Black History of Tulare County.Com
Fresno, CA, USA (KFSN) -- It took decades for a civil rights pioneer to finally receive honors thanks to a little girl and a historian. Nearly a century ago, Edmond Wysinger went all the way to the California's Supreme Court to break Visalia's school segregation.
Flowers mark a happy ending for Andrea Martinez. The 9 year old and her mother worked on a history project together and learned about Wysinger's struggle for civil rights. But they were shocked to see only a small and damaged part of his headstone remained at Visalia's Public Cemetery. Martinez said, "Some people just don't care history, and I think people should know about him."
In 1890, Wysinger a former slave successfully sued Visalia's school district to get his son into what is now Redwood High School. At that time, African Americans attended a separate school that was clearly unequal. Andrea, her mother and Black Historian Michael Smith honored Wysinger on Thursday and placed a proper headstone on his grave surrounded by flowers. Smith said, "How important was his lawsuit? His lawsuit opened the door for many blacks to follow in schools California. Unfortunately, he passed before he could see his son graduate."
The school for African Americans once stood at this corner of Houston and Dinuba in Visalia. A local historian said in all of Visalia, there are no memorials commemorating both the school and Wysinger's enormous effort
All by his graveside hope more is done to remember his struggle for equality. Teresa Ramirez, Andrea's mother, said, "If you believe in something doesn't matter what everybody else says. It's what you believe in. And you go for it and you do it."
Andrea said she is very proud to see the new headstone in place. In a small twist of irony, Andrea said her teacher gave her a 'C' on the class project, but everyone around the 4th grader is giving her an 'A' for teaching an entire community.
Former slave's grave gets refreshed
By Lewis Griswold / The Fresno Bee
09/20/08 22:23:59
The grave of Edmond Wysinger at the Visalia cemetery has a new headstone thanks to a Tulare man with a passion for African-American history.
Wysinger could not read or write, but he played a key role in a path breaking case against racial discrimination in public education.
"He did so much for so many he never knew," said Michael Smith of Tulare.
Wysinger was born a slave in 1816 on a plantation in South Carolina. He was half Cherokee. He traveled to California with his owner in the 1849 gold rush and earned enough money -- $1,000 -- to buy his freedom. He took his master's surname, married, and in 1864 moved to Visalia to raise a family.
"His quest for his children was to get them the education he never had," Smith said.
Son Arthur Wysinger attended Visalia Colored School through eighth grade, but when his father tried to enroll him at the Visalia high school in 1888, the superintendent refused to admit him. Two lawyers took up the case and lost in Superior Court. But in 1890, Wysinger won on appeal to the California Supreme Court. The son got into high school.
His father died a year later and was buried in Visalia.
Smith found the grave, which was missing its original headstone, and ordered a new one for $535.
Hurley Elementary student Andrea Martinez, preparing a report on Wysinger, and her mother, Teresa Ramirez, pitched in, and the cemetery waived fees.
Two weeks ago, the new headstone was unveiled at a ceremony.
"A man of that stature should have a gravestone," Smith said.
Mr. Nick Gayton grew up in Visalia and welcomed the opportunity of writing about the Legacy of Mr. Edmond Edward Wysinger. His 2005 article in the Porterville Recorder “Lost Legacy” touched many to act in paying respect to a man history. Mr. Gayton wanted to place a memorial for all to read about Edmonds two years struggles in the California Courts to achieve the basic rights of having his (12) twelve years old son Arthur receive the same education which was being provided to other white students his age. With the assistance of Lawyers Wheaton A. Gray and Oregon Sanders he achieved his victory, although he did not live long enough to enjoy it. Like Edmond Nick passed before he could see his desired memorial come true. Edmond was given a new headstone and his story was told as Nick had hope for “His Legacy was found”
Community Gives Thanks
