The George Spivey Perception: There is Joy in the Movement
George Spivey was a first-year student at Dartmouth as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum. Shortly before he applied to the college, Martin Luther King Jr. had just delivered his “I Have A Dream Speech.” One would think the national climate would deter a Black man from attending an all-boys PWI (Predominantly White Institution). Instead, George looked at leaders like MLK and Malcolm X as beacons of change through their messages of empowerment and demands for equality. Although they had different approaches, both leaders encouraged Black students to take pride in their identity and actively resist discrimination within the education system.
Malcolm X visited the Dartmouth campus in 1965. When this comes up in our interview, you can see the overwhelming emotions of joy rushing into George's mind. He was almost speechless at the thought of such a monumental person being in his close proximity. Despite Brother Spivey's memory issues, he states that Malcolm X's visit was something he will “never forget.”
George cared a lot about preserving and maintaining the Black community at the Big Green. The Afro-American Society (Afro-Am), is an organization dedicated to building, uplifting, and encouraging the Black and minority community at Dartmouth. This organization was pioneered by 20 men in 1966. While they started and supported protests on campus, George took it upon himself as Social Chairman to ensure that the “Black folk,” too, should have their fun. In the midst of tense airs, he made sure to call other sisters from different campuses in the region to visit, so that the brothers could have their fun. George helped to create a balance between the political and social world for a Black man in Hanover, New Hampshire. But the joy doesn’t diminish the pain.