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| Mahalia Jackson |
Mahalia Jackson, the greatest gospel singer, sung at O.W. Dillon High School in Kentwood, La., in the mid-60s. Betty Lou Womack recalled the day Mahalia arrived at the school. Betty's parents couldn't afford to give Betty money to purchase a ticket to attend the musical concert. But she pushed her way into a standing crowd outside, just to get a look at Mahalia. "Just to see her get out of the car was enough for me," said Betty. I remember how they laid out the carpet for her to walk into the gym of O.W. Dillon High, I'll never forget Betty said. "I was just happy to see her!" She recalled the crowd gathering and waiting to hear the sound of Mahalia Jackson's beautiful voice. "What an exciting moment for everyone on the campus Betty said!" As she said, she will never forget that day. I know there are other people like Betty who were there. I want to hear their stories too!
I started asking other people who attended O.W. Dillon High School, if they remember her singing at the school? Some said yes, and others couldn't recall at all. Quite a few individuals stated that it was after they graduated. Betty, recalled it like it was just yesterday. One of the people I spoke to told me I needed to talk to the daughters of Collis Temple, Sr. Their father Mr. Temple was the second principal of the school.
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| Betty Lou Womack |
Following O.W. Dillon principalship as a leader, Mr. Temple worked hard as principal to continue building on the foundation that Professor Strange and Professor Dillon started. Mr. Temple invited Mahalia Jackson to sing at O.W. Dillon High. His daughter pointed out that her father worked hard to give African American students and the community cultural enrichment. Each year the town of Amite held an annual fair. Before integration, segregation didn't allow black and white people to attend the festival on the same day. Saturday was known as "Nigger Day," that was the day that African American people could attend the fair. Mr. Temple wouldn't allow his children to attend the festival on that day for that reason according to one of his daughters.
He became inspired to start a fair on the school campus so that African American people could be treated with respect. Mr. Temple met with entertainers, vendors and marching bands and invite them to participate in the school event. African-Americans in Kentwood and surrounding communities would look forward to their annual event.
Mahalia Jackson was one of the singers among many entertainers that performed at O.W. Dillon High School. She was born on October 26, 1911, and died in Chicago, Illinois, in 1972. If anyone who attend the concert to hear Mahalia sing, I would like to hear your story.
