by Trey Thompson

This past Friday, on August 4th I had the amazing opportunity to interview Bishop Reid. I was expecting and excited to interview him because I knew I would learn something. However, I wasn’t expecting to learn so much from just one interview. For starters I had no idea that Bishop Reid was one of the first students in Bibb County to integrate public schools in 1964! In that time, we all know the “separate but equal” rule better known as segregation or Jim Crow Laws. Where Blacks and whites were not allowed to go to the same places or use the same things such as water fountains or restrooms. It was absolutely separate but far from equal. Black people were not afforded the same education as the white students. I learned that Black people were actually two years behind academically!

Bishop Reid spoke about how he was in class and his teacher held up a ninth-grade textbook for the white children, that was the grade he was going into at the time…his teacher then held up a white kids seventh grade book and that was the level they were on. I knew they wouldn’t have new amazing textbooks like their white counterparts…But I didn’t know that we weren’t even on the same level academically. This just fueled my passion to continue to further my education. My parents always talked about the importance of it.

I have learned that I am in the right field for me! The world will always need journalists and I would love to go into my career ready to change the perspective and world. My ancestors were not afforded the same education and opportunities. They worked and broke their backs just for me to go to college and get my education! 

Below is the exclusive interview, and to join the discussion on Thursday, August 10th at 7:00pm, visit his Facebook page.