That's a quote from a student in a story about segregated High School Proms (focusing on Georgia, thank you!) in the NY Times Magazine. The story suggests that they have been a "tradition" in many parts of the South since integration. How about here in Alabama? Remember Principal Hulond Humphries? In the Spring of 1994 he brought the eyes of the national media on Wedowee in Randolph County when he defended a ban on interracial dating at the Randolph County High School prom. That Fall an arson fire destroyed the school. Humphries was eventually removed and put to work in a county office in charge of rebuilding the burned school. The next year a 25 year old black man, the son of one of the protest leaders, was charged with setting the blaze, though defense attorneys continued to point to Humphries as the arsonist. A jury acquitted the suspect, and no other charges were filed. On the right is the cover of the 2009 High School graduation section of the Randolph County Leader newspaper.
Are here still racially divided proms anywhere in Alabama?
[UPDATE: I had forgotten, but in 1997, Humphries was elected Randolph County School Superintendent. He retired in January 2000.]
Not clear. Who is the "25 year suspect?"
ReplyDeleteAnd what happened to Humphries in the years afterwards? Retire?
I've clarified the copy...the "25 year old suspect" was the son of one of the protest leaders. He was acquited by a jury on the arson charge. I couldn't find out what happned to Humphries...let me know if you find out!
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