Sunday, February 5, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar
Arlington Today Magazine
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Arlington Today Magazine

A Golden Anniversary

ArlingtonToday Magazine by ArlingtonToday Magazine
July 27, 2016
in Business and Education, Community
0 0
0
A Golden Anniversary
0
SHARES
57
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Kos-Danchak Aug 2020

May-Mansfield-integration


As another school year

comes to a close, groups of excited young adults across North Texas will participate in graduation ceremonies. While they set their sights on the future, commencement is also a time of reflection. Many students think back on the memories created throughout the school years. Some of those memories are more important than others.

Related posts

February 2, 2023

February 2, 2023

Consider, for example, the Mansfield High School class of 1966. Its 50th anniversary, celebrated this year, holds not only personal significance, but also historical implications.

The students in that graduating class were the first in the district to be integrated.

Up until then, races were separated.

  ”As a youngster growing up, going into town, you had to go through the back door,” recalls Brenda Norwood, an African American graduate of Mansfield High (class of ’66), “And if you went to the theater, there was a door for whites and a door for blacks.”

While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled “separate but equal” schools for black and white students unconstitutional in 1954, Mansfield ISD did not integrate its schools until more than 10 years later when it was forced to do so. And even then, some members of the community fought it.

Norwood says effigies were hung at various places throughout town to frighten those who wanted to integrate. And, she adds, the mindset often was not much better in the classroom.

“They were all white teachers, and when we got into the classroom they talked about how we were lucky if we passed.” Norwood says. “They told this to us.”

Raymond Meeks was also a graduate of the class of 1966. “Looking back on it now,” he says, “we, the white kids that had always been at Mansfield High School were pretty passive participants in this thing because we didn’t have to change schools.”

Up until the 1965-1966 school year,

African American students in kindergarten through eighth grade attended “The Colored School.” High school students were bussed to I.M. Terrell High in Fort Worth, an all-black school.

  ”The black kids that came their senior year had been going to another school for three years,” Meek says. “They had to leave all their friends and then come to a strange place where they probably weren’t wanted, and I think most of the burden of integration was on them, not on us.”

While both Norwood and Meeks admit it was rough in the beginning, things eased throughout the year. It was a lesson that could not have been taught from a book.

  ”You learn from these things,” says Norwood. “It should resonate to the point where you can learn something. Everyone that was involved evolved from that.”

“It was probably better than expected, given the history of the community,” says Meeks. “And so we are proud of that, that we were able to accomplish that.”

In celebration of the 50th anniversary

of the district’s integration, the 1966 graduates were recognized this year at the February MISD school board meeting. Today, the district has a very diverse student population made up of 37.3 percent White, 26.5 percent African American, 24.7 percent Hispanic, 6.4 percent Asian, 4.5 percent two or more races, 0.4 percent Indian and 0.1percent Pacific Islander.

This diversity is celebrated every year at the MISD Multicultural Festival, which was held this year on Feb. 27.

Related Posts

  • Arlington Entrepreneurs

    A spotlight on Arlington business owners and what makes them unique.

  • Spotlight: Arlington Area Private Schools

    A snapshot of Arlington-area private schools...

  • A Truly Special Education

    TCC's First Choice program opens new doors for mentally challenged students

Tags: IntegrationMansfield ISDMISD Multicultural FestivalSegregation
Hiltons Flooring April 2020

Follow Us

  • But first   coffee    The Arlington Dunkin    located at 5801 Office Park Dr  today announced it will help keep the community running with a happy hour celebration offer throughout the remainder of August  Every day beginning now through Monday  August 31  guests can power through the rest of the month and receive a FREE  Medium Hot or Iced Coffee with any purchase from 2-6 PM   On behalf of local Arlington Dunkin    franchisee  Hiren Patel  Dunkin    is proud to keep Arlington running throughout the month of August
  • Nothing soothes the soul like a trip to the Majestic Smoky Mountains  Read all about the Greene family   s    COVID-cation    and travel safety in the link in our bio
  • Read the latest message from UTA   s interim president  Teik C  Lim  by clicking the link in our bio
  • The City of Arlington announces Unity Council  Read all about this positive way for the city in the link in our bio
  • Here   s to the All Stars  Click the link in our bio to find the complete list of Arlington Today   s 2020 All Star businesses in over 160 categories
  • Put DFW Restaurant week on YOUR calendar  Support your favorite Arlington and local DFW restaurants this August 31-September 6 during restaurant week    For more info and participating restaurants  click the link in our bio
  • This Arlington radio station is making movie magic   Read all about Crystal Vasquez and her upcoming documentary about local radio station     The Ticket     by clicking the link in our bio
  • With the school year starting soon  it   s important to know what   s going on  Read all about AISD and MISD   s back to school plans in the link in our bio
  • August is for the All Stars        Click the link in our bio to read our latest edition of Arlington Today and check out your local All  Star businesses
  • 12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • March Scene

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Visionary Who Didn’t Give Up

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boot-scootin’ Boogie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • In case of emergency: Mansfield Fire Department introduces the ‘Vial of Life’ initiative to keep residents on the ready

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Arlington Today Magazine

Arlington Texas Area News and Events Magazine

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • (no title)
  • (no title)
  • (no title)

Category

  • Arlington News
  • Business and Education
  • Commentary
  • Community
  • Design and Interiors
  • Featured
  • People
  • Scene
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness

Recent News

February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • Community
    • People
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add Arlington Today Magazine to your Homescreen!

Add