Greenberg Telegram to U.S. Education Commissioner Francis Keppel on Firing of Negro Teachers in N.C.

Press Release
May 24, 1965

Greenberg Telegram to U.S. Education Commissioner Francis Keppel on Firing of Negro Teachers in N.C. preview

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  • 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 June 04, 2025.

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| 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school districts using freedom of choice be held up or withdrawn unless 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

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