Wilcox County High School students began the discussion of having an integrated prom last year and have confronted the unfortunate statements made against it. The community consensus is more or less that they are not racist they just agree with the "tradition". For as long as they remember, students in the South Georgia community went to separate proms, and homecoming dances. White students from Wilcox County would attend one, while black students would attend another. These private events, generally organized by parents and students not the school district have long been segregated; although the school district itself has long been desegregated, but in Wilcox County, the dances never changed, according to reporter Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN. Quanesha Wallace, one of the students behind organizing this integrated formal prom, has stated that her along with her friends have all agreed to attend this integrated prom. She states, "It's April and it's prom time, we as black and white friends go to school together, play sports together, hang out together we are going to prom together." The theme will be "Masquerade Ball in Paris." There will be an Eiffel Tower and Mardi Gras-style masks, dancing, flowers, catered food and a clubhouse in nearby Cordele. They're expecting gowns, ties, manicures, up-dos, sparkle, etc. and plan on voting on prom king, queen, cutest couple and all the appropriate polls.
They have sold 50 tickets so far, their goal is 100 but doubt they will reach it due to a lot of people not agreeing with the integration. Students tore down posters, normal planners of the dance didn't get involved. Superintendent Steve Smith, when students approached him about hosting an integrated prom, Smith wrote, he and the county’s board of education “not only applauded their idea, but we also passed a resolution advocating that all activities involving our students be inclusive and nondiscriminatory. This group of individuals deserve a huge round of applause. I cannot believe that such disgusting acts of discrimination and racism still exist in such a blatantly visible way and no one ever questioned it before. These are the reasons we raise these issues and promote such courageous acts to raise awareness and our voices. To find out more click here
They have sold 50 tickets so far, their goal is 100 but doubt they will reach it due to a lot of people not agreeing with the integration. Students tore down posters, normal planners of the dance didn't get involved. Superintendent Steve Smith, when students approached him about hosting an integrated prom, Smith wrote, he and the county’s board of education “not only applauded their idea, but we also passed a resolution advocating that all activities involving our students be inclusive and nondiscriminatory. This group of individuals deserve a huge round of applause. I cannot believe that such disgusting acts of discrimination and racism still exist in such a blatantly visible way and no one ever questioned it before. These are the reasons we raise these issues and promote such courageous acts to raise awareness and our voices. To find out more click here
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