Recently, Mareshia Rucker, a seventeen-year-old Senior at Wilcox County High, in Georgia, has been recognized for her campaign to organize the first integrated prom in her school's history. Up until this point (or at least for the past two decades), students have chosen whether or not the Prom will be integrated. Given that Wilcox County High is a small school, about 400 students, meaning that most students know one another and interact on a day-to-day basis, it seems sort of strange, even disregarding the year, that the prom remains segregated. Clearly, these students have developed a working relationship with one another and have no doubt developed strong relationships, so why continue this anarchistic and clearly destructive policy?
When The Root interviewed several graduates from the school, many argued that segregation simplified the whole situation: "We had a choice to have an integrated one, but we always chose to have a segregated one . . . separate proms cause less problems between blacks and whites." The interviewee fails to specify exactly what problems he refers to in his comments.
The organization "Better Georgia" has been trying to develop this concept and help Ms. Rucker with fundraising and organizing. Through a student run bake sale, Mareshia and her classmates raised more than nine-hundred dollars for the prom festivities. When asked about her motivations, Mareshia simply says that its the right thing to do. Unfortunately, Georgia's governor does not agree. When asked to comment on Mareshia's campaign, he replied by email that he would not support them. As far as "Better Georgia" was concerned, he exclaimed, "This is a leftist front group for the state of the Democratic party, and we're (not clear on who the "we" in this statement refers to) not going to lend a hand to their silly publicity stunt."
Mareshia appears to be gaining ground on her goal. Apparently, as word has spread about this situation, organizations as far away as South Korea have sent in money to help. My only question is, given that the students vote on this issue every year, why has this controversy only come up now? Honestly, when I read this article for the first time, it felt like reading The Onion. However, given that this country is more segregated now than in the 1960s, what does this microcosmic event say about the greater narrative of race relations in this country? Should this prom be integrated? Should it not? Also, why hasn't the faculty and staff of this school done something about it sooner?
Reading this made me think about the 2009 documentary Prom Night in Mississippi, which chronicled the first integrated senior prom in Charleston, MS. The prom was funded by actor Morgan Freeman. I was a sophomore in high school at the time, and it was interesting to me even then that segregation still remained. Growing up, I knew that it had existed, but I never thought it was still such a prominent factor in American life. While this prom at Wilcox County High should have been integrated years ago, I'm not really that surprised that it hasn't happened yet. As I've gotten older, I have began to see this world we live in from a different perspective, and I have learned that I can't be naïve about serious topics such as this one. It's sad that racism and the components that go along with it still exist, but that's reality. I guess it's up to us as a nation to defeat this barrier, but how can that be done? These barriers have been maintained for so long, and many people are complacent and do not see the need for change. But it is obvious that change must occur. So what do we do?
ReplyDeleteLast week in class during one of the presentations, we touched a little bit on education and how through education change might be possible. Therefore, a story like this that takes place in an institution of education stands out more. I agree with you that it is very puzzling that students who all go to school together and interact daily still elect to have a segregated prom. In your post, you say that students have chosen for the past two decades whether the prom should be integrated or not. I'd be interested to know the breakdown of votes. From what it sounds like, I don't think it's too far fetched to assume that the preference of the white students is heard more than the black students. No matter what, the questions you ask at the end are very important and unfortunately they are questions that still must be asked. I realize I have not ventured any answers. I guess once again we are left with the question of what do we do now?
ReplyDeleteEvent though I still find myself amazed and in awe every time I hear about this story, I cannot say anymore that I am completely shocked that something like this still exists. What I find the most problematic, however, is not the existence of segregation (that still exists all over the place particularly in regard to housing arrangements all across the United States). Rather what really throws me for a loop is the fact that these students interact with one another on a daily basis, some are probably even friends, and they still VOTE to maintain a segregated prom. Their position as students lays the groundwork for similarity (this is not the same type of racial contact that occurred during slavery in the South). So, is it out of a desire to maintain tradition, a fear of change, or actual belief in racial differences and social incompatibility that drives these students actions and decisions?
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