Race & Politics in ’s Schools

Today, Philadelphia enjoys a diverse population and is a city with an African American majority. While all of Philadelphia’s children are now afforded the opportunity to attend desegregated schools, Philadelphia was initially slow to desegregate after the passage of the Brown v. Board decision. In fact, race relations in Philadelphia schools have long been discordant. This can be seen in the School District’s decision to move Northeast High School out of North Philadelphia in 1957, angering many who saw this as an attempt to further limit opportunities for African American students. A major turning point in race relations in the city was the succession of demonstrations at Girard College, a school that was once exclusively for “poor, white, orphaned boys.” Eventually, public schools, as well as Girard College (which was run by the Board of Directors of City Trusts), were desegregated. The effect of this is still seen in city schools today, especially with the 2005 mandate that all School District of Philadelphia schools require high school students to take a course in African American history.

Search Terms: ; James Hugh Joseph Tate; E. Washington Rhodes; ; Cecil B. Moore

Recommended Collections:

Richardson Dilworth papers 1881-2002, undated 1940 – 1972 Call# 3112

Albert M. Greenfield papers, 1918-1969 Collection# 1959

Pennsylvania Magazine of History & Biography, April 2012

Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Nov. 5, 1967

Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Nov. 17-21, 1967

Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 17-20, 1967

*Additional information about Richardson Dilworth can be found in the PC1 card catalog.

Other Sources of Information:

Girard College – 2101 S. College Ave., Philadelphia – www.girardcollege.edu

Temple University Libraries – Civil Rights in a Northern City: Philadelphia digital collection – http://northerncity.library.temple.edu