Page 39 - Salesianum - Winter 2019

St. Francis de Sales once observed, “We cannot always do extraordinary things, but we can do ordinary things extraordinarily well.” Last week was the 68th anniversary of an extraordinary moment in Delaware history, ushered in by the most ordinary of events.
On Tuesday, November 14, 1950, five African American young men — Thomas and Alfred Connell, James Owens, Fred Smith and Bill Jones — walked through the door at the original Salesianum School on the corner of 8th and West
Streets. They were greeted by the principal, Fr. Thomas A. Lawless, OSFS, the only person other than their parents who knew they were coming.
This seemingly ordinary moment was nothing less than the beginning of the end for segregation in Delaware,
the northernmost segregated state. At the time, racial separation was observed in restaurants, theaters, bars and hotels as well as schools. Howard High School was the only option for black students seeking a diploma. No other public, private or Catholic school would admit them.
Even churches and parishes were segregated. Black Catholics worshipped only at St. Joseph’s on French Street, and their children attended the parish grade school. But the Catholic high schools that welcomed students of Irish, Italian, German and Polish descent drew the line when it came to black students.
Ordinary citizens worked for change. Black and white Catholics urged Fr. Lawless to consider a bold move to better his state, his church and his school. Among the members of the Catholic Interracial Council that reached out to him were two young Catholic lawyers, Collins Seitz and William Duffy, Jr. ’36, a Salesianum graduate well known to Lawless and the school community. They hoped that Catholic schools could lead the way in righting one
of the great social evils of the time and help the Church to more authentically reflect the kingdom that Jesus preached.
After being named principal, Fr. Lawless was ready to accept the challenge. His first attempt was in the summer of 1947, when three African American students were invited to enroll at Salesianum in the fall. But when word got out before the start of the school year, a number of white families objected. His religious superiors, fearing widespread backlash and an exodus of white students, ordered him under his vow of obedience to rescind his invitation. Bitterly disappointed, Fr. Lawless had little choice but to relent, be patient and bide his time.
Another opportunity came three years later, when
new religious leadership was eventually installed. Fr. Lawless shrewdly waited until the school year was well underway. In November, he met quietly with families from St. Joseph’s Church on French Street that had been recommended to him and wanted their sons to continue the Catholic education they had begun at the parish grade school. A date was set, and Fr. Lawless told no one else of his plans until the night before the appointed time, when a few Oblates helped him create new schedules and add desks to classrooms.
The five students arrived at the corner of 8th and West Streets wearing jackets and ties on November 14. Without fanfare, they were introduced to their new teachers and classmates in the middle of a class period. After what many present that day described as a brief pause, classes continued. Some remember extra Oblates being deployed in the hallways to address any issues that might arise. But none did.
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