Enslavement to
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Calobe Jackson, Jr. RE Harrisburg Schools & Segregation
From
Calobe Jackson, Jr., January 1, 2004
Mr. Smallwood,
In reply to your letter of December 16, 2003 to Afrolumens, I would like to point out that the Harrisburg School District has never been totally segregated. Some school buildings such as Calder, old Lincoln and later Wickersham were segregated at one time. However African American children in other sections of the city attended local schools. Examples are Boas, Cameron, Downey, Webster, Allison and Harris Park. I have talked to Seniors over eighty years old who confirm this.
Until 1919 the word school referred to a class room rather than a building. There were African American classes (schools) located in otherwise white school buildings. Foose and Downey are examples. African Americans once petitioned the school board for a separate class room in Foose. The motive behind this was to obtain jobs for African American teachers, who did not teach white children until 1919, when one was appointed to teach in Edison.
History is a peculiar subject and education and slavery are the most peculiar of all. There are exceptions to every argument. The Harrisburg School District once sponsored schools for ex slaves. The schools was taught by Rev. William Marshall and John P. Scott. Classes were at Wickersham and Calder.
Calobe Jackson