[GPSCC-chat] Fwd: [California Greening] Black Girls Code

[Wes Rolley]

My contribution to black history month at cagreening.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[California Greening] Black Girls Code
Date: 	Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:46:16 +0000
From: 	Wes <wrolley at charter.net>
To: 	wrolley at charter.net



I graduated from Flagstaff (AZ) High School in 1958. A recent story 
local San Francisco television about Kimberly Bryant and her 
organization, Black Girls Code 
<http://www.blackgirlscode.com/who-we-are.html>, made me think about how 
much, and how little has changed since I was in High School.

Flagstaff was always a place where multiple races lived in a state of 
tension where harmonious relaxation never really occurred. It was not 
just White / Black. There were always sizable populations of Hispanic 
and Native Americans in town, and in the school. But something was 
happening that introduced some change, but not enough.

Most of the African American population lived in the SE part of town... 
south of Rt. 66 and the Santa Fe tracks, East of Agassiz St. Their 
children went to thePaul Lawrence Dunbar Elementary School 
<http://azdailysun.com/news/local/integrating-flagstaff-in-education-flag-ahead-of-national-curve/article_e50637e8-404e-11e1-a60c-0019bb2963f4.html> 
where only they attended. The "Mexicans" and others went to South Beaver 
School. Only the latter still exists. Dunbar was shut as the result of 
Brown vs.Board of Education decision. It's last principal was Wilson 
Riles, later Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of CA.

Those Dunbar students were my classmates at Flagstaff High School in the 
1950's. One of them stood out to the extent that would occasionally 
check what happened to Joan Dorsey. When I knew Joan, she was a member 
of the National Honor Society and a leading singer in our school choir. 
Then we went our separate way, Joan to the University of Arizona and I 
to the University of Redlands. After graduating with a degree in 
education, Joan became the first black stewardess 
<http://www.blackhistoryinaviation.com/Eras/BreakingDownBarriers/1960s/JoanDorsey.aspx> 
at American Airlines.

There are always those who break down barriers. Joan was one of those. 
It seems that Kimberly Bryant is another, only society has changed to 
the extent that now Kimberley is getting girls, black girls, interested 
in computers and engineering. It is a long way from aspiring to be a 
well trained waitress as a career goal. But there is still a long way to 
go and leaders like Bryant need support.

Now the old Dunbar School has been re-purposed and Joan and Wilson are 
getting a measure fo the credit that they deserve. Last August, the 
Arizona Daily Sun carried the story of a new mural 
<http://azdailysun.com/news/local/southside-painting-an-inspiration/article_55af7eb1-112d-5714-8317-d2e069cf9b21.html> 
on the old building... one with pictures of both Riles and Dorsey.

--
Posted By Wes to California Greening 
<http://cagreening.blogspot.com/2012/02/black-girls-code.html> at 
2/26/2012 08:16:00 AM
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