E5: Washington School (Pt 1 - Origins)

04/11/21 • 56 min

The Washington School is now an elementary magnet school within the Wake County Public School System, but the origins of Washington go all the way back to the late 1860s. The building that stands today was built in 1923 and was Raleigh's first public Black high school, but the school first began as one of North Carolina's earliest schools for African American children and was originally established by Northern, Christian missionaries. It grew to become an important incubator of Black genius and was a cultural and community landmark for Raleigh's African American community. According to J.W. Yeargin -- one of the community leaders who helped found the Black High School -- Washington was once the only school in America for African American children located on the main street of a state capitol.
This is the first of a two-part series on Washington. Part 1 dives into the origins of the Washington School; how it got started, who it's named for, and the movement to establish Raleigh's first public high school for African Americans in the early decades of the 20th century. Part 2 will examine the legacies of Washington right up to the present day. Join co-hosts Dr. Chaunte Garrett and Michael Parker West as they learn from some brilliant guests to bring these important stories to life.

Send us a text

Previous Episode

E4: Jeanes Teachers, Rosenwald Schools, & Community Organizing as Education

Send us a text

North Carolina has more Rosenwald Schools than any other state but today, Rosenwald Schools are something of an endangered species. Many of them have been destroyed and most that are still standing remain in disrepair. How many of us are standing on top of history that we just don't know? What impact might that have on our teaching and school leadership? Today we dive into the incredible local history around Rosenwald Schools, the Jeanes Teachers, and how community organizing was a central tenet of their overall success. This episode was recorded on location at the St. Matthew Rosenwald School, and I'm joined by Bettie Murchison, co-founder of the North Carolina Rosenwald Schools Coalition, and Pryce Baldwin, a legendary and retired WCPSS educator and former administrator for the Helping Hands Project of Wake County, which seeks to provide African American mentors for African American boys in elementary and middle schools. Mr. Baldwin is also a member of the St. Matthew Baptist Church and was instrumental in saving the building from planned demolition in the early 1990s. Both Bettie and Pryce attended NC Rosenwald Schools in their youth.
Thank you again to Aviva Kempner and the Ciesla Foundation for your support of this project, and to Ann McColl of the Innovation Project of North Carolina. Hosted by Michael Parker West.