When it suffers a wound it has the ability to heal itself. While external forces ointments, anti-bacterial treatment and bandages can help the healing process, the real mending is done internally.

The first period for wound healing is an inflammatory phase. Platelets clump near the wound creating a hard surface on the inner blood vessels. It enlarges, becomes swollen and the body breaks down and removes the injured cells. Finally, the wound attracts fibroblasts, helpers, to the site of the wound.

It is these helpers that truly begin the road to recovery.

The healing process doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. Sometimes the body may heal, but emotional damage hides beneath the surface.

Every little bit helped. There was a visit by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1966. Eight people were convicted of depriving the three men of their constitutional rights. Integration of the schools followed in 1970 not only a step to correct the ills of past, but a cornerstone for the future.

For the first time, black and white children played together on playgrounds, sat together in the classroom and interacted on a daily basis. They learned that they weren’t that different.

“See what people were afraid of and see it’s not something to be afraid of,” said Susan Glisson, director of the William Winter institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi.

But the problems never went away completely. In 1982, Sports Illustrated published a feature about Philadelphia High School graduate Marcus Dupree, a highly sought after football recruit. The article painted a town where turmoil and struggles were still happening. While some people spoke of improvement, the tension of old remained.

Some say the article exposed a whole new generation to Philadelphia’s dark past. And few in the elder generation didn’t want to bring up the past. What happened was done.

“You can’t get this from history books,” said Leroy Clemons, 42, said. He’s chairman of the Neshoba NAACP. “Even today older people hesitate to talk about it.”

Even after 40 years, people were either tired or reluctant. Several older people turned down interviews. One woman said, “I ain’t got nothing to say.”

Time is helping

Stan Dearman, served as editor of the Neshoba Democrat from 1966 to 2000. He called for justice for much of his tenure and, the record shows, he provided unbiased coverage of racial events, during a time when that was almost unheard of in Mississippi.

At Mt. Zion, church members have held a memorial service every year, not just this big, 40th year when hundreds of people and major media are expected to descend. They’ve held the vigils when only five people came, or 20.

The relatives of the victims, Ben Chaney, James’ brother; Rita Schwerner, Michael’s wife; and Andrew’s mother, Carolyn, each made pleas for justice.

And a big step came in 1989 when Dearman and others planned a public remembrance for the 25th anniversary of the deaths. A multi-racial group planned the event. The highlight of the day came when former Secretary of State Dick Molpus apologized to the families of Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman.

It was the first statement by a public official in Mississippi of sorrow and regret.

“It starts with the acknowledgement of the crime and sin,” Prince said. “Then you go about atonement.”

The second phase of physical healing is called proliferation. Tissue integrity is restored. New blood vessels are completed, ensuring nutrients and oxygen can reach the wound. It is here where ingredients for healing enter the wound, multiply and work to relieve the pain.

The process of healing begins immediately, but it may take several attempts before the wound can heal correctly.

It no easy task to get 30 people to plan a picnic, let alone a commemoration, Prince said.

Yet a multi-racial task force has worked planning the 40th anniversary during the past three months.

It has not been a smooth process. Still, the coalition is significant because it is the first time the whole community, including Native American members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, have come together and officially recognized the murders.

Each member of the committee was chosen for his or her perspective and background. There’s the lawyer, the members of Mt. Zion, the mayor, the NAACP leader, the editor of the town newspaper…

The original idea behind the coalition was only to plan the 40th commemoration, but shortly after the group’s formation it became clear that its purpose would last long past the ceremony.

“This is just the beginning,” Clemons said. “We want to look forward and past the dedication and see it though to the end.”

The major focus of the future work is education. The coalition has helped produce a Neshoba County African-American heritage driving tour brochure with the Philadelphia tourism bureau. Although the whole world knows the names of Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner, only two markers near Mt. Zion mention them or the events of 1964.

The group plans to make DVDs about the Civil Rights events of 1964 and deliver them to schools in the area. Presentations are being planned in the schools to help educate the children.

Also in the works are a historical landmark, school curriculum and a gazebo to honor Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman.

“We are educating people about the Civil Rights struggle not only here in Philadelphia but everywhere in the United States,” Ta’Shia Shannon said.

Members of the group have debated passionately to promote their respective viewpoints, but in the end personal beliefs took a back seat to the good of the community.

At the coalition’s final planning meeting on Monday, tempers flared when John Steele, who had organized the memorials previously for Mt. Zion, presented a proposal to alter the schedule of today’s program.

But once again, the needs of the community came first.

“It’s not about you. It’s not about me,” McDonald said to Steele. “It’s about three people who died.”

Late last week, Steele issued a statement that said although some might have been disappointed with the outcome of the controversy, he supported the work of the coalition.

As the meeting disbanded for the night, Clemons reminded the group he would see them the following Monday for another meeting.

“We’re not planning on disbanding after the 20th,” he said. “The memorial may be over, but the struggle continues.”