The Case of Norfolk's Historic Desegregation
Date
April 2020
Description
Norfolk, VA is one of the areas in the U.S. that fought the hardest against desegregating their school systems. On December 6th, we gave a tour of Norfolk, which included multiple stops that were pivotal to the fight towards desegregation in Norfolk. Through our research in preparing for this tour, we took a look into the lives of children, parents, and teachers from 1939-69 who were on the frontend of the fight for educational desegregation in Norfolk. We also related the struggles of desegregation in the past to racial disparities in schools today. By focusing on oral histories and letters, we dove into the thoughts shared by black residents during this tumultuous period, rather than the traditional white perspective. Through this, we were able to bring to light the issues faced in Norfolk’s struggle for desegregation and look at how it reflects in today’s society.
Presentation Type
Presentation
The Case of Norfolk's Historic Desegregation
Norfolk, VA is one of the areas in the U.S. that fought the hardest against desegregating their school systems. On December 6th, we gave a tour of Norfolk, which included multiple stops that were pivotal to the fight towards desegregation in Norfolk. Through our research in preparing for this tour, we took a look into the lives of children, parents, and teachers from 1939-69 who were on the frontend of the fight for educational desegregation in Norfolk. We also related the struggles of desegregation in the past to racial disparities in schools today. By focusing on oral histories and letters, we dove into the thoughts shared by black residents during this tumultuous period, rather than the traditional white perspective. Through this, we were able to bring to light the issues faced in Norfolk’s struggle for desegregation and look at how it reflects in today’s society.
Comments
This oral presentation is based on a group research project.