evanston township high school 1987 teachera

The Evanston Township High School Class of 1987's Teacher Army

In Mary Barr's new book, Friends Disappear: The Battle for Racial Equality in Evanston, the cover photo takes us back to 1974, to a moment when desegregation was still a work in progress. A group of thirteen teenagers, seven white girls and six black boys, sit on a porch together, their faces smiling, their laughter and conversation mingling in the air. It's just a picture, taken by one of their friends, capturing a fleeting moment of camaraderie.

But what if desegregation had worked not just for a moment, but over time? What if the struggles and sacrifices made by activists and ordinary people had borne fruit, creating a society where racial equality was more than just a distant dream?

The history of American education is full of powerful images that capture the struggle for desegregation. From Elizabeth Eckford's screams as she tried to enter Little Rock Central High School in 1957, to James Meredith's bravery as he became the first black student at the University of Mississippi in 1962, these photographs and stories have become seared into our collective consciousness.

In Evanston, Illinois, where I grew up, desegregation was a reality that unfolded over several decades. The city's schools were once segregated, with black students attending separate institutions from their white peers. But through the efforts of activists and educators, the schools began to integrate, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable education system.

The Foster School in Evanston is one example of this progress. Once an all-black school, it was integrated in 1967 and converted into a magnet school. Today, it's home to the Family Focus Center, a community organization that provides services and support to local families.

For the graduates of Evanston Township High School's class of 1987, who were educated in this more integrated system, their experience was likely shaped by the struggles and successes of those who came before them. They may have taken for granted the opportunity to learn alongside students from different racial backgrounds, but they were also beneficiaries of a system that had been transformed by the efforts of earlier generations.

In writing this article, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if desegregation had truly succeeded – not just in Evanston, but across America. What would our schools look like today? What kind of relationships would we have formed with each other? And what kind of society would we be building?

As I ponder these questions, I'm reminded of the power of photography to capture moments in time and convey emotions and stories. The photograph on Mary Barr's book cover is just one example of this power, a snapshot of a moment when desegregation was still a work in progress.

For those who were part of that moment, and for all of us who have been shaped by the struggles and successes of the civil rights movement, these images serve as a reminder of what can be achieved when we come together to fight for a more just and equitable society.

Evanston township high school 1987 teachera