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Equality, Rights & Justice Issues

Georgia high school students ready for first integrated prom

Wilcox County’s first-ever integrated prom is tonight, thanks to the leadership of the town’s teenagers. There’s a lot we could say about the prom but we’ll just let the students talk instead. Here’s an interview with two students and Democracy Now host Amy Goodman: Why two proms? MARESHIA RUCKER: Our school, when they integrated, they never did start to sponsor a school prom, so they left it up to the parents to have a prom for their children. That’s how

Equality, Rights & Justice Issues

Whites only prom tonight

There were some people — especially Georgia’s conservative lawmakers and pundits — who asked why Better Georgia would jump into the issue about the Wilcox County integrated prom. Georgia conservatives just couldn’t figure out why we should care. Some said we were late to the parade. The governor’s office called it a ‘silly publicity stunt.’ But the truth is that we know the world is watching our state. We know this is a time to

Gov. Nathan Deal finally speaks on integrated proms

Under mounting public pressure, Gov. Nathan Deal has finally addressed the integrated prom being organized by students in Wilcox County: “I believe that anything that’s associated with a school should not have the distinction or discrimination made based on race or gender or any other separation,” he said. “But it appears to me that the parents and students have worked that out on their own, as they should.” The AJC’s Greg Bluestein asked Gov. Deal if

Gov. Nathan Deal ‘won’t take sides’ on integrated prom

It should be easy for Georgia’s governor to stand behind students who are fighting to end an unacceptable tradition of “separate-but-equal” proms. We found out last night that it’s not. Gov. Nathan Deal refused to support the students of Wilcox County who are breaking with tradition to host the school’s first integrated prom. Speaking to Macon’s largest news station, 13WMAZ, a spokesperson said Gov. Deal won’t take sides in the controversy. (Read the news story: Gov. Deal

Wilcox County students offer redemption for Georgia

By now, it’s old news that Wilcox County holds segregated proms.  Wilcox County parents’ decision to host two proms continues to earn them some well-deserved criticism.  But, these antiquated reminders of a terrible time should not and cannot overshadow one of the most important things that has happened in south Georgia since the Talmadges reigned supreme down there. History is being made, right now, below the gnat line by a band of students that have