Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on August 18, 2009 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Coach Sewell is a legend in these parts. They should take one of his toothpicks and frame it somewhere in the gym.

Posted by tiredofthistown (anonymous) on August 18, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Say that name three times...

Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on August 18, 2009 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What a fitting tribute. I couldn't imagine a better name. When I think of Coach Maxey, I think of a strong man who spoke with a soft voice. I NEVER heard him raise his voice. He didn't need to. The kids loved him and respected him. They don't make administrators like that anymore. Same thing for Coach Sewell. A great name for the great tradition that WAS Selma High.

Posted by faversham (anonymous) on August 18, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess those who remembered certain historical aspects selectively forgot the man who made coach sewell and maxey possible. Coach James Boothe. Glad to see RACISM is alive and well in Selma. God, nothing ever changes in Selma. What once was happy community has devolved into a tribal fiefdom based on personalities and subsidies. Let it be said that when the country fails, it will be laid at the feet of those who are ignorant of history. In Selma, ignorance is the rule, history is a lie, and the federal government props it all up while those who know the truth sit idly, silently by. I guess Hank Sanders will get a medal of freedom award soon, as opposed to a more proper vetting of his voting rights museum and other official personal gratuities taken in the name of Sewell, Maxey and other blacks. History can be ignored, rewritten or ignored, but no lie can live forever. Sadly, MLK said that, and it seems blacks in Selma have forgotten, if they ever cared, but have benefitted greatly by the simple creed of great man. And, not much changed or will change in Selma. MLK spilled his seed all over Selma, such a waste; nothing took root.

Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Faversham, while you may have a point about Coach Boothe (and I am sorry that I didn't know him) please don't smear the names of Maxey and Sewell. It certainly isn't their fault that Boothe was overlooked. Didn't Boothe move away from Selma? I think that the folks who named the gym did so because Maxey and Sewell spent their careers (probably all of their years) at Selma High. I am sorry that Boothe didn't get his name on the gym, but leave Sewell and Maxey out of your complaint. Oh, and I am white so don't play the racism bit with me.

Posted by faversham (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Please understand no racism was evident in the remarks. I will not admit race because race has no role in the question. I have no idea what happened to coach booth. But, it is obvious Coach Booth put Selma Basketball on the map by winning its first in history state championship. Anything less than recognition of that fact is to ignore or rewrite history, in antagonism to MLK's most God-like Homily- No lie can live forever.

Posted by Always_Selma (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Faversham, I am born and raised in Selma and I knew Coach Booth and his son Chris very well. I think it is unfortunate in some regards that Coach Booth was left out, but make no mistake about it Coach Maxey and Coach Sewell are deserving of this honor. I have a few comments on your posts... you say "...once a happy community has devolved..." response...the happy community in Selma in the '70s, '80s and even early '90s was not so happy and not so much a community. It was very much black and white (hence the week from school in '90 b/c of racial tension and the two proms). As soon as there was a shift in dynamics in Selma, most whites moved to Valley Grande and kids went to Morgan or Meadowview instead of sticking with the community and helping making Selma a better place. Look at the demographics of Selma now. I think the school is now 99% black and Selma is approx 70% black with a median income hovering at $30K. Also, you say "...ignorant of history..." response...quite educated on history, hence the anger and eagerness to uplift those people who have stayed with the community. In your last post you say"...race has no role in the question "response...in your first post you very much use RACISM and categorize the people in your post as blacks (several times). I respect your point of view and opinion. There is definitely more intellectual capital in Selma than you realize. It may be based on historical injustices and a lack of CONUS and OCONUS travel, which will allow the people to see how the rest of the world operates, but it is sincere and a tribute to those who represent the community of Selma now. Respectfully, - A Former Saint B-Ball Player -

Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It sounds like all these men are men of honor. That is a good thing. The best part is hanging in there through it all, believing in our children no matter what that child culture is or his or her character. Let's keep these great men in our hearts.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Coach Boothe passed away a couple years ago due to a heart attack. Yes, he and his family moved away to relocate to Tuscaloosa years and years ago after he coached at Wallace for many years. He returned due to extended family in Tuscaloosa. His son, Chris, was tragically killed in a boating accident back in the mid 90's. It was very, very unfortunate.

