By Roscoe Barnes III
Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright (c) 2018
#AnneMoody
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Anselm J. Finch, principle of Finch High School, is believed to be Principal Willis of Willis High School in Coming of Age in Mississippi. He also served as principle of Wilkinson County Training School.
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Anselm J. Finch, former principal of Finch High School in Centreville, Miss., is believed to be Mr. Willis, principal of Willis High School in Anne Moody’s Coming of Age in Mississippi. While Moody shared a few pleasant words about his wife, Eunice N. Finch, she appeared to have disdain for him and his relationship with whites. On more than one occasion, she described him as an “Uncle Tom”-- a pejorative for him that was used by a number of blacks in southwest Mississippi.
But, as some people believed, he wasn’t all bad. Moody mentions Mr. Willis in several places. There was one occasion where he was caught off guard because of a stunt performed by her and other girls at the high school. Moody wrote about it with a tinge of humor.
My second ace took the audience by storm. When seven girls, including me, walked out on the stage dressed in extra short black crepe-paper skirts over black bikini panties that started below our belly buttons, and black paper bras, the whole auditorium rocked as we swayed into what I called "An Exotic African Cafe' Style Dance." Principal Willis almost had a heart attack before he could get up front to stop us. He came running up the center aisle waving his arms with saliva dripping from his mouth. He was opening and closing his mouth as he approached the stage. I don't think anyone heard him, because the air was filled with the boys' wolf whistles and the old ladies' cries of disapproval. The principal scrambled straight up on the platform and headed for us as though he was going to push us backstage. Looking at the audience, I said, "That's all, folks," and wiggled off as everyone roared. -- Chapter 15, Coming of Age in Mississippi
When Anselm served as principal of Wilkinson County Training Schools, Woodville, Miss., he wrote an inspiring letter to the Class of 1964. The letter, which focused on “Preparation,” was published in a 1964 school yearbook which was made available to me by Charles E. Johnson, former superintendent of education for Wilkinson County.
Anselm, a noted scholar and poet, was quite erudite in his writing. He wrote:
The
mere word “PREPARATION” gives vivid reason for our strong conviction that you
have caught the spirit and philosophy of your Alma Mater.
We
at WCTS hold and maintain that subject matter is but an infinitesimal part of
one’s education.
Anselm noted, “English that
makes friends and helps to bring joy to others is a fine type of language to
know.” Although courses like Geometry tend to instruct students about angles, “it
does little in life if we do not understand the importance of accepting the
proper corners in life by shunning evil and walking around angles surrounded by
vice, hatred and jealousy,” Anselm wrote.
The principal believed
in education for the whole person that includes training for the “hand, head
and heart.” That, he explained, is something that “cannot be minimized in the
fast approaching hour of technology, automation, electronics and the like.”
He argued that many
problems could have been avoided had preparation been given the attention it
deserved: “Many ills humanity now face might have been in the cemetery of the
past, never to be resurrected, had more thought and effort been placed along
the various avenues of Preparation.”
Anselm waxed eloquent as he
brought his letter to a close. He wrote:
Preparation
directs the current of security, it opens the gate to resourceful action, it
puts into one’s breast the revered attribute of independence.
May
your struggles in the future be supported and embraced with the arms of
Preparation. You then can stand on a solid foundation, unshaken by the winds of
adversity, and unperturbed by the turbulent waves emanating from the sea of
inefficiency.
Your
chance will never come until you have been thoroughly baptized with the waters
of Preparation.
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| This letter appeared in 1964 school yearbook. |
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Questions about the Anne Moody History Project may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D.,via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com. For updates on Anne Moody history and the on-going work of this community service project, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi
I think this is a wonderful piece that has been shared with many.
ReplyDeleteThank you, James. Much appreciated.
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