Civil Rights Lessons in Honor of Dr. King
On Monday, three alumni who fought for civil rights in the 1960s shared stories of their efforts to bring equality to the Deep South; they spoke during a panel discussion that was part of Groton School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.
The discussion, “Groton School and the Civil Rights Era,” featured James Blaine ’63, Roger Daly ’63, and William Forsyth ’62. All were compelled by a sense of moral obligation to fight for racial equality, and at times they risked their lives to do so. The panelists credited their motivation to many factors, including the progressive vision of the headmaster at the time, the Reverend John Crocker, who invited many civil rights speakers to campus, including the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
The discussion, “Groton School and the Civil Rights Era,” featured James Blaine ’63, Roger Daly ’63, and William Forsyth ’62. All were compelled by a sense of moral obligation to fight for racial equality, and at times they risked their lives to do so. The panelists credited their motivation to many factors, including the progressive vision of the headmaster at the time, the Reverend John Crocker, who invited many civil rights speakers to campus, including the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
Roger Daly took a leave from Dartmouth College to volunteer in Alabama, first observing and writing press releases, then participating in demonstrations. He was arrested four times for spurious crimes such as “parading without a permit,” and he was beaten severely, at gunpoint, by white segregationists. Jamie Blaine traveled to Georgia, where he was whisked away before he even realized the danger, transported to safety by someone he didn’t know. Bill Forsyth volunteered for Freedom Summer in 1964, then took a leave from Princeton so he could remain in the South, working for the Congress of Racial Equality and trying to register blacks to vote. He described the elation he felt after Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, when he witnessed lines of people stretching around the block in Madison, Mississippi, waiting to register to vote. He too was arrested for a questionable crime—he spent the night in jail for “littering” because he was sitting with his Coke on the ground.
The panel discussion was moderated by history teachers Thomas Lamont and Rachelle Sam; another history teacher, John Lyons, set up the discussion with a brief lesson about what life was like during the civil rights era.
After the panel discussion, students were moved by the powerful character sketches of Dr. Michael Fowlin, whose presentation, "You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me," vividly and intimately brought to life the hurt of discrimination, bullying, homophobia, and insensitivity.
The panel discussion was moderated by history teachers Thomas Lamont and Rachelle Sam; another history teacher, John Lyons, set up the discussion with a brief lesson about what life was like during the civil rights era.
After the panel discussion, students were moved by the powerful character sketches of Dr. Michael Fowlin, whose presentation, "You Don't Know Me Until You Know Me," vividly and intimately brought to life the hurt of discrimination, bullying, homophobia, and insensitivity.
Groton School Mission: To inspire lives of character, scholarship, leadership, and service within a diverse, inclusive, and close-knit community.
© 2025 Groton School. All Rights Reserved.