Posted by saveselma (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Always_Selma, "two proms", what are you talking about? Selma High didn't have two proms.... You have been watching too much TV.

"As soon as there was a shift in dynamics in Selma, most whites moved to Valley Grande and kids went to Morgan or Meadowview instead of sticking with the community and helping making Selma a better place."

How could folks keep their kids in Selma High? They weren't safe with the crap that Rose was doing. Don't blame the whites on leaving the public schools.... You can thank Rose for that one.

Hey, eyeonyou, I remember Coach Boothe now. I remember Chris too. That is so sad! It would have been nice to see his name on the gym.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Alwaysselma, I too was apart of the 90's fiasco. Make sure you don't pigeon hole or catagorize the white students as "not willing to stick with the community and make Selma a better place". Maybe if you would have been on the other end of the stick you would have some empathy or understanding to why almost 100% of caucasion students attended public schools for years, practically their whole academic endeavor, then chose to leave after this uncalled for riot. What happened in the 90's was nothing more than ignorance, agitation and undiplomatic reasoning on behalf of a handful of adults.....of which the kids had to pay for it.

When you have kids trying to attend school in racial harmony like they ALWAYS have, then come to school one day with racially charged antics, black kids running up and down the halls screaming and chanting, fighting, charging innocent kids of which HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF IT...then you decide what you would do. Would YOU continue to attend a school that had numerous cops, state troopers and national guard troops standing and protecting kids to enter school and get escorted to class for WEEKS? I never had problems with black kids for 11 years of attending public school, so why would I choose to leave because black kids attended then? It wasn't because they were black, it was becasue most were choosing to act ignorant, foolish, racist and it imposed on the opportunity to learn in a stable environment. SIMPLE AS THAT.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cont.....
What you don't understand is the huge majority of white kids could have gone to Morgan and Meadowview ANYTIME in their academic career. BUT they chose to stay in public schools. ONLY when their ability, education, rights, safety and commonality with other students was so infringed on that they packed their bags and moved to better ground. If that whole scenario would have been handled in a more diplomatic way, then the white kids would still be enrolled. In 2009, you still hear a great deal of racial rhetoric about the white community doing this and doing that, all while a majority of whites are really trying to help Selma whether you want to believe the hype or not. There have been more black families moving out to Valley Grande over the past 10 years than the white community as a whole. Don't beleive it, go look for yourself. So what does that tell you?

I can promise you this, when certain groups here want to keep pinning the majority of this town's problems on a specific community, yet major problems of crime, unemployment, drugs, robberies, poverty, lack of education, failing school systems, corrupt school boards, crumbling neighborhoods, and on and on and on keep killing this community year after year.... people are really going to take a hard look at greener pastures. When professionals, business owners, investors and long term committed Selmians get tired of fighting the fight to try to make Selma the place it could be, then contantly get backstabbed, talked about, downgraded and blamed...then these folks will have the ability to pack up their families and move to somewhere with half the headache, heartburn and pointing fingers. Honestly, it is getting very old and cumbersome to see progress, then ignorance knock it back 3 steps. I sure hope there is definitely more intellectual capital in Selma than realized. If so, then you should be able to rationalize and comprehend what I'm saying on a intellectual level...rather than an emotional level. And that goes for anyone else that falls into this intellectual capitol category. Also, I would like to think I'm mature enough to discuss this topic using the terms "black" and "white" without them taking on some alternate meaning of all intents and purposes.

Posted by hughjorgen3 (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 4:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Geico is racist against my ancestors...

