Hulond Humphries
Encyclopedia
Hulond Humphries is a part-time hog farmer and former principal at Randolph County High School
who caused a national controversy in 1994 and 1995 after he threatened to cancel the high school's prom due to fears about interracial dating. In 1997, he again drew national attention after he was elected superintendent of Randolph County's school district.
and, at the time of the controversy, had a student body that was roughly 62 percent white
and 38 percent black
.
In 1994, Humphries began asking his students whether they planned to attend the prom "with somebody who is not of the same race". When several students answered yes, Humphries threatened to cancel the event, saying "How would that look at a prom, a bunch of mixed couples?". Humphries reportedly claimed that he was concerned that interracial dating would lead to violence. The junior class president, ReVonda Bowen, who has a black mother and a white father
, reportedly asked Humphries what his order would require her to do. Humphries replied that ReVonda's parents had "made a mistake" by conceiving her. Humphries had long opposed interracial dating, as had some of his teachers; Humphries reportedly threatened to tell students' parents that they were dating interracially, as well as telling white girls that "no white boy would have them" after they had been with a black boy.
Following the incident, parents across the district organized demonstrations and boycotted classes. About one fifth of the school's students did not attend classes for several days. Two local "Freedom Schools", held in African-American church buildings, were organized by local civil rights groups as a temporary alternative. Eventually, Humphries was placed on paid leave
by the local school board; he was also sued
by the Southern Poverty Law Center
on behalf of Bowen's parents. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference
scheduled a demonstration in Wedowee, but this was canceled after Ku Klux Klan
members from Georgia said that they would travel to Wedowee to stage a counterdemonstration. Threats were made against Bowen's family, and her home was guarded by FBI agents.
Some white parents in the district, however, approved of Humphries' views; as a result, he was reinstated as principal two weeks after the incident. Humphries rescheduled the prom, which did occur. Bowen showed up with her white boyfriend, Chris Brown. Nine years later, she would write a book about her experiences, No Mistakes, No More Tears.
Due to an arson
fire which destroyed the school building in August 1994, Humphries was reassigned to the school district's central office. Humphries was one of the first to show up at the scene of the fire, and he reportedly shouted racial epithets at Bill Gill, a black cameraman who was filming the scene. Gill was beaten
, but Humphries denied participating in his assault. Some black residents began staying indoors at night for fear of Ku Klux Klan
retaliation, due to the fact that many white residents believed that blacks were responsible for the fire. A rally in support of Humphries was organized by the late white nationalist activist Richard Barrett and his Nationalist Movement.
A year after the incident, the local school district reached an agreement which barred Humphries from all school grounds in the district during class hours; the ban was to have been effective until July 1997. The agreement also promoted racial equality in general, and then-Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick
said that it removed "existing barriers to equality of educational opportunity." Some parents in the district felt that the agreement did not go far enough in punishing Humphries, however.
primary and running unopposed in the general election.
Randolph County, Alabama
Randolph County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.Its name is in honor of John Randolph, a member of the United States Senate from Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 22,913. Its county seat is Wedowee...
who caused a national controversy in 1994 and 1995 after he threatened to cancel the high school's prom due to fears about interracial dating. In 1997, he again drew national attention after he was elected superintendent of Randolph County's school district.
Background
Humphries became principal of Randolph County High School in 1969. Randolph County High School is located in Wedowee, AlabamaWedowee, Alabama
Wedowee is a town in Randolph County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 818. The city is the county seat of Randolph County.-History:...
and, at the time of the controversy, had a student body that was roughly 62 percent white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
and 38 percent black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
.
In 1994, Humphries began asking his students whether they planned to attend the prom "with somebody who is not of the same race". When several students answered yes, Humphries threatened to cancel the event, saying "How would that look at a prom, a bunch of mixed couples?". Humphries reportedly claimed that he was concerned that interracial dating would lead to violence. The junior class president, ReVonda Bowen, who has a black mother and a white father
Multiracial American
Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
, reportedly asked Humphries what his order would require her to do. Humphries replied that ReVonda's parents had "made a mistake" by conceiving her. Humphries had long opposed interracial dating, as had some of his teachers; Humphries reportedly threatened to tell students' parents that they were dating interracially, as well as telling white girls that "no white boy would have them" after they had been with a black boy.
Following the incident, parents across the district organized demonstrations and boycotted classes. About one fifth of the school's students did not attend classes for several days. Two local "Freedom Schools", held in African-American church buildings, were organized by local civil rights groups as a temporary alternative. Eventually, Humphries was placed on paid leave
Paid time off
Paid time off is a feature in some employee agreements that provides a "resource" of hours that an employee can draw from to take time off from work, without having to specify a reason....
by the local school board; he was also sued
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
by the Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
on behalf of Bowen's parents. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
scheduled a demonstration in Wedowee, but this was canceled after Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
members from Georgia said that they would travel to Wedowee to stage a counterdemonstration. Threats were made against Bowen's family, and her home was guarded by FBI agents.
Some white parents in the district, however, approved of Humphries' views; as a result, he was reinstated as principal two weeks after the incident. Humphries rescheduled the prom, which did occur. Bowen showed up with her white boyfriend, Chris Brown. Nine years later, she would write a book about her experiences, No Mistakes, No More Tears.
Due to an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
fire which destroyed the school building in August 1994, Humphries was reassigned to the school district's central office. Humphries was one of the first to show up at the scene of the fire, and he reportedly shouted racial epithets at Bill Gill, a black cameraman who was filming the scene. Gill was beaten
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
, but Humphries denied participating in his assault. Some black residents began staying indoors at night for fear of Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
retaliation, due to the fact that many white residents believed that blacks were responsible for the fire. A rally in support of Humphries was organized by the late white nationalist activist Richard Barrett and his Nationalist Movement.
A year after the incident, the local school district reached an agreement which barred Humphries from all school grounds in the district during class hours; the ban was to have been effective until July 1997. The agreement also promoted racial equality in general, and then-Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
said that it removed "existing barriers to equality of educational opportunity." Some parents in the district felt that the agreement did not go far enough in punishing Humphries, however.
Election as Superintendent
In July 1997, Humphries was elected as superintendent of the Randolph County school district, narrowly winning the DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary and running unopposed in the general election.
See also
- 2009 Louisiana interracial marriage incident2009 Louisiana interracial marriage incidentIn October 2009, Keith Bardwell, a Robert, Louisiana, Justice of the Peace, refused to officiate the civil wedding of an interracial couple because of his personal views; current state and federal laws have no restrictions against such a marriage in the United States.The story was first publicized...
- Constance McMillen
- Anti-miscegenation lawsAnti-miscegenation lawsAnti-miscegenation laws, also known as miscegenation laws, were laws that enforced racial segregation at the level of marriage and intimate relationships by criminalizing interracial marriage and sometimes also sex between members of different races...