Memphis School Desegregation at 50
University of Memphis Law school professor Daniel Kiel has spent years
collecting stories of the original desegregation of the Memphis City
Schools in October 1961. His work takes a look at the history of
desegregation and its legacy fifty years later. He presented video clips
from oral histories of people who were part of the first desegregated
class, when two separate communities combined as one. He talked about
the lessons that apply as the community moves toward unifying the city
schools of Memphis with the Shelby County school systems. Professor Kiel
talked with Ms. Peiser and offered a long-view look at public education
in Memphis and Shelby County.
“Memphis School Desegregation at
50” was a program of the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s
conversation series. It was held at the University of Memphis law
school.
Video available here...
