Sibley Commission
On 1955, the General Assembly decided to cut off state funds to any system that integrated its schools. Governor Ernest Vandiver was forced to choose between closing the public schools or to give the situation to the Federal Government to order them to desegregate the schools. State representative George Busbee introduced the legislation creating the General Assembly Committee on schools known as Sibley Commission. The Sibley Commission would go around to ask the people about desegregating the schools and report it back to the governor, otherwise integration. They have collected that most people would rather close the schools than integrate them. The Sibley Commission recommended that local school systems be allowed to decide if they would act by a probable court order to integrate public schools or if they would close them. When Governor Vandiver ordered to close UGA because of forced integration, people changed their minds about closing down public schools. Governor Vandiver made a promised that he would keep Georgia's segregated, but after he was elected, he didn't keep that promise. He went on to desegregate schools and other public places and made things equal to unite blacks and whites. His choice helped changed segregation.
- After schools were forced to segregate by law in 1954, Georgia refused to cooperate.
- In 1960, a commision was formed by Atlanta banker John Sibley that held public hearings to see how Georgians felt about integration.
- The Sibley Commission found that 2 out of 3 Georgians would rather see schools closed than integrated.
- As a result, the commission recommended that each local district decided the desegregation matter for itself.
- The Sibley Commission allowed local districts to make their own decision regarding desegregation, which made the process of integration very slow.
- African American students Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes both applied several times to the University of Georgia.
- Each time, their applications were denied because the university was "full."
- They took their case to court and the school was integrated in 1961 under an order by the US District Court in Athens
Things to Ponder
Why was the Sibley Commission formed?
Why do people resist change?
Is loyalty (family, friends, school, etc.) more important than integrity? Why/Why not?
How does this picture connect to this station?
Why was the Sibley Commission formed?
Why do people resist change?
Is loyalty (family, friends, school, etc.) more important than integrity? Why/Why not?
How does this picture connect to this station?