Posted by Always_Selma (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is very sad to hear Chris passed! SaveSelma...if you remember there was a prom at Selma High School in which the majority (not all) was black and there was another prom held at another location for those that left due to the violence, riots, or whatever it was we are calling it these days. This was not T.V. unless it was reality T.V. :) EyeonYou...you have some great points. Everyone wants greener pastures, but unfortunately sometimes there is a glass wall or ceiling preventing you from getting to those pastures. No one wants to acknowledge that this exists...and that glass wall, when in place for many, many years, causes (not justified) crime, unemployment, drugs, robberies, poverty, lack of education, failing school systems, corrupt school boards, crumbling neighborhoods, and on and on... Of course everyone wants to make it on the other side of that wall, but let's talk about the ones that can't. I was not part of the Rose group and I also feared for my life when the gangs and ignorant people tried to terrorize the school. I stayed. Did I have a choice to leave...no. I could not go to Morgan or Meadowview...matter of fact, are there any there now? I could go on and on...I think we all have good points and can agree to disagree. It is funny how people are uncomfortable with the sensitivities of the black and white references. When you spend some time on the wrong side of the glass wall or cealing, mature or not, race is an issue. By the way...my comments are on an intellectual level and not an emotional level. I made it to the other side of the wall or ceiling and I am in greener pastures. I do have the intellectual capital to discuss these issue without getting emotional..."And that goes for anyone else that falls into this intellectual capitol category." Oh yeah...we are talking about a gym! Last time I was in Selma High's gym....I didn't see any faces that stood out in the crowd. Always_Selma

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

And the last time I was in the Selma High Gym, my family FOR YEARS was one of the ONLY white families that supported it. For years, my father was proably one of the only white faces you could see on a given Friday night watching basketball at Southside, Selma High, Selma University, on and on. Can I tell you how many games he use to drag me to when I was a child. I use to hang in the locker rooms as a child at these games. My family was very good friends with Sewell, Maxey and the rest.

When all of this fiasco went down in the 90's, it was heartbreaking. It was sad to see kids jump on the bandwagon of ignorance to agitate a cause of which many didn't have a clue of the meaning. You said you didn't have a choice to leave. So does that mean if you would've had the choice, you would have? As far as anyone attending the private schools, it's my understanding if you want to attend...just sign up. The only loophole for anyone is just being able to pay for it. There was a young black girl that attended Morgan last year. I think certain people were expecting a great uprise, but the only thing that happened was people welcomed her with open arms. There are kids of different ethnicity that attend Meadowview Christian as well. I think the only people making a big deal of it are the one's that sit back and assume.

I would hope after almost 20 years since this fiasco at Selma High that this "glass ceiling" has been eradicated and the people that took such an undiplomatic, tactless approach to solving the problem can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Sometime cutting your nose off to spite your face is a hard leason to learn. What one thought would be an uprising to right an assumed wrong now has to deal with the consequence of the dilemma. So now, the school system ultimately has larger problems now in 2009 than it did back in 1990. It's rather ironic to me that a lot of the same rhetoric, tactics, approach and tactless mentality is still trying to be pushed over on people "today". You would think destroying something as large as an entire school system would have changed minds, but obviously this isn't the case. So we all move forward and live our own lives.

Posted by Always_Selma (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

One black girl at Morgan last year. Wow, we have really come a long way. Different ethnicity at Meadowview is an interesting dynamic. I don't think people assume much. The numbers say it all. There definetely crack in the glass ceiling, but it has not been eradicated. Sometimes it is hard to swallow when you have to experience it first hand and watch others experience the same thing. It makes you a stronger person though.

Don't you thing there is a problem when your family FOR YEARS was the ONLY white family that supported it. That was then...and 20 years later? Selma has big problems. It s caused by people of all races.

Thinking back...if I had the choice to leave, I would not have left. All the experience taught me great leasons in which I apply today. I use my experiences to creat opportunities today and to really understand people. I didn't deny that the ceiling was there, I just didn't let it stop me from where I wanted to go...but I had the tools b/c both white and black mentors along the way helped me. Not all people get that chance, opportunity, or help.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well honestly "always selma", when you don't have kids attending the school, then why would you be in the crowd? Unless you are an advid sports fan that will go anywhere to see sports, then why would you be there? I don't feel that is discrimination or racism, that is a product of no affiliation.

