Creating the map for this weeks assignment, I came across a few issues. The first one was looking for locations that were relevant to my topic for integration of D.C. public schools and landmarks were different lawsuits on the topic took place and effected. I used six different locations for this assignment that I felt were significant to my topic.
The first location was the Supreme Court Building. I used this location because this is were the Brown vs. Board of Education lawsuit took place. This trial was turning point for integration of African Americans into the public school systems across the country.
The second location was H.B. Woodlawn School, located in Arlington Virginia. This was the first school in Virginia to integrate African Americans into their school systems.
The third location was more vague. It was all of Prince William County school systems. I chose this location because in 1959 it closed down all of their public schools in order to not accommodate African American children into their schools. They refused to integrate even with change of laws.
The fourth location was the Lincoln Memorial. I chose this location because this is where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I have a dream” speech.
The fifth location was the Washington D.C. Mall were many protests and riots took place during the civil rights movement.
The sixth location that no longer exists was Parker Gray High school. The first all black school in Alexandria, Va.
While researching different locations to put on my map, I found it difficult to find specific schools that either integrated or segregated African Americans into their system. I know I will have to do more research on my topic in order to find specific locations that were turning points for the integration of African Americans into the D.C. Public Schools.
I did find it interesting that there was a school in Alexandria, that no longer exists, only allowing African Americans to attend due to the difficulties of integration into other schools.
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