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Runner Mildrette Netter helped spark social change in 1968 Olympics
Bradley Davis
Runner Mildrette Netter helped spark social change in 1968 Olympics
Well, sometimes it only takes one to be the cause for change. Mildred Netter provided that change in women's track and field in the state of Mississippi never know who's gonna see you record breaking gender breaking in history making. This is the story of Mississippi's first women Olympic medalist. The story of Mildred Netter. I just wanted to go and uh experience *** better life. Netter grew up in Rosedale, Mississippi was *** disadvantage for me. Two things being from Mississippi and being short, that's what the coach at Tennessee State told her when he declined to give her *** scholarship in 1967. There were no women track programs in the state. The Mississippi at all, she thought her career was over. That is until corn head track coach, Grant. Dungy dropped her *** line. I want to do it. But some of the guys she could beat Netter competed in out of state meets shocking the competition as the short girl from Mississippi exploded onto the scene and into the 1968 Olympic four by 100 m team. It made me eager and hollered the reverend Dr Martin Luther King, 39 years old and *** Nobel peace Prize winner. And the leader of the non violent civil rights movement in the United States was assassinated in Memphis tonight. *** backdrop for Net's personal struggle, the struggle of the civil rights movement and the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr just months before Net's debut, *** struggle. Ned's husband, all Corn teammate and Vietnam vet Willie White experienced firsthand my spirit, we would send cheers through the night that he was assassinated. We was at all. Corn. Something happened that day on base, they came on base and we got beat up on base on base on campus that night here outside cops and stuff. But that was *** very tin time in uh because in, in our country, Tommy Smith and John Carlos famously protesting through their raised fists on the podium. The lesser known story of American social justice from the 1968 Olympics was Mildred's effect on the state of Mississippi. Everybody protested in their own way. The Magnolia State was watching and after seeing helped team USA set *** new world record in the four by 100 m. It started to change the next year. That's when they formed *** team. All Corn was one of the first, the other schools soon followed. No longer did Mississippi women have to go out of state to pursue their track and field dreams. They can see me then maybe they can beat me. Well, Netter wasn't the first woman to play sports in Mississippi. But she very well may have been the most important.
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Runner Mildrette Netter helped spark social change in 1968 Olympics
Bradley Davis
Mildrette Netter, Mississippi's first woman Olympic medalist, was the catalyst for change in women's track. "I wanted to go and experience a better life," Netter said.Netter grew up in Rosedale, Mississippi."Two things I was at a disadvantage for was being from Mississippi and being short," she said.This was the reason given by the coach at Tennessee State when he declined to give her a scholarship in 1967."There were no women's track programs in the state of Mississippi at all," Netter said.She thought her career was over until Alcorn State University head track coach Grant Dungee reached out to her."She was the only girl," Dungee said. "Some of the guys she could beat."Netter competed in out-of-state meets, shocking the competition as the short girl from Mississippi exploded onto the scene and into the 1968 Olympic 4 by 100-meter team."It made me eager and hungry," Netter said.Her personal struggle was set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., just months before her Olympic debut.Netter's husband, Alcorn teammate and Vietnam vet Willie, experienced the struggle firsthand."He had so much spirit, it put chills through you. That night that he was assassinated, we were at Alcorn College. Something happened there on base, they came on base, we got beat up on base on campus that night," Willie said."That was a very turmoil time in our country," Netter said.Tommie Smith and John Carlos protested through their raised fist on the podium."Everyone protests in their own way," she added.The lesser-known story of American social justice from the 1968 Olympics was Netter's effect on the state of Mississippi."They can see me, then hey, maybe they can be me," she said.The Magnolia State was watching, and after seeing Netter help Team USA set a new world record in the 4 by 100 meters, it started to change."The next year, that's when they formed the team," Netter said.Alcorn was one of the first, and other schools followed. No longer did Mississippi women have to go out of state to pursue their track and field dreams.Netter wasn't the first woman to play sports in Mississippi, but she very well may have been the most important.
, Miss. —

Mildrette Netter, Mississippi's first woman Olympic medalist, was the catalyst for change in women's track.

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"I wanted to go and experience a better life," Netter said.

Netter grew up in Rosedale, Mississippi.

"Two things I was at a disadvantage for was being from Mississippi and being short," she said.

This was the reason given by the coach at Tennessee State when he declined to give her a scholarship in 1967.

"There were no women's track programs in the state of Mississippi at all," Netter said.

She thought her career was over until Alcorn State University head track coach Grant Dungee reached out to her.

"She was the only girl," Dungee said. "Some of the guys she could beat."

Netter competed in out-of-state meets, shocking the competition as the short girl from Mississippi exploded onto the scene and into the 1968 Olympic 4 by 100-meter team.

"It made me eager and hungry," Netter said.

Her personal struggle was set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., just months before her Olympic debut.

Netter's husband, Alcorn teammate and Vietnam vet Willie, experienced the struggle firsthand.

"He had so much spirit, it put chills through you. That night that he was assassinated, we were at Alcorn College. Something happened there on base, they came on base, we got beat up on base on campus that night," Willie said.

"That was a very turmoil time in our country," Netter said.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos protested through their raised fist on the podium.

"Everyone protests in their own way," she added.

The lesser-known story of American social justice from the 1968 Olympics was Netter's effect on the state of Mississippi.

"They can see me, then hey, maybe they can be me," she said.

The Magnolia State was watching, and after seeing Netter help Team USA set a new world record in the 4 by 100 meters, it started to change.

"The next year, that's when they formed the team," Netter said.

Alcorn was one of the first, and other schools followed. No longer did Mississippi women have to go out of state to pursue their track and field dreams.

Netter wasn't the first woman to play sports in Mississippi, but she very well may have been the most important.