Alabama has had its fair share of stories lost to history. One such tragedy took place in Macon County in 1966. Many Alabamians are not familiar with the murder of Sammy Younge Jr., who died in the waning years of the civil rights movement. He grew up in a middle-class family with educated parents in Tuskegee, Alabama. Younge joined the U.S. Navy when he graduated from Tuskegee Institute High School. After a discharge for medical issues, he enrolled as a Political Science major at the Tuskegee Institute where he became involved in the civil rights movements through groups like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He routinely promoted voter registration, participated in marches like the Selma to Montgomery in 1965 and gained a reputation for his activism. Yet, his activism would ultimately cost him his life. Remembering people like Sammy Younge, Jr., could change future generations of Alabamians and Americans.
In 1966, Younge pulled into a local Tuskegee filling station to use the restroom after a day of him promoting voter registration among blacks in Macon County. Marvin Segrest, the manager of The Standard Oil Gas Station, pointed Younge to the direction of what he called the “colored” bathrooms. Younge informed Segrest restrooms could no longer be segregated due to the passage of the Civil Rights Act. The two proceeded to argue when Marvin shot Younge, killing him on the spot. The trial went on for only two days with an all-white jury acquittal for Marvin. Students who attended Tuskegee Institute began to protest for justice.
After the verdict came down on December 9, 1966, nearly 300 students came together at the college gym. As their anger rose, the students flooded the town and marched, protesting the acquittal. By days end, nearly two thousand students, locals, and workers had amassed in demonstration against the verdict. As more people gathered, the demonstrators demanded answers for the travesty of Sammy Younge Jr.'s death. No answers would be forthcoming. The protestors obtained cans of paint and vandalized the statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, located in the local park. They covered it with black paint and a yellow stripe along the back. Protestors painted the base with the words “Black Power” and “Sam Younge”.
Despite the protests, the anger and action, the event would soon be forgotten. The murder of Sammy Younge Jr. must be remembered. His death shows a glimpse into our past we are repeating today in Alabama and America. Racism and social injustices are still prevalent in Alabama and America. Laws and amendments cannot change the people. Murders, riots, and protests are often not mentioned in history textbooks, and some may even be forgotten. Alabamians should remember tragedies such as the murder of Younge to use as a guiding light for our future.
Additional Information:
After the verdict came down on December 9, 1966, nearly 300 students came together at the college gym. As their anger rose, the students flooded the town and marched, protesting the acquittal. By days end, nearly two thousand students, locals, and workers had amassed in demonstration against the verdict. As more people gathered, the demonstrators demanded answers for the travesty of Sammy Younge Jr.'s death. No answers would be forthcoming. The protestors obtained cans of paint and vandalized the statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, located in the local park. They covered it with black paint and a yellow stripe along the back. Protestors painted the base with the words “Black Power” and “Sam Younge”.
Despite the protests, the anger and action, the event would soon be forgotten. The murder of Sammy Younge Jr. must be remembered. His death shows a glimpse into our past we are repeating today in Alabama and America. Racism and social injustices are still prevalent in Alabama and America. Laws and amendments cannot change the people. Murders, riots, and protests are often not mentioned in history textbooks, and some may even be forgotten. Alabamians should remember tragedies such as the murder of Younge to use as a guiding light for our future.
Additional Information:
- “A Personal Mission: Sammy Younge Jr..” www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources/texts/a-personal-mission-sammy-younge-jr
- “Black Protesters Have Been Rallying against Confederate Statues for Generations.” Smithsonian.com https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/black-protestors-have-been-rallying-against-confederate-statues-generations-180977484/.
Author
Max North is a freshman majoring in Neuroscience at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He was born in the small town of Cleveland and lived there until he came to Birmingham in pursuit of his education. He enjoys going to parks, spending time with family, and sleeping.
RSS Feed