A program celebrating Black History Month at Oswego East High School Thursday night offered more than just a normal history lesson.
The event showcased something students could clearly relate to by featuring the first African-American male to graduate from a desegregated public high school in the American South.
That distinction belongs to Bobby Cain, 75, of Tennessee, who was also a member of the “Clinton 12” – a group of 12 black youngsters who in the fall of 1956 integrated the public school in Clinton, Tennessee, following the landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. Board of Education.
Thursday’s program included remarks by Cain as well as a viewing of “The Clinton 12” documentary and a question and answer session.
Before the 6 p.m. appearance, Cain met well-wishers in the community room of the school where he spoke about the challenges he and his friends faced almost 60 years ago and how he was able to persevere.
“I don’t really speak to a lot of groups during the year other than maybe one or two during Black History Month,” Cain said. “This hardship for me occurred years ago and compared to today, there were a lot of trials and tribulations. A lot of good has come out of it, but the most important thing is to strive for education.”
Cain admitted there were acts of physical bullying, abuse and harassment that happened when he attended the previously all-white school after spending the first three years in high school at an all-black school in Knoxville.
“There were physical threats and others issues, but the worst thing about it was the isolation you faced throughout the day,” Cain said. “There were maybe 800 or 900 white kids in the school and none of them spoke to the 12 black students that came there. None of the white kids befriended us because if they did, they’d be ostracized right along with us.”
Cain also spoke about the world he currently occupies and noted that in many ways, things haven’t changed.
“I was also in the Army and there was always something racial there,” he said. “Sometimes I ask myself what can a 75-year-old tell a youngster. Things are different but I still see evidence of prejudice everywhere I go.”
Kamryn Rome, 12, of Montgomery was among the youngsters who met Cain Thursday. Rome said he “wanted to learn about how life used to be” and also that he was hoping to apply some of that knowledge to his own life.
“I think it’s good to be shown what not to do and how to cope with things if there are problems,” he said.
Jaidyn Parnell, 14, also of Montgomery, said she wanted “to learn about my race’s past history” and said Cain’s story showed “you can get through anything.”
“Given what he’s been through, I can see where a person can get through anything and not be afraid regardless of what race or color you are,” Parnell said. “In terms of race – it’s not just white against black – I’ve seen things on social media where blacks are being racist toward whites, too. You can’t get respect like that.”
The program was offered by School District 308 and the DuPage County NAACP Youth Council. Youth Council advisor Valerie Talton said she heard about Cain and followed up on securing him for the presentation “in order to witness a piece of history.”
“The folks at Navistar gave Mr. Cain an award last night [Wednesday] and he received a standing ovation,” Talton said. “It just gives me goose bumps thinking about it. I hope students walk away from this with a sense of how important education is and that despite any adversity, you have to find a way to push through for the better.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter
