Shreveport Remembers the Struggle for Civil Rights: The Legacy of Rev. Harry Blake
SHREVEPORT, La. – It’s hard to believe that 61 years have passed since a day that shook this community to its core. Back in 1963, on a bright Sunday morning, the Rev. Harry Blake and a group of determined activists aimed to peacefully march through the city to honor four young girls who tragically lost their lives in a church bombing just the week before. This march, however, would soon turn into a nightmarish scene that still resonates today.
When Peaceful Intentions Met Chaos
The plan was simple: a half-mile march from the corner of Kenneth Avenue and Milam to Little Union Baptist Church. Yet, the local authorities were not prepared to allow this peaceful demonstration. Ruther Washington, who was just 12 years old at the time, reflects on how chaotic the situation became. “People were screaming. They were in fear for their life,” she recalls. Alongside her, her twin sister, Rosa Robertson, remembers being horrified by the officers on horseback. “They were throwing folks in the trash trucks. People were running because police were on the horses outside,” she added. This was more than a protest; it felt like a war.
Fighting for Humanity
As the Rev. Harry Blake led the march, he was not only advocating for civil rights but was also a father, husband, and community leader. His daughter, Monica Mickle, shares, “He had a heart for people.” The deep commitment to change was shared by others in the community, including the Rev. CC McLain, whose son, A.G. McLain, recounts how packed the church was with supporters back then, emphasizing the pressure and fear felt by families.
A Day to Remember
September 22, 1963, will forever be etched in the memories of those who lived through it. As Rosa and Ruther attended what was to be a celebratory march, their father, Deacon Andrew Harris, was the church custodian, working hard to maintain the church, where so many NAACP meetings took place under the threat of retaliation.
The denials from city officials for the marching permit set off a chain of events that would lead to brutality. A.G. McLain recalls a moment that struck him as a boy when Rev. Blake openly called a white man a liar. “Oh my God,” he thought at just ten years old. This was no ordinary Sunday. When police officers entered the church on horseback, chaos unfolded within those sacred walls.
The Unthinkable Occurs
Once inside the church, officers violently pulled Rev. Blake from behind. “They caught him in the back of his suit jacket and pulled him out and then they beat him,” Rosa recalls, her voice dripping with sadness. Witnesses could barely comprehend what was happening but knew something terrible had befallen their leader. Rev. Blake was dragged outside where officers reportedly beat him until they left him for dead.
A Community in Shock
“He looked like a purple rag, as old preacher will say. Just drenched in blood,” A.G. describes, still haunted by the memory. Meanwhile, his mother stood at the door, screaming. The church was engulfed in confusion as fear and anger swept through the congregation. “It was just pitiful,” Rosa added, reflecting on the aftermath of such chaotic violence.
Helping a Wounded Leader
Local residents like Dr. Joseph Sarpy Jr. and his nurse wife, Maxine, rushed to Rev. Blake’s aid. “They were afraid if they admitted him to a local hospital, he wouldn’t make it,” C.E. McLain explains. While Rev. Blake survived, the scars of that fateful day lasted long after the bleeding stopped.
Legacy of Rev. Harry Blake
The struggle for rights and dignity that Rev. Blake nearly lost his life for has not gone unnoticed. His work in the community continued to flourish, leading to countless initiatives aimed at making a difference. “What he left behind speaks louder than hatred,” his daughter reflects. Today, markers on Milam Avenue remind everyone of the brutal fight for civil rights, turning a chapter in history that many may prefer to forget but which must never be ignored.
A Community’s Hope
Sixty-one years later, the City of Shreveport formally apologized for the events that transpired that day in 2022, acknowledging that the wounds of history should not define the future. “Our family was always with an air of forgiveness about us,” Mickle shares with hope for the current generation, urging them to continue the work of love and understanding Rev. Blake stood for. Though he passed away in 2020, the lessons of unity and strength in the face of adversity still echo in the hearts of those inspired by his bravery.
