Inequality

By Tonya Schmid

February 4, 2022

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The 1958 mining disaster in Springhill Nova Scotia caught the world's attention, including Georgia’s governor, Marvin Griffin, who viewed the tragedy as an opportunity to gain publicity for the state-owned Jekyll Island. Griffin offered a fully funded vacation on Jekyll to the last twelve miners who had survived the tragedy and their families. What initially seemed like a great chance to showcase the year-round seaside resort resulted in a spectacle when Governor Griffin—who was an adamant supporter of segregation—discovered one of the miners, Maurice Ruddick, was black. Griffin insisted that the Ruddick family be segregated if they decided to accept the invitation. The group of miners initially refused to travel to Georgia upon learning this, but Mr. Ruddick and his wife insisted they go. They hoped this experience could be used to open people’s eyes and did not wish for anyone to miss out on such an opportunity. With the help of the local black community Mr. Ruddick and his family were able to avoid the harshness of segregation and disparities at Jekyll Island despite Governor Griffin's demands.

Governor Griffin made precise plans for his white visitors using every opportunity to gain good publicity. The twelve miners and their families were flown to a nearby airport where a bus waited to drive them to Jekyll Island. Upon arrival, a large crowd greeted them, with photographers and news crews taking photos and filming as the visiting families departed the bus. Griffin arranged for his white guests to stay on the north side of the island in a luxurious new hotel that featured a swimming pool and offered fine dining. He hired an assistant to handle all matters for his white visitors such as “baby-sitters, laundry, errand runners, pocket change, transportation, along with fishing trips, dances and tours” and anything else they needed to enjoy their vacation.

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On the south end of the island Governor Griffin’s arrangements for Mr. Ruddick and his family were vastly different. Their accommodations consisted of three trailers brought onto the south end and placed next to the segregated St. Andrews beach. In one trailer Governor Griffin arranged for Dr. Payne—the president of Savannah State College for Negros—to stay as he hosted the Ruddick family. The second trailer was arranged for the Ruddick's who had brought four of their twelve children, while the third trailer served as a diner with a full-time cook and maid. While white visitors had many different activities and places they could visit, there were no recreation establishments other than the bath house for black beachgoers on Jekyll Island.

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Brunswick’s tight-knit black community did not hesitate to step in and make sure the Ruddick family enjoyed their vacation. Local businessmen raised money for the Ruddick's visit and Mr. Genoa Martin—a prominent member of the black Brunswick community—stepped in to make arrangements the family and entire community would never forget. As Brunswick’s Seldon Park manager and radio DJ, known for arranging events and concerts featuring famous musicians that drew in visitors from afar, Mr. Martin did not disappoint. Reflecting on the time, Jim Bacote, who attended the festivities at Seldon Park, remembered the pavilion that was constructed with a dance floor underneath. He recalled the overwhelming response from the black community, stating that “everything came out, all of the local talent, the churches.” Everyone came dressed up and ready to celebrate.

Mr. Ruddick and his family had a wonderful experience visiting Jekyll Island thanks to the local community. Mr. Martin’s daughter, Saundra Martin Mungin, remembered babysitting the Ruddick children with her friend and they enjoyed swimming amidst the ocean waves at St. Andrews and eating hamburgers and hot dogs. Mr. Ruddick told journalists that he did not experience any ugliness due to his race. However, when given the chance, he was quick to make clear that he did not support the antiquated idea of segregation. Ruddick was able to avoid much of the harshness of discrimination due to the might of Brunswick's black community that supported him and his family during their stay, along with the added protection offered by Governor Griffin. Though Griffin was adamant that the Ruddick family remain segregated from the white miners, the governor did use their visit as an opportunity to show the world how well Georgia practiced "separate but equal," even for those on vacation—going so far as to bring news crews to film him visiting and shaking hands with Ruddick.