<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
My contribution to black history month at cagreening. <br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
<table class="moz-email-headers-table" border="0" cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Subject: </th>
<td>[California Greening] Black Girls Code</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:46:16 +0000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>Wes <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:wrolley@charter.net"><wrolley@charter.net></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:wrolley@charter.net">wrolley@charter.net</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
I graduated from Flagstaff (AZ) High School in 1958. A recent story
local San Francisco television about Kimberly Bryant and her
organization, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.blackgirlscode.com/who-we-are.html">Black Girls
Code</a>, made me think about how much, and how little has changed
since I was in High School.<br>
<br>
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.
<br>
<br>
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 the<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://azdailysun.com/news/local/integrating-flagstaff-in-education-flag-ahead-of-national-curve/article_e50637e8-404e-11e1-a60c-0019bb2963f4.html">
Paul Lawrence Dunbar Elementary School</a> 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.<br>
<br>
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 <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.blackhistoryinaviation.com/Eras/BreakingDownBarriers/1960s/JoanDorsey.aspx">first
black stewardess</a> at American Airlines. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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 <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://azdailysun.com/news/local/southside-painting-an-inspiration/article_55af7eb1-112d-5714-8317-d2e069cf9b21.html">story
of a new mural</a> on the old building... one with pictures of
both Riles and Dorsey. <span class="fullpost">
<!-- put the main text here. --> </span>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
Posted By Wes to <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://cagreening.blogspot.com/2012/02/black-girls-code.html">California
Greening</a> at 2/26/2012 08:16:00 AM
</body>
</html>