Taking small, gentle steps toward equality
Mother & Son
Bistro & Bakery
life in Mars Hill’s black community. stood for that.” Now open for Dinner
“All the black people in Mars Hill After some time in New York,
bought land up around Mt. Olive Ray moved back to Mars Hill. She
Mon–Wed. ‘til 9:00pm
so we could be near the school and and a few other people from Mt.
Sunday Brunch Buffet 10:00am – 3:00pm
the church,” she said. Ray’s mother Olive Church formed a small sing-
did domestic work and her father ing group, and for several years,
motherandsonbistro.com
sharecropped and did farm labor they traveled to various churches in
jobs on the side. Madison County to sing. “In that
505•3510
She attended the Long Ridge way, we made so many friends in
“Quality Comfort Food”
School through the eighth grade. At Madison County,” she said.
that point, she joined other African- It has been thus, in small and
American students from Madison seemingly inconsequential ways,
and Yancey counties in riding a that Ray and her church family have
public bus to Asheville. “The county fought - without fighting - a cultural
paid for our tuition to go to a private racism that relegated them to a segre-
Monday – Wednesday 9am–9pm
school in Asheville because they gated school as small children.
Thursday – Saturday 7:30am–4:30pm
didn’t want integration,” she said. “The color of your skin is just
So she caught the bus on Main pigment,” she tells students at Mars
Stone Ridge Business Park Merrimon Ave. 2 miles north of Beaver Lake
Street in Mars Hill, and rode to Hill College when professors invite
Lexington Avenue in Asheville. her to address a class. “All blood
She and her sisters then walked runs red.”
Complete pair of single lens eye glasses
about a mile to Allen High School, Ray’s brand of “activism” is gentle
for $119.95 on select frames & lenses.
a private school for black girls near and loving, and recognizes that even
the present-day tunnel on Tunnel the right words do not always make
Lined Bifocals for $149.95 on select
Road. At the end of each school day, for equality. “Hatred and prejudice
Ray remembers lugging a heavy load are things that happen in your heart,
frames & lenses.
of books back to the bus stop. She and it takes a heart change. You can
Other offers apply. Call for details
and the other black students had to act one way, but you can feel another
sit, or stand, in the back of the bus, way,” she said.
even if there were seats available in Not long ago, she was asked if
the front. she thought that she and the other
“It did make you mad sometimes, Mt. Olive singers had had a positive
because you were tired and you’d get impact on race relations in Madison
to the bus and maybe you’d have to County through the years. “I think
stand even if there were empty seats,” maybe we did,” she said, smiling.
she said. “You got angry and then “Maybe we did.”
A look at the Long Ridge School today.
that was it, because you didn’t dare D
id you know that Chiropractic Care
has been proven highly beneficial in
be rude. My parents wouldn’t have This special to the Tribune.
the treatment and relief of allergies, migraine
headaches, high blood pressure, ADD/
ADHD, Gastrointestinal disorders, Hiatal
hernia, arthritis and hormonal imbalances?
January 26
th
@ 6:30 pm
“The Secret to Healthy,
Permanent Weight Loss”
There is no charge, but a food
donation is requested for North
Buncombe Samaritan Ministries.
Call 645-2526 for more information
or to reserve your seat.
Dr. Mark A. Nance
Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician
Weaverville Chiropractic and Sports Center
169 N. Main Street, Weaverville, N.C.
828.645.2526
We p r o v i d e :
Chiropractic Care • Sports Injury Therapy • Cold Laser
Therapy • Hydrotherapy • Exercise Programs • X-rays and
Scoliosis Screenings • Nutritional Analysis
A painting of the Long Ridge School by Charity Ray. Charity Ray at Mars Hill College.
www.weavervilletribune.com
Jan 22 - 28, 2009 THE TRIBUNE 13
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