Two Steps Forward, One Giant Step Backwards

Progress seems to come in fits and starts.  There are lurches forward, followed by a falling back.  At least this seems common. 

Looking through my high school yearbook from some years ago, I see several African-Americans in leadership roles.  I thought it would be good to share with you the names of some of these leaders and the leadership positions they filled.  The list includes both faculty, administration, and students. 

Our high school was quite diverse, with Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics, Italian-Americans, and others.  Few of us seemed to think about the nationalities of our fellows.  We were of a time rather far-removed from the early influxes of immigrants, or so we thought.  The few fights that occured were mostly within ethnic groups, not across them. 

What a story to be told!  America -- that great repository of learning and experience. 


Here are the African-American leaders from my high school:

Faculty

Mr. M. -- Boys' Physical Education, department head

Mrs. W. -- Business Education, department head


Sports Faculty Coaches

Coach M.  -- Varsity Football, Golf Team

Coach J. -- Varsity Basketball, Junior Varsity Football, Field Events

Coach G. -- Cross Country


Clubs

Mr. H --, Brotherhood co-sponsor

Mr. C. --  Distributive Cooperative Training, sponsor
 


Students

Miss Loretta. M. -- Junior Class President  

Miss Belinda W. -- Freshman Cheerleaders co-captain

Lauvenia B. -- Secretary, Girls' Athletic Association 

Greg. F., Parliamentarian, Sophomore Class


Administration

Mr. J. -- Dean



Other Ethnic --

Mrs. H. M. -- Foreign Language, department head 

Miss. G., Sr. D., Mrs. M. -- International Club 


and many others of various ethnic backgrounds in membership roles