The Evolution of Crimson. Jerry Aldridge
Angie’s life, but first Winifred wanted to know something else. She inquired, “Do you know what’s happening on campus? Everything has changed since last year. Did you see all the National Guardsmen on the street? and now, they’re all over Martha Parham Hall. What’s goin’ on?”
Surprisingly, Angie seemed to know all the details about the chaos on campus and the dorm. She spelled out, “The National Guardsmen are here to keep the peace, prevent riots, and protect Vivian Malone; they were also at Paty Hall to safeguard James Hood from any danger or harassment. The National Guard is supposed to be here for as long as necessary to make sure nothing happens to Vivian.”
“They’ll be here in the dorm?” Winifred asked, surprised.
“ For as long as needed,” explained Angie.
“How did you find out?”
“I arrived yesterday, so I asked around and found out most of it from Miss Barton, the dorm mother. Do you know her?” asked Angie.
“Uh-huh! Miss Barton was here last year,” explained Winifred. “It’s almost time for lunch. Do you want to go with me to get something to eat?”
Angie agreed and then Winifred asked, “Do you know how meals are served here?”
“I figured that out yesterday as well,” remarked Angie.
Winifred smiled and suggested that Angie knew more about Parham Hall and what was happening on campus than she did.
“Oh no, I’m sure I have a lot to learn from you.”
As they went down the hall to wash their hands, Winifred noticed two plain clothed young men were standing at the end of the hall in front of the counselor’s suite. She didn’t say anything but wondered why they were there. Winifred and Angie went to the elevator. There, another uniformed young man was standing. When they got on the elevator, he got on with them and accompanied them to first floor. When the door opened, there was another soldier by that elevator.
Winifred was flabbergasted by all the young men in the building. She noticed that Angie did not seem to give this any thought at all. Perhaps colleges in the north had men in their dorms. Her mother, Frances, had often discussed how Yankees were so different and had numerous liberal ways.
At Alabama, as with other old southern universities, dormitory rules and traditions were still rather formal, especially in the dorms for women. Residents had to sign in and out of the dorm any time they would be out after dark, and also when they went on dates. Records were kept as to where students were at all times, where they went, and who they were with. The dining room at Parham used steam trays at each meal. Residents usually ate at the same table, though they could sit anywhere. Each table had freshly pressed linen tablecloths with napkins to match.
After serving their plates, Winifred and Angie found a table. Their designated next door neighbors on third floor, Matilda Manasco and Cupcake Saunders, were already sitting at the table. Two other women shared their table. Winifred didn’t know much about Cupcake, but she knew all about Matilda, whose father, Roland Manasco was some sort of state legislator and was always on television, supporting Governor Wallace, or in the newspaper, promoting his ultra conservative political agenda.
Winifred was positioned at the table where she could see most of the dining hall. As she began to eat, she saw two men emerge from the elevator and march into the dining hall. They were the young men who had been standing in front of the counselor’s suite on third floor when Winifred and Angie went to wash their hands. Walking between them was Vivian Malone.
Martha Parham Hall
September 15, 1963
Winifred survived her first week of classes. She was taking more fashion merchandising courses this semester and looked forward to getting involved in classes she was actually interested in. She was taking Fashion Retailing, Clothing and Textiles, and Apparel in International Trade, but her favorite class was History of Costume. That first week of fall semester, she’d learned about fashion in ancient Egypt, including what the pharaoh’s wore and the portrayal of clothing worn by the Egyptian goddess Isis.
That weekend she and Angie had attended the football rally for the upcoming game with University of Georgia on September 21st. Alabama had claimed the national championship in 1961 and nothing was more important on campus than football. Bear Bryant was already nationally known for his coaching ability and Joe Namath was the football hero on campus. A pep rally was held on Friday night and Saturday the cheerleaders held a fundraising dance at Foster Auditorium. Winifred and Angie were present at both events. Winifred enjoyed these football social events more than the actual games. Angie seemed preoccupied at both events, scanning the environment continually as if she were an anthropologist or a visitor from another planet.
On Sunday afternoon, Winifred went to McLure Library to check out books for her History of Costume class. Winifred arrived late at the dining hall that evening and suddenly realized the presence of the National Guard throughout the University, including Martha Parham Hall, had not diminished at all. In fact, if anything, there was even more security patrolling the campus. When she sat down at her table, Angie, Matty, and Cupcake were having dinner and deep into conversation. When Winifred sat down, Matty turned to her and asked, “So you’re from Birmingham, right?”
“Homewood, but it’s the same thing. Why?”
“You haven’t heard?” Cupcake chimed in.
“Heard what?”
“A Colored church was bombed in Birmingham today,” said Matty. “Serves them right. They were all involved in that stupid Civil Rights movement and quite frankly, they had it comin’.”
Winifred was stunned. She had a puzzled look when she asked, “Had what comin’?”
“The bombin’, girl! What else?” quipped Matty.
“Was anybody hurt?” Winifred inquired.
“Do you care? It was a Colored church run by agitators!” Matty explained in defiance.
Winifred looked over at Angie and noticed her body language. At that point the oddest thought came to Winifred’s head. She thought, “Oh God! I must be psychic. Angie is telling me with her body to keep my mouth shut. Don’t discuss this with Matty. She is already belligerent enough!” Matty’s boisterous, booming voice carried all over the dining hall. Winifred glanced across the room where two guard were standing over the table where Vivian Malone was seated. At that moment, Vivian looked across the hall and stared directly into Winifred’s eyes. Winifred blushed and looked away.
Matilda “Matty” Manasco
Matilda Manasco was Winifred’s new suite mate. By some people’s standards, she was as beautiful as Winifred, but there were significant differences. Winifred had her father’s creamy olive skin, was petite, had slender legs, inherited small but perky breasts, and was often compared with Elizabeth Taylor, although she had a Marilyn Monroe mole or beauty mark on her right cheek. Matty was a tall, exceptionally buxom, strawberry blonde with an hour glass figure who was regularly referred to as a Jane Mansfield type. As different as their looks were, their personalities were practically polar opposites. Winifred was frightened by new things, easily intimidated, and hated the fact that she always felt compelled to follow the herd. Because of her fearful nature, she avoided conflict at all costs. In her favor was the fact she could hide her timidity from others rather convincingly. She was a good actor and to those who did not know her well, she exuded an air of confidence. She had a kind heart, an inquisitive nature, and despite her shyness, was open occasionally to trying new things. Mattie was none of these. Matty was confident, arrogant, and made sure she was always the center of attention. She loved conflict and her greatest joy was embarrassing one of her girl friends and even more pleasurable, flirting with men and intentionally castrating them. She had been called a haughty, narrow minded bitch so often that she used it as her mantra. She would laugh and say, “You better believe it. I’m a bitch!”
Matty developed many of these traits because