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aexchange · 05-01-2003, 09:42 PM

Georgia students plan whites-only prom
Black teens counter private event with one open to everyone

05/02/2003

Associated Press

ALBANY, Ga. – A year after their peers held the first integrated prom for Taylor County High School, some students have decided to again hold a separate party for whites only.

While many white students say they still plan to attend next week's integrated prom, the decision to hold the whites-only private prom on Friday saddened senior Gerica McCrary, who helped organize last year's dance.

"I cried," said Gerica, who is black.

"The black juniors said, 'Our prom is open to everyone. If you want to come, come.' "

Juniors are in charge of planning the prom each year, and last year they decided to have just one dance – the first integrated prom in the rural county 150 miles south of Atlanta.

Until then, parents and students organized separate proms for white and black students after school officials stopped sponsoring dances, in part because they wanted to avoid problems arising from interracial dating.

This year, a small number of white juniors decided they wanted a separate prom.

"They influenced the others," said Gerica. "They didn't vote on anything. They said, 'This is what we're going to do.' "

The school has 439 students, 232 of them black. Gerica and a white friend passed out fliers informing students of all races that they would be welcome at the May 9 prom.

Erin Posey, a white senior, said the entire junior class joined together in hosting last year's prom, but this year's junior class wasn't as unified.

"I think a lot of seniors were disappointed," said Erin, who plans to attend both proms. "Now we have to choose between two groups of friends."

After schools were integrated, separate proms were common in the rural South. Taylor County was among the last to have them.

Glenda Latimore, a 1972 graduate, was in the first class to have separate black and white proms. Now her 16-year-old son, Gerard, is preparing for prom night.

As the black junior class president, her son helped organize the open-to-all prom.

The class also has a white president.

Ms. Latimore said relatives in other states laugh when they read about the county's prom problem, though she said county residents overall are "nice and friendly."

"It seems like it's something secret," she said. "The white people are afraid to speak up against the separation."

05-01-2003, 09:42 PM	#1
aexchange Boom goes the Dynamite! Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 4,008	Georgia students plan whites-only prom Black teens counter private event with one open to everyone 05/02/2003 Associated Press ALBANY, Ga. – A year after their peers held the first integrated prom for Taylor County High School, some students have decided to again hold a separate party for whites only. While many white students say they still plan to attend next week's integrated prom, the decision to hold the whites-only private prom on Friday saddened senior Gerica McCrary, who helped organize last year's dance. "I cried," said Gerica, who is black. "The black juniors said, 'Our prom is open to everyone. If you want to come, come.' " Juniors are in charge of planning the prom each year, and last year they decided to have just one dance – the first integrated prom in the rural county 150 miles south of Atlanta. Until then, parents and students organized separate proms for white and black students after school officials stopped sponsoring dances, in part because they wanted to avoid problems arising from interracial dating. This year, a small number of white juniors decided they wanted a separate prom. "They influenced the others," said Gerica. "They didn't vote on anything. They said, 'This is what we're going to do.' " The school has 439 students, 232 of them black. Gerica and a white friend passed out fliers informing students of all races that they would be welcome at the May 9 prom. Erin Posey, a white senior, said the entire junior class joined together in hosting last year's prom, but this year's junior class wasn't as unified. "I think a lot of seniors were disappointed," said Erin, who plans to attend both proms. "Now we have to choose between two groups of friends." After schools were integrated, separate proms were common in the rural South. Taylor County was among the last to have them. Glenda Latimore, a 1972 graduate, was in the first class to have separate black and white proms. Now her 16-year-old son, Gerard, is preparing for prom night. As the black junior class president, her son helped organize the open-to-all prom. The class also has a white president. Ms. Latimore said relatives in other states laugh when they read about the county's prom problem, though she said county residents overall are "nice and friendly." "It seems like it's something secret," she said. "The white people are afraid to speak up against the separation."