Byrd and Massive Resistance
Harry F. Byrd was Virginia’s senator from 1933 – 1965 and was one of the South’s most powerful political figures, who staunchly supported segregation. Once the Brown v. Board of Education decision completely changed Southern society by making segregation unconstitutional, Bryd attempted to block any change from taking effect. He created a coalition to support the “Southern Manifesto” that argued against the desegregation of schools. Byrd’s coalition was comprised of nine senators and eighty-two state representatives who all signed the manifesto. People who supported the resistance argued “Interposition,” a pre-Civil War tool that allowed the State to interpose its sovereignty to stop decisions made by the Supreme Court. Rhetoric like the use of “Interposition” began the implication of Massive Resistance laws that impeded the desegregation of southern schools. In Virginia, Massive Resistance laws cut funding for schools that were in the process of or were starting to integrate after Brown v. Board of Education. However, after massive legal victories made by the NAACP, Black students were allowed to enter White schools in Virginia.
In response to the NAACP’s court victories, White schools began testing Black students who wanted to attend. Out of 151 Black students only 17 were allowed entry into White schools after testing. These students would go on to be known as the Norfolk 17 and endure heinous discrimination to pave the way for Norfolk’s Black students. However, because of their entry, Virginia imposed their Massive Resistance laws on Norfolk through Governor James Lindsay Almond Jr.
Governor Almond ordered the closing of Granby High School, Maury High School, Norview High School, Blair Junior High School, Northside Junior High School, and Norview Junior High School on September 27, 1958. Ironically, the actions caused more harm to the White students than the Black students, as White Schools remained closed and Black Schools remained open. Either way, Virginia's federal district courts forced Norfolk to reopen after finding out about the school closings. They went on to force the city to desegregate all schools city-wide or face a federal lawsuit.