Greenberg Telegram to U.S. Education Commissioner Francis Keppel on Firing of Negro Teachers in N.C.
Press Release
May 24, 1965
Cite this item
-
Press Releases, Volume 2. Greenberg Telegram to U.S. Education Commissioner Francis Keppel on Firing of Negro Teachers in N.C., 1965. 90a796f8-b592-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/5d2174ec-cfb7-4794-b2bf-c7d50fb0e2dc/greenberg-telegram-to-us-education-commissioner-francis-keppel-on-firing-of-negro-teachers-in-nc. Accessed November 07, 2025.
Copied!
DOMESTIC SERVICE \ INTERNATIONAL SERVICE \ JR eA . q 1B RI ) } [ + [Check the classof service desveed; eewise chia message will etwise the message wil
“aye oe A oN pane eter ional
TELEGRAM >
1211 (4-55) [FULL RATE — E TELEGRAM a
AU EATIEN: Ly W. P. MARSHALL, pacsioent SS SHORE:SHIE. 7a
[ho wos-cu or sve] po. on coun] eas nO CHARGE TO THE RECOUNT OF Time FLED ]
| NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCAT IONS
FUND = COUMBUS CIRCLE
Send the following message, subject to the terms on back hereof, which are hereby agreed 1o | YORK 19, N. Y.
HON. FRANCIS KEPPEL a =
U.S. COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION
OFFICE OF EDUCATION
WASHINGTON, D. C.
May 24,65)
Immiment prospect of whole
in North Carolina requires im
Rights Act. Situation arises out o
whereby the only integration Ne udents can obtain is by transfer from
Negro to white schools. In sox unities Negro children have transferred
out to white schools leaving oversupply of teachers in Negro schools.
Elsewhere Negro schools have been closed. This creates cruel dilemma for
Negro parents who to obtain integration for their children must create
situation in which the Negro teacher who is a mainstay of the Negro community
faces loss of employment.
undreds of Negro teachers
e VI of the Civil
of choice plans
7 United States Constitution and le VI require integration of teaching
staff as well as of pupils. Staff integration means hiring as well as
dismissal without regard to race. We request that Title Vi approvals of
school districts using freedom of choice be held up or withdrawn unless
genuine teacher integration precedes transfers. Once jobs are lost they
will not be regained. The offendi g districts are hiring new white teachers
as they fire Negroes. The only way to achieve real integration is to assign
pupils and teachers to schools without regard to race. North Carolina
communities where Negro teachers face dismissal include: Asheboro, Randolph
County, Albemarle, Gaston County, Morganton, Pitt County, Lenoir County,
Hickory, Transylvania County, Tryon City, Asheville, Polk County, Orange
County, Person County, Buncombe County. Other Districts likely to be affected
include Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, Pender County, Washington County,
Carteret County, Yancey County, Pamlico County, Caswell County, Caldwell
County, Jones County, Rockingham County, Robeson County, Whiteville, Columbus
County, New Hanover County, Brunswick County.
1
JACK GREENBERG, DIRECTOR-COUNSEL
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & ED, FUND