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Second in a three-part series on May Day happenings of yesteryear.

Back in the day, May Day was one big arts festival that kids of all ages could enjoy. It was carefully planned so all students could participate regardless of economics — no designer outfits.

The teachers in charge of this massive production decided on a theme, the style and color of the outfits and music, so everyone was on the same page.

I remember well the teachers announcing the number of the pattern to purchase, type material, and colors the girls would wear. They even talked with stores like Richardson’s, which made sure the items were well-stocked. I remember the girls mainly wore white Mary Jane slippers, which could be worn on other special occasions.

Can you imagine hundreds of kids beautifully attired dancing, running, jumping, singing, and wrapping the May pole on a playground of red dirt? When it was all over, everyone wore a shade of red.

Let’s visit some earlier May Day festivals, pretend the dust is flying, and we are part of the festivities.

1940: Fairview Street
The processional consisted of Rachel Watkins, queen of May, pulled in a chariot by her attendants. The queen’s maids of honor were Martha Burke, Mabel Miller, and Willie Mae Cornelius; herald, Paul Portee; pages, Marole Headen and Paul Lendon; dancers, Willie Marie Baldwin, and Bernice Haizlip, jester, Charles Armstrong.

Military drills and formations were demonstrated by the boys and girls of the School Patrol, led by Kizzie Robbins. Of course there was the traditional wrapping of the May pole.

1940: Leonard Street
The queen of May was Catherine Clanton, escorted by LeMon Smith. Joan Brooks was maid of honor, and Blanche Martin, Cornelia Robbins and Johnsie Mae Banks were special attendants.
The Dudley High band entertained the students and parents, followed by an hour of games, dances, physical exercises, and wrapping the May pole. Lillian Merritt and Coach Gordon Starks directed the festivities.

1941: Joint celebration
The High Point Teachers Forum put on a Joint May Day program at the Colored Municipal Park. The plans called for all three Negro schools to participate, but Fairview Street School withdrew.

More than 1,000 parents and friends watched the colorful procession to the throne set up for Leonard Street queen of May, Dorothy Adams; and William Penn High School’s queen of May, Helen Boulware. Dudley’s band provided the music for the festival.

The program included wrapping of the May pole, dances and a scene from “Hiawatha.” Leading roles were played by Carl Chavis, Lillia Marie Walker, Decluster Gill and Mary Etta James.

1942: Joint celebration
More than 2,500 people showed up for the second annual Joint May Day program at the Municipal Park, sponsored by William Penn High and Leonard Street School. The theme of the 1942 program revolved around the war and the great part America was playing. The newly organized William Penn High School Ensemble, under the direction of Gracye Yokely, performed.

Maybelle Morgan was queen of May for Leonard Street, and Pearl Wright was Penn’s queen.

Leonard Street started the festivities with “The World Today,” which included German hopping dance, grade two; Netherlands dance, grade four; Japanese parasol dance, grade three; English dance, grade three; Italian dance, Russian dance, and Harvest frolic, grade six.

This was followed by a victory march by the by third-graders, dressed as soldiers and sailors to honor our troops. The students did some complex moves and even formed the letter “V” twice in the middle of the playground.

William Penn contributed a dance that demonstrated the hardships of the slave era, the Emancipation, success of the Negro in business and the arts, and the fight the Negro was waging against Hitler.

They closed with Louise Morgan striking a beautiful poise as the Statue of Liberty. Lillian Merritt, director of the Leonard Street Dance Group, directed the festival.

1945: Leonard Street
The presentation of the queen and her court marked the opening of May Day exercise on the school campus. Each class presented a series of folk dances, but the wrapping of the May Poles was the most colorful and exciting of all the events.

The closing activity showed the support and care the black community had regarding the war. Students did a victory march around the playground and in the middle of the field they formed the letter V for victory. This was followed the singing of “God Bless America” with the William Penn High band, and teacher, Julia Hall, supplying the music.

1947: Leonard Street
May Day took place on May 2 on the school campus. The theme centered around health with the enemies of good health being chased away by the good-health fairies, clad in various colors. Eula Mae Carter reigned over the festivities after being crowned by Princess Sunshine Bettye Bynum. The wrapping of the May poles was, as usual, the highlight of the day.

I hope I have helped you visualize the excitement that one day could create among both young and old.

Kids were proud to be part of something they helped create, and hearing parents yelling out their names.

Glenn Chavis researches and writes about High Point’s black history. Contact him at Storytime40@aol.com.