FARMVILLE – The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission has written “massive resistance survivors” asking them to participate in Virginia Commonwealth University's Massive Resistance Oral History Project.

The January 26 letter, signed by MLK Commission Chairman, Senator Henry L. Marsh, III; Vice Chairwoman Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan, and Brown Scholarship Committee Chairwoman, Delegate Rosalyn R. Dance, believe the project will promote healing and reconciliation in the Commonwealth, as well as help preserve desegregation history.

“We encourage each of you to participate in the Project. The Commonwealth of Virginia and future generations can only benefit from your participation,” the three legislators write.

The MLK Commission, a bipartisan statutory agency of the Virginia General Assembly, is partnering with VCU in the project as part of its commemoration of public school closings in Virginia.

The commission began visiting the five communities in which public schools were closed to avoid integration, beginning with Warren County in 2009, and including Arlington, Charlottesville and Norfolk. The commission visited Prince Edward County, where all public schools were closed from 1959 through 1964, in October.

During those three years of travels, and through the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship program, which offers educational funding for those affected by Massive Resistance, the Commission says it learned that “much of Virginia public and other school desegregation records have been lost and the history of Massive Resistance has not been preserved.”

Scholars and researchers therefore have few primary and secondary resources upon which to base their work, the legislators note.

Furthermore, they write, “Today's school children are not exposed to this aspect of Virginia's history because Massive Resistance is not treated appropriately in history textbooks.”

The letter also states that “in working with Massive Resistance survivors throughout the Commonwealth-former students, teachers, administrators, policymakers, members of the community-the Commission recognizes the need for healing and reconciliation as many survivors have expressed feeling of deep resentment, bitterness, and hopelessness, some are overwhelmed and haunted by painful memories, and others still cannot bring themselves to talk about their experiences, even after more than 50 years have elapsed.”

The three legislators express their belief that the oral history project “will result in at least four benefits: personal healing, reconciliation, restoration of Virginia's desegregation history, and preservation of oral histories and primary documents…

“…We solicit your support and encourage you to participate in…a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share your unique story and have your experiences preserved,” their letter states.

Those wishing to participate can schedule an interview by contacting Mrs. Brenda H. Edwards at the state's Division of Legislative Services by telephone at 804-786-3591, ext/ 232, by email at bedwards@dls.virginia.gov or by mail at Division of Legislative Servicesl, General Assembly Building, 2nd Floor, 910 Capitol Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

The interviews will be conducted and videotaped by VCU's Massive Resistance Oral History Project staff.