LaTricia
I am a proud graduate of Magnolia High School, the wonderful class of 1992. My brother and I were raised by a single mother off Hwy 19. I didn’t really know that we lived in poverty, nor did I know that the town we grew up in was a prime example of just what systemic racism screamed of. All I knew was that we were happy being content. Most black folk did black folk, and most white folk did white folk. Of course, we intermingled on the court or on the field, and even sometimes outside of the classrooms, but that’s about where it stopped. We didn’t church together, share parks and we sure didn’t do a crazy thing like attend parties or the prom together. That is, until 1993, the year after I graduated high school. It wasn’t until after I moved away from Magnolia, and started sharing my story of growing up South Arkansas, that I looked back to see how ridiculous segregated proms were, as well as some of the other racial tensions that my city displayed. I’m sure I’m not the only one with a story to tell. My friends and I are working on #projectmagnolia in hopes to raise awareness of the social injustices in our beloved city. We are using our social media platforms to speak to folks about then, and even now. We’d love to hear from you! If you want to share, and are willing to help us-help Magnolia, let’s start now!
Nathan
I’m a white guy, a white guy from the South, a white guy from Magnolia, Arkansas. I was born in Crystal City, Texas, and when my mom would take me across the border to Nuevo Laredo the Mexicans there thought it was good luck to touch my white hair. Yada yada yada, after my parents (both educators) were divorced my mom married a successful high school football coach, and if you know anything about high school football in the South, well, high school football coaches move. So we moved to Magnolia, Arkansas when I was in the 3rd grade.
Andre’ Dunn and I met in the 3rd grade as we were starting out the year in Mrs. Jordan’s class. Andre’ (who happened to be Black) and I shared a lot in common at the time. We hated girls but were still somehow drawn to them at the same time. We loved to jump in puddles, play basketball, go fishing, and build straw houses out of pine straw amongst the trees on the playground of our elementary school. Andre’s mom was a teacher at the school and Andre’ and I would often have lunch with her in her classroom. She would bring me pomegranates, my favorite fruit, and she was always really good to me. She reminded me of my own mother. I did notice something different when I was at that school though. When the office secretary would call teachers and ask them to call the office they would say ”Mrs. Jordan” yet when they called Mrs. Dunn’s name they would say “Annie Dunn.” I never understood that but I noticed it. When we went to junior high school my parents worked at that school and so did Andre’s dad, Peter. But when my parents were called by the office they were referred to as Coach Brasher and Mrs. Brasher but Mr. Dunn was referred to as Peter. I didn’t understand that but I noticed it, and I knew something wasn’t quite right about it.
When we went onto high school our friendship only grew and we were pretty close, often spending time at one another’s homes watching NBA games and robbing our mother’s refrigerators, playing basketball at the Beltranis’ and throwing the football out in the yard. But when I was in Andre’s neighborhood I couldn’t help but notice that it seemed like the city of Magnolia did not take care of it like the city did in the white neighborhoods. I didn’t understand that but I noticed it, and I knew something wasn’t quite right about it.
This was in the late 80s and at the time the school did not sponsor dances or a prom but the Senior class still held one. And though the law of the land had been in place since 1954 and our schools were technically desegregated, for some reason we had a Black Senior class and a White Senior class. And whereas I didn’t understand when the school secretaries asked for Annie and Peter Dunn as if they were children who had done something wrong, I knew exactly why there was a Black Senior class and a White Senior class and two segregated proms, and I get the feeling you may have too.
I’m sure I’m not the only one that thought about this stuff, and I’m sure I’m not the only one with a story to tell. And if the purpose was indeed keeping Black people and White people apart then what else was going on in Magnolia and other towns like it all over the country? I have a lot of questions that I constantly ask myself. I can’t help but think that listening to people’s stories and having respectful conversations with one another might lead to knowledge, truth, and even reconciliation for all of us. I’m part of a team working on a film project entitled #ProjectMagnolia. We hope that everyone, Black people and White people, will sit down together and just talk about the issues that so often divide us, and we owe it to everyone to present all perspectives. We cannot do that without you. Complete the form here with your information and we will be in touch soon.