Documenting the American South Logo
Collections >> Oral Histories of the American South >> Document Menu
Oral History Interview with Burnice Hackney, February 5, 2001. Interview K-0547. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
Audio with Transcript
  • Listen Online with Text Transcript (Requires QuickTime and JavaScript)
  • Transcript Only (45 p.)
  • HTML file
  • XML/TEI source file
  • Download Complete Audio File (MP3 format / ca. 173 MB, 01:34:32)
  • MP3
  • Abstract
    In 1966, Burnice Hackney was among the first African Americans to enroll in the new, integrated Chapel Hill High School (CHHS). In this interview, Hackney attempts to resolve his belief in the essential value of integration with his regret for the traditions jettisoned during the process. The process itself went relatively smoothly for Hackney, who did not experience direct racism from white students or teachers. The most difficult element of the transition was leaving the nurturing atmosphere at Lincoln High School for the academically demanding, individualistic ethos of CHHS. A sense of inevitability flows through this interview: Hackney remembers that he and other black students were resigned to the integration process, which seemed determined to move forward despite how African Americans felt about it.
    Excerpts
  • Remembering C.A. McDougle
  • Remembering R.D. Smith
  • Remembering R.D. Smith and W.D. Peerman
  • Lack of resources at Lincoln High School
  • Black students favor moving to Chapel Hill High School
  • Black students support entering Chapel Hill High School
  • Ambivalence about integration
  • Black student enters white-majority school
  • Nurturing at Lincoln gives way to achieving at Chapel Hill High School
  • Lack of preparation for integration
  • Relative calm during first year of integration
  • Black educational leaders lose positions during integration
  • Differential treatment of black and white students at Chapel Hill High School
  • Ambivalence about integration
  • Learn More
  • Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
  • Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
  • Subjects
  • School integration--North Carolina--Chapel Hill
  • African Americans--North Carolina--Chapel Hill
  • Lincoln High School (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
  • Hackney, Burnice
  • The Southern Oral History Program transcripts presented here on Documenting the American South undergo an editorial process to remove transcription errors. Texts may differ from the original transcripts held by the Southern Historical Collection.

    Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title.