Je'Lynn Frieson Interviews Reverend Tommy Wilkes

The video (BELOW) memoralizes Wilkie Clark's involvement in a racially charged education issue involving Reverend Tommy Wilkes, a former Student of Randolph County High School in Wedowee, Alabama, during the turbulent desegregation era in the 1970s. 
This was probably an explosive time in many communities after a Federal Desegregation Order closed down many formerly black schools, and ordered ALL black students to attend formerly all-white public schools. 
Randolph County, Alabama was no different, but thankfully, we were fortunate enough to have Wilkie Clark as President of the local NAACP, Branch 5053.   As a Local NAACP President, Mr. Clark was totally involved and engaged... Always submersed in whatever oppressive and disturbing forces were at work against black social progress in Randolph County, Alabama.

About Reverend Tommy L. Wilkes

Tommy L. Wilkes was born on December 19, 1954, in Wadley, Alabama. In 1955, he was brought to Birmingham, Alabama to live and grow up in the East Birmingham (Stockham) community. He was educated in the Birmingham Public School System where he attended Alabama Shields Elementary and Carol W. Hayes High School.

During the early 1970's (1972-1973) Tommy came to Randolph County and enrolled at Randolph County High School, in Wedowee, Alabama. This was two years after a Federal Desegregation Order had closed most predominantly black schools, requiring all students to enroll in predominantly white schools. While here, Tommy was drawn into a racial controversy that resulted in community unrest, student protests, civil rights litigation, and interruption of his education while the matter was pending. In the final analysis, he was forced to complete his high school education while enlisted in the U.S. Army.
As a result of Tommy's traumatic and abusive experience at Randolph County High School, his mother, the late Mrs. Mary E. O'Neal, stepped up and volunteered to serve as the Randolph County Youth Advisor. Mrs. O'Neal was instrumental in helping to establish the Randolph County N.A.A.C.P. Youth Council, which was set up by Mrs. Della M. Bryant, the Alabama State N.A.A.C.P. Youth Advisor. Mrs. Bryant traveled from her home in Montgomery, Alabama, and assisted with the early progress of the Randolph County Youth Council. The Randolph County Youth Council traveled with the teenaged members, to all sorts of events where they learned how to redress their grievances. They learned how to hold meetings, parliamentary procedure, public speaking and other skills that helped them navigate life in an evolving desegregated society.

For numerous black students, the desegregation experiences were both traumatic and humiliating. However, because of this Youth Council, from that day forward, black students who had negative experiences at any of the schools in this county, had a sounding board; somewhere to bring their concerns. After Tommy Wilke's the Randolph County Brance worked with many other students during the desegregation era. These were some tough years for many of the black students who attended schools, particularly Randolph County High School -- BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY, FOR ANOTHER TIME.
From 1974 through 1977, during the Vietnam Era, Tommy served his country with the Second Armored Division of the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1979.

He returned to Birmingham in 1979 and has held various jobs in the field of Security and Law Enforcement and the most rewarding of those were Children's Hospital of Alabama (10 years) and the position that he currently holds in the Jefferson County System.

Tommy is currently a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fairfield, where he serves on the Deacon Board, teaches Sunday School and is also a Youth Advisor.

While employed with Jefferson County, Tommy was described as having a very bright light that shined throughout the Courthouse on a daily basis.

On the 18th of August, 2004, The Jefferson County Commission under the leadership of Larry P. Langford, awarded Tommy with a Resolution with respect to his decision to answer the call into the Christian Ministry.

We, his Randolph County family honor him for having the courage and intestinal fortitude to continue to press forward and succeed in life, in spite of the racism and related obstacles he encountered as a youth and a student attending Randolph County Schools during this difficult time period of desegregation. In spite of it all, God has kept him; and for that we are mighty -- mighty grateful.