Annie Gibson Interview

Biog. Sketch (Full): Annie Gibson

Annie Gibson was born in 1910 or 1911 in the small farming community of Summerton, South Carolina. The town sits in the midst of Clarendon County, which became famous during the case of Briggs v. Elliot. This case was filed in an attempt to integrate public schools in Clarendon County. Like most families of Annie Gibson’s time, farming provided both food and money for her family. Unlike many other farm families, her father was a teacher. Her mother ran a local diner.

Annie and her three sisters all attended the segregated schools of Summerton. The community operated two elementary schools for African American children, St. Paul and Spring Hill. Scotts Branch was their segregated high school. At the time Annie Gibson attended school, high school ended with tenth grade. Although she wanted to become a teacher, she never pursued a college education.

Annie married a local man in 1935. They began living on the farm her husband had lived on since he was born. His family had been tenant farmers. Unfortunately, once Annie agreed to participate in the movement to integrate the county’s public schools, her family was evicted from the land. Mrs. Gibson never wavered and remained committed to the goal of better education for their children. This public stand resulted in the family having to rent a smaller farm that faltered because white business owners refused to extend credit to Mr. Gibson. Annie herself was fired from her job as a maid at a local motel. The pressure applied throughout the community made it impossible for the Gibson’s to find work.

Annie Gibson supported Rev. J. A. DeLaine in his mission to improve the plight of African American people. Her determination to participate in the case of Briggs v. Elliot was firmly in place. She wanted her children to have classrooms with desks and up-to-date educational resources. She wanted a bus for other African American children who walked great distances to school. Staying the course along with numerous fellow plaintiffs ultimately paid off. Their case became part of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to end segregated schools. Mrs. Gibson still resides in Clarendon County, South Carolina.

Scope and content: Index
Annie V. Gibson
South Carolina
5/17/1995

Page: Topics
01: St. Paul and Spring Hill Elementary Schools, and Scotch Branch High School, Reverend Delany, petition, equality for blacks,

02: Walking to school, buses, cafeteria, gym, Discrimination because of involvement in case, 1964 decision, tenant farming

03: Tenant farming, Discrimination because of involvement in case, Summerton Motel, Hearing in Charleston, conditions in schools,

04: Textbooks, Topeka, Kansas, South Carolina, Clarendon County, BP, Black and White ethnicity, Hilton

05: Farming, education, memories of school as a child, black history,

06: Siblings, children,

07: Conditions after integration, private schools, segregated public facilities, Summerton Diner,

08: Boycott of stores, Piggly Wiggly, Black businesses, transportation,

09: Summerton, AME, social clubs,

10: PTAs, church involvement.