[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 15 (Friday, January 24, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E66]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE BRUCE ELEMENTARY 3

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 24, 2020

  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give special recognition to 
the Bruce 3, the three first graders who integrated Bruce Elementary 
School in Memphis in 1961, and to the artist who so thoughtfully 
depicted that historic event in a mural on the school's cafeteria 
walls. Harry Williams, Dwania Kyles and Menelik Fombi were the 
courageous pioneers, part of the Memphis 13, who integrated the Memphis 
school system that year.
  Memphian Jamond Bullock's mural of the Bruce students was unveiled in 
a ceremony on January 17 at which I was proud to speak. I reminded the 
current students, teachers, Shelby County School Board officials, other 
alumni and school supporters that it was my friend, the late Civil 
Rights advocate and longtime judge Russell Sugarmon, who came up with 
the idea that it should be first graders integrating Memphis' public 
schools. This was unlike the practice at Little Rock Central High 
School in Arkansas, in 1957, where older students who were integrating 
the school incurred the taunts of angry mobs and federal troops were 
called in to keep the peace.
  Judge Sugarmon said that escorting the Malone twins, Sheila and 
Sharon, into Gordon Elementary School in 1961 was one of his proudest 
moments. The Bruce 3 endured the loneliness and ostracism of being the 
only African Americans in the otherwise all-white school, and did not 
even share the same classrooms. They were heroes and so were their 
courageous parents.
  Menelik Fombi's father, A.W. Willis Jr., was a leading Civil Rights 
advocate and Russell Sugarmon's law partner at the time. A.W. Willis 
Jr. and Russell Sugarmon were the first and second African Americans 
elected to the Tennessee General Assembly since Reconstruction. Dwania 
Kyles' father, the late Reverend Samuel Billy Kyles, pastor of 
Monumental Baptist Church, was one of the last to speak with Dr. Martin 
Luther King Jr. before he was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in 
April 1968.
  Artist Jamond Bullock, founder of AlivePaint, is a nationally 
recognized mural designer and painter who has enlivened the walls of 
buildings in Memphis with uplifting imagery. His Bruce Elementary 
painting, which he completed over two and a half months during school 
holidays and off hours, was inspired by the courage of the three Bruce 
students, and he has said he is proud that current students will be 
reminded of their predecessors' courage and sacrifice. He has done our 
city a great service. I was pleased to speak with the Bruce students, 
young and old, and to celebrate this important chapter in Memphis and 
American history.

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