June Manning Thomas Oral History

Video interview with June Manning Thomas. Ms. Thomas enrolled at Furman in 1967 as one of the university\u27s first African American women. She begins the interview speaking about her hometown, Orangeburg, South Carolina, during the 1960s, and being a part of the first group of African American students to attend racially integrated public schools there. As a high school student June attended a summer program at Furman, and she talks about the program and how it infuenced her decision to attend Furman. Ms. Thomas talks about her freshman year, describes her life as an African American student at Furman, and tells of her friendships with Mary Beth Hare, Joe Vaughn, Tyrone Haynes, Sarah Reese, and Lillian Brock Flemming. Ms. Thomas speaks about the SSOC (Southern Student Organizing Group), the Orangeburg Massacre, and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She shares fond memories of Furman Chaplain, L. D. Johnson, and his talks with students. Ms. Thomas closes her interview speaking about her favorite class at Furman, singing in the choir, and stressing the importance of the Furman summer program she attended as a high school student.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/oral-histories/1047/thumbnail.jp