Lost Voices
Maudella Taylor was nourished by her race, her region and the close-knit community. However, opportunities were limited as well, due to prevalent attitudes held by many of those in her region toward her race. One area of concern for Taylor was that some black males might have educational opportunities because of athletic ability, while children with other skills were being overlooked: I felt that our children's talent in Huntington was absolutely lost. Some of the activities provided by the Scott Community Center addressed these concerns. In addition to basketball teams, other types of recreation were provided by the center. Camp Fire Girl meetings, also held at the center, encouraged young girls to explore a variety of talents in supportive surroundings. This was a small, yet significant, step in broadening the boundaries which had been inhibited by race and region.
However, while Maudella was concerned with what she perceived as an inadequate educational background for Blacks, the Douglass High School Reunion provided an occasion for her to see that the students had been sufficiently trained to achieve success outside of Huntington. I'm talking about those who actually came up attending Douglass High School... and to hear them tell when they come back... of the things that they aspired for which they could not get in Huntington.
There were other ways in which Maudella Taylor challenged the societal structures restraining the progress of her race. Determined to bring back to her neighborhood increased knowledge and expertise, Taylor attended workshops primarily involving whites, which were initiated by the National Recreation Association. After attending the morning session of a seminar held at the Governor Cabell Hotel, Maudella and one of her board members went home for lunch because of the whites only dining policy. Maudella recalls the response upon their return: The lady who conducted this workshop came over to know why we didn't come in to lunch. Well, then we had to admit that we would not be admitted to the dining room... So, she said,'Be sure and come back tomorrow'. We went back and when lunch time came, she came over and said, 'I want you to be my guest'. Now, she went through something when we got down to the dining room. I think they finally brought the manager down and the power to be-- but nevertheless, we ate lunch in the hotel with them and stayed in that meeting. This was the beginning of an association which would benefit Maudella's community center for years to come.
Maudella's goal was to provide more opportunity for
her race and region. Her vision for Huntington's Black
community was fed by her past and encompassed both
present and future: We
must think in terms of what we're going to do in the
future to build our city up so that we can hold our young
people here... and they can build it up...these with
progressive minds. The progressive mind of
Maudella White Taylor is apparent in her voice.
Biography | Family and Church | Education | Effect on Community