GERALDINE TALLEY (HOBBY)
Geraldine Talley was the only black student to enter Northside Jr. High School in 1959. She was 12 years old, entering the 7th grade.
She was an extremely brave girl. At a 50th Anniversary program of Brown v. Board in 2004*, Geraldine said that what she endured was awful. She commented that she would be filled with nothing but hatred if it weren’t for a white girl, Diane, who was nice to her. Diane was from a military family.
Talley was originally from New Jersey and couldn't understand what was happening in Norfolk. She has spoken about how even her teachers ignored her in middle school. When she went to Granby High School, however, an art teacher who recognized her talent took her under his wings and helped her.
Geraldine is writing a book about the six years she lived with the pain and suffering of integration. She attends many of the events honoring the Norfolk 17 in the belief that people need to know about this time in Norfolk's history.
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Feb. 10, 2004 |
Link to NSU's
"Brown Decision in Norfolk, Virginia"
Web site for video interviews
Geraldine Talley arriving at Northside Junior High School on her first day of school 2/2/1959. (Staff photo -- news clipping from the collection of the Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation.) |
*Notes from Chrysler Museum program on May 16, 2004, "Celebrating the Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education: Then and Now," by Karen Vaughan. |
