Trailblazer. Icon. Revolutionary. Hero. All of those phrases could be attributed to native legend Joseph “Joe” W. Lightfoot.
Lightfoot, broadly identified all through the group as a civil rights icon, handed away on Feb. 6 on the age of 75. He was formally laid to relaxation on Feb. 15.
Born on Might 6, 1949, Lightfoot grew up in an period the place segregation was prevalent. In a time when Jim Crow legal guidelines nonetheless held weight, he endured an period full of discrimination.
Whereas desegregation of colleges all through the U.S. was made official in 1954, the issue nonetheless continued in Newton County all through the 50s and 60s. Integration of Georgia colleges was made obligatory in 1969 as a part of a lawsuit from the U.S. Division of Justice in opposition to the state.
As a part of the lawsuit, the Newton County Faculty System adopted a desegregation plan that will include seven years of elementary faculty and 5 years of highschool. The plan would additionally section out the Washington Road Elementary Faculty with an all-Black scholar physique and a 2:1 ratio of White academics to Black academics. Moreover, the all-Black R.L. Cousins Excessive Faculty was slated to grow to be a satellite tv for pc campus for the then all-White Newton County Excessive Faculty.
Nevertheless, as soon as rumors unfold that Black academics and directors at R.L. Cousins can be terminated, the scholars determined to take motion. College students at R.L. Cousins determined to stroll out of sophistication on Feb. 27, 1970, and march to the Board of Schooling in protest, with Lightfoot becoming a member of in alongside them.
Protests continued all through a lot of March, increasing to the Newton County Sheriff’s Workplace in addition to segregated shops in downtown Covington. Ultimately, the protests caught the attention of the Southern Christian Management Convention (SCLC) Rev. Hosea Williams, a key member of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s inner-circle. Williams despatched Tyrone Brooks, a now-former Georgia State consultant, to assist lead the protests.
The following step within the protests was taken with what was referred to as “Black Easter,” a boycott measure designed to hamper the native economic system. As a substitute of shopping for new garments for Easter Sunday, roughly “80 %” of Black residents determined to put on older garments as an alternative.
This drew the ire of then-Sheriff Henry Odum, who elected to take harsher measures. Odum ordered the jailing of six individuals: SCLC leaders Leon Walker, Lloyd Jackson and Brooks in addition to Newton County residents Forrest Sawyer Jr., Robert Johnson and Lightfoot.
Collectively, the collective can be generally known as the “Newton Six,” which stays one of many extra influential teams in Newton County historical past.
The Newton Six, Lightfoot included, had been held with out bond in Newton County Jail on expenses of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. After 45 days, they had been launched on orders from the federal authorities.
Ultimately, the work from the Newton Six started to take form, with Black illustration growing all through the county for years to come back.
However although the unique protests ended 55 years in the past, Lightfoot remained energetic in preventing for what he felt was proper.
“We wish to maintain the dream alive, maintain Dr. King’s dream alive – one nation, beneath God, with particular person rights,” Lightfoot mentioned in a Covington Information interview in 2009. “On the native stage that features training, group development and creating jobs.”
Since that 2009 interview, the dream has continued to stay on. Black Historical past Month proceedings are bigger than ever in Newton County, with occasions just like the Leonard Moody HBCU Invitational and the annual Black Historical past Month Parade going down to honor the significance of Black historical past.
Whereas there should be work that must be finished, many had been fast to level out the influence that Lightfoot had in his 75 years on Earth.
“Mr. Lightfoot was an exceptional man and nice chief for the group,” mentioned Newton County Board of Commissioners group liaison Nwaka Hughes. “His phrases of encouragement and knowledge shall be remembered and endlessly missed. Might he Relaxation in Peace and Energy.”
“I’ll cherish all of the tales that Mr. Lightfoot shared with me about his life in Newton County,” mentioned District 3 Commissioner Stephanie Lindsey. “He actually shall be missed.”
“He was a pillar locally that shall be missed,” mentioned Dr. Gwen Cattledge, Fast Previous President of the Newton County NAACP. “Do not forget that earth has no sorrow that heaven can not heal. Relaxation in Energy.”
