Mary Nettles talks about growing up in a segregated Chatham County, NC (part 2) - 6.21.24

Mary Nettles Recalls Segregated School Experience in 60s Chatham County, NC - 6.21.24
Filmed by Gene Galin for the Chatham Journal newspaper.
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Mary Nettles Recalls Segregated School Experience in 60s Chatham County, NC
[00:16] Reminiscing on school buildings and memories of elementary school
- Mary recalls distinct buildings for different grade levels and areas of the school campus.
- She also mentions the changes in the layout over the years and memories of playing in the school yard.
[02:30] Integration of schools in Pittsboro from 1965 to 1970
- In 1965, Pittsboro started integrating black students from Horton into the previously all-white school.
- In 1970, forced busing led to the closure of Horton High School and the renaming of Pittsboro High School to Northwood High School.
[04:52] Mary Nettles talks about the first class to wear green and gold colors and her experiences as a letter girl.
- She discusses being a part of the class of '72, the first to wear green and gold colors and the trophy for being the 1971 Tar Heel Champion.
- Mary Nettles also talks about her role as a letter girl, attending games, and her brother playing football.
[07:00] Discussion about receiving drawings from a talented artist
- Artist would give away his drawings, including one received by the speaker when running for School board.
- The artist was skilled and fast at drawing, with one of the drawings now at the speaker's house.
[08:49] Experiences of attending segregated games and events.
- Recalling instances of being rushed back to the bus after segregated games.
- Hearing about the challenges faced by the integrated football team.
[11:07] Growing up in segregated Chatham County, NC
- Mary Nettles discusses living in a black world while others lived in a white world within the same county.
- She shares a favorite memory of sneaking off to a black restaurant through a cornfield during school hours.
[13:32] Challenges of affording lunch at school
- Mary recalls struggling to afford lunch at 52 cents a meal, sometimes skipping when she had no money.
- Despite financial struggles, Mary and her friends would cut class to get ham lettuce and tomato sandwiches, facing punishment for their actions.
[15:36] Recalling childhood fear of a non-existent bull in the segregated area
- Climbing over fences to bypass the area and avoiding the perceived threat of the Black Bull
- Reflecting on the unfounded fears instilled during that time, highlighting the divide in experiences