Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong
Encyclopedia
Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong was a black Mississippi
pioneer in the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968). In September, 1965, she and Raylawni Branch
, both local natives, integrated the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg. They thus completed the process of breaking the segregation
barriers at Mississippi’s universities which had been begun by Clyde Kennard
at (then) Mississippi Southern College (1956-61) and carried forward by James Meredith
at the University of Mississippi
(September, 1962) and Richard Holmes
at Mississippi State University
(July, 1965).
to enter with her as moral support.
This required considerable physical courage for both, but especially the inexperienced 18 year old Armstrong. Having grown up in the black community of Hattiesburg, she was well aware of the notorious miscarriage of justice in which the last black (Clyde Kennard) to attempt to enroll at the university had been falsely sent to prison and an early death.
By this time (September, 1965) both Ole Miss and Mississippi State University
had been integrated – the former violently, the latter peacefully. The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission
and University of Southern Mississippi leaders, such as President Dr. William David McCain
, had earlier fought vociferously and successfully to thwart Clyde Kennard
’s attempts to enroll at (then) Mississippi Southern College. They had now come to realize that the battle to maintain segregation was lost. Therefore, McCain and his staff made extensive confidential plans for the admission and attendance of Armstrong and Branch. A faculty guardian and mentor was secretly appointed for each. The same campus police department which inn 1959 had attempted to railroad Kennard to prison when he attempted to enroll, now had very strict orders to prevent or quickly stop any incident involving the two black students. Student athletic, social, and political leaders were recruited to keep the calm and protect the university from such bad publicity as Ole Miss had suffered from its reaction to James Meredith
.
As a result, Armstrong had only very minor negative experiences. She studied music and vocal, and helped the university choir win a championship. According to Branch, they were “treated just like everybody else.”
The two women were accompanied by six bodyguards when on campus. The university administration appointed Dr. Godfrey Fish, an oceanographer who taught biology as her guardian and tutor. Fish took a genuine interest in both women, gave them advice and jobs in work-study. He was very kind, listened to them, was like father figure to them.
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
pioneer in the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968). In September, 1965, she and Raylawni Branch
Raylawni Branch
Mrs. Raylawni Branch is a black Mississippi pioneer of the African-American Civil Rights Movement ,professional nursing educator and US Air Force Reserve officer...
, both local natives, integrated the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg. They thus completed the process of breaking the segregation
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
barriers at Mississippi’s universities which had been begun by Clyde Kennard
Clyde Kennard
Clyde Kennard was a Civil Rights pioneer and martyr, born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In the 1950s, he attempted several times to enroll at Mississippi Southern College to complete his undergraduate degree started at University of Chicago...
at (then) Mississippi Southern College (1956-61) and carried forward by James Meredith
James Meredith
James H. Meredith is an American civil rights movement figure, a writer, and a political adviser. In 1962, he was the first African American student admitted to the segregated University of Mississippi, an event that was a flashpoint in the American civil rights movement. Motivated by President...
at the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
(September, 1962) and Richard Holmes
Richard Holmes
Richard Holmes may refer to:* Richard Holmes , American actor* Richard Holmes , British biographer* Richard Holmes , British soldier and military historian...
at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
(July, 1965).
Biography
Armstrong was a 1965 graduate of Hattiesburg’s Royal Street (then Rowan) High School. She wished to attend college but had to stay at home to care for her invalid mother. The NAACP offered to support her entry into the local segregated white university, and recruited local civil rights activist Raylawni BranchRaylawni Branch
Mrs. Raylawni Branch is a black Mississippi pioneer of the African-American Civil Rights Movement ,professional nursing educator and US Air Force Reserve officer...
to enter with her as moral support.
This required considerable physical courage for both, but especially the inexperienced 18 year old Armstrong. Having grown up in the black community of Hattiesburg, she was well aware of the notorious miscarriage of justice in which the last black (Clyde Kennard) to attempt to enroll at the university had been falsely sent to prison and an early death.
By this time (September, 1965) both Ole Miss and Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
had been integrated – the former violently, the latter peacefully. The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission
Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission
The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission was a state agency directed by the governor of Mississippi that existed from 1956 to 1977, also known as the Sov-Com...
and University of Southern Mississippi leaders, such as President Dr. William David McCain
William David McCain
William David McCain was a recognized leader of the Mississippi political establishment and a leader in its struggle in the 1950s and 1960s to maintain the segregated "southern way of life" against the forces of integration...
, had earlier fought vociferously and successfully to thwart Clyde Kennard
Clyde Kennard
Clyde Kennard was a Civil Rights pioneer and martyr, born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In the 1950s, he attempted several times to enroll at Mississippi Southern College to complete his undergraduate degree started at University of Chicago...
’s attempts to enroll at (then) Mississippi Southern College. They had now come to realize that the battle to maintain segregation was lost. Therefore, McCain and his staff made extensive confidential plans for the admission and attendance of Armstrong and Branch. A faculty guardian and mentor was secretly appointed for each. The same campus police department which inn 1959 had attempted to railroad Kennard to prison when he attempted to enroll, now had very strict orders to prevent or quickly stop any incident involving the two black students. Student athletic, social, and political leaders were recruited to keep the calm and protect the university from such bad publicity as Ole Miss had suffered from its reaction to James Meredith
James Meredith
James H. Meredith is an American civil rights movement figure, a writer, and a political adviser. In 1962, he was the first African American student admitted to the segregated University of Mississippi, an event that was a flashpoint in the American civil rights movement. Motivated by President...
.
As a result, Armstrong had only very minor negative experiences. She studied music and vocal, and helped the university choir win a championship. According to Branch, they were “treated just like everybody else.”
The two women were accompanied by six bodyguards when on campus. The university administration appointed Dr. Godfrey Fish, an oceanographer who taught biology as her guardian and tutor. Fish took a genuine interest in both women, gave them advice and jobs in work-study. He was very kind, listened to them, was like father figure to them.