I once had someone tell me this scenario: There was a small town that had an all Asian City Council. People always wondered why this town was only represented by all Asians when there were whites, blacks and mexicans that made up the population. It just didn't seem fair because this town's decisions would effect everyone, no matter what ethnicity. When it came election time, the same thing happened again. All Asians represented on the council. Finally, someone stood up and asked, "Why aren't there any Mexicans represented on this council...we have Mexican families living here too"!! Then one old gentleman in the back said, "There has never been a mexican to run in the election in order to be voted in".

If people want to attend Morgan or Meadowview, you have that right. First, you have "go and sign up" before you can make the statement that certain people are being kept out or there is only "one" there. If you want the numbers to change, then you have to change them. They don't "recruit" students...they just take the money and put you in a class. Same for Selma High's glass ceiling. You create the system, therefore, you can change the system. With the racial make-up of the school, I can't figure out who would be to blame over there in 2009 for setting anyone back?

Posted by Always_Selma (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So why should the people there now name the gym after someone other than Coach Maxey and Sewell? Your first paragraph makes my point.

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I never said anything about what name should or shouldn't be on the gym from my prior post. The naming of the gym should go to whom ever the students, parents, teachers and board feel is appropriate to fit the bill. Obviously, Coach Sewell and Maxey are the deserving names.

Posted by Always_Selma (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My apologies. After all this talking I forgot who I was talking too. Our dialogue stemmed from the first post from faversham so that was the baseline for my comments.

Posted by Publisher (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Always_Selma and eyeonyou: I want to commend you both for addressing both sides of an issue in a reasonable, constructive manner. While it's obvious you have disagreements, civil discourse on issues is important, which is the very reason we've added the comments feature to our digital stories. Our hope in doing so was that this type of dialogue would take place.

I hope more users take the approach you two have on this story. You've stated your cases, agreed to disagree and taught others [me included] something in the process.

Thanks for reading and thanks for working to set a positive example.

Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank You. There are many stories from individuals (such as myself) to be told that were involved in the 1990's conflict. Not only did it affect our lives, but it changed the course of friendships, education, connections, and outlooks. I feel pretty comfortable discussing a little bit of my story because nothing I'm saying is based off assumptions, tales, perception or spin. The judgements and personal decisions I made to leave are of sound, rational and balanced motives...contrary to what many would like to assume. If anything, that whole fiasco has done nothng but made me more independent in thought and confirmed the truths that I hold about certain groups and people in Selma. It's easy to discuss something as huge as this when you are totally truthful and don't have an agenda to hide behind.

Posted by yellowroseofTexas (anonymous) on August 22, 2009 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember the fiasco of 1990 very well. I had children in the Selma City School System.
Our so-called black leaders knew exactly what they were doing. They didn 't care about the students or Selma. They used this disaster as well as other situations for their own agenda. They still do so today.

Posted by SonofKhabibulin (anonymous) on August 23, 2009 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just to add a note.....
As a young man of 17 or so, I had the opportunity to meet Coach Maxey's father. Coach Maxey taught me at Westside & several times drove me home from football or basketball practice. A good man indeed. As a white child without a father he taught me much about life...much that later came true. He set a fine example for me. But,Coach Maxey came by it from a good man. His father worked at the Miller Lumber Yard & the Cigar factory. I know both of those jobs consumed 17-18 hours a day. When I explained to Mr Maxey Sr who I was & who I had teaching me, well, we became instant friends. I was lucky as a young man to get 2 pretty dang good role models at a pivotal point in my life.
I am appreciative to this day.

S O K

Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on August 24, 2009 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

People this is wonderful. Keep the good memories going this is what selma needs, something good from the past. Thank you eyeonyou and Always Selma. I always knew that Selma had good people no matter what race they are.