Tonight on AC360: Town's first integrated prom
Teens going to prom across the country have a lot of choices to make about the quintessential high school experience – a date, outfit, transportation, flowers, photos. But in one rural Georgia town, white students have another decision to make: whether to attend the integrated prom or the white prom.
Having two separate proms for black and white students has been the norm in their community until now. For the first time ever, a group of kids in Wilcox County, Georgia, are making history in their tiny town.
They've organized a dance that invites everyone to attend, regardless of race. The teenagers who go to school together and play sports together can finally hit the dance floor together.
But change isn't always easy, even if it's long overdue, and not everyone is embracing the break from tradition. CNN's Gary Tuchman visited the town to meet the student committee that wants everyone to share the night, and to talk with residents who don't support the idea.
Because segregated schools are illegal, the proms have been privately sponsored. Gary asked the superintendent of the school district what he thinks about sponsoring integrated proms – hear his answer in tonight's report.
Watch CNN at 8 and 11 p.m. ET and tweet your reaction @AC360 and @AndersonCooper.
UPDATE Watch Gary Tuchman's report:
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Post by: Ella Chick Filed under: Gary Tuchman • Race in America |
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Kudos to the students who are responsible for coordinating the first intergrated prom at Wilcox County High School. How very sad that the young man Gary Tuchman interviewed said he believes proms should be continue to be segregated – claiming that's what he was raised to believe and will always believe. He was raised to believe his skin color is superior to that of a Hispanic or Black person? I am so very, very thankful my parents were not so narrow-minded. My own children cannot fathom such prejudice. Is not God's greatest commandment "Love one another as I have loved you?"
Thank you for reporting the story about the doctor and people in an abortion clinic responsible for the murder of so many babies, the conditions in the place were horrible but people need to know the sad reality about that place.