacialEquity ACCESS & OUTCOMES for public resources. On March 17, 1939, he asked retired army sergeant George Wilson to apply for a library card. The librarian refused & Tucker sued for Wilson’s right to apply for a card. On Friday, August 21, 1939, a young #AfricanAmerican entered the library & asked to register for a #librarycard. When he was refused, he picked up a book, took a seat, & began to read. Minutes later, another well-groomed black man repeated these actions. Eventually William Evans, Otto L. Tucker (Samuel's brother), Edward Gaddis, Morris Murray & Clarence Strange occupied 5 tables. Each sat silently reading a book. The 5 men were charged w “disorderly conduct”. The judge avoided issuing a ruling. The 5 were never being declared guilty or not guilty, forced to serve time or pay any fine. The judge ruled if Wilson proved residency, the library would legally be required to issue him a card. To comply without integrating, @AlexandriaVAgov built a black library (now Alexandria’s #BlackHistory Museum) as a 1-room building w a dirt yard, donated & cast-off books. Tucker refused this side step of justice. 80 yrs later, THIS is my new @alexlibva card! ✊🏿 Source: Alexandria Library & WETA #RaceEquityAlex #EndWhiteSupremacy #TeamUppityNegro (at Alexandria Library, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/soulpowercoach/p/BxKnDn8hCDK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1is549ffh3bi
