Liberator Paul Parks on Juneteenth | “Don’t Participate in Bigotry and Hate” | USC Shoah Foundation
Author: USC Shoah Foundation via YouTube
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"I just hope that somehow, through the words that we’re saying here, and what other people are saying, and what Mr. Spielberg is doing, that it will act as a constant reminder to everybody that let’s don’t participate in bigotry and hate."
On Juneteenth, we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and celebrate African American history and heritage.
World War II liberator Paul Parks was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1923. He was studying engineering at Purdue University when he was drafted in 1942. Because of his educational background, he trained to be a motor machinist at Camp Lee. In 1943 he was moved to Camp Shanks and from there he was sent to Europe as a combat engineer in the 365th quartermaster company. Paul was teaching a group of soldiers how to deactivate mines when the group was sent to liberate Dachau concentration camp. While at Dachau, Paul helped survivors and assisted with identifying and burying victims.
Paul was discharged in 1945. He finished his engineering degree at Purdue and went on to earn a doctorate in engineering at Northeastern University. Paul had a profound impact on his community. He was involved in many organizations, including Metropolitan Educational Council for Educational Opportunity Inc. (METCO), a program focused on desegregating schools in the Boston area and served as the first African-American Secretary of Education of Massachusetts.
In his testimony, Paul shares a powerful message about using testimony to end hate. Paul shared his story with us in 1995. He was also featured in The Last Days documentary, presented by Steven Spielberg and USC Shoah Foundation. He passed away in 2009.
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