Times Editorials : Who was first?

Fight to claim integration mantle is the real achievement

Posted: July 28, 2009 at 6:46 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Arecent story on our pages detailed a friendly tussle unfolding between school district administrators in Fayetteville and Charleston. At stake? Ownership to the claim of which community's high school was the first to voluntarily integrate in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. Fifty-five years later, a case of "Who was first?" has broken out.

Both sides have a case to make. For instance, the Fayetteville Board of Education voted to integrate on May 21, 1954, just four days after the court's May 17 ruling. By comparison, the Charleston Board of Education did not vote to integrate until more than two months after the fact, on July 27. Case closed, right?

Not exactly. According to Charleston officials, the Franklin County district started school that year on Aug. 23; meanwhile, Fayetteville didn't begin the fall semester until Sept. 13. Also, Charleston respectfully notes that it chose to integrate its school district at that time. Fayetteville retained an elementary for black students for at least a few more years. Charleston also enjoys recognition from the National Park Service.

Isn't it wonderful to live in a world where two school districts are fighting to claim who was first to integrate? My, how far we've come. School districts used to battle to be the last to treat black students equally with white ones. Both communities are right to be proud.

We hope both school districts see this as the wonderful sign of progress it is.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 07/28/2009

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