Students at BYUH agree that the introduction of an integrated prom in Wilcox County, Georgia is a much-needed change. Last month in Wilcox County, students participated in the first integrated prom at Wilcox County High School. According to a CNN article written by Jamie Gumbrecht entitled ‘Segregated prom tradition yields to unity’, “For as long as most remember, Wilcox County High School hasn’t sponsored a prom for its 400 students. Instead, parents and their children organize their own private, off-site parties, know casually as white prom and black prom-- a vestige of racial segregation that still lives on.” Jasper Mills, a junior TESOL major from California, said, “We have to take into consideration our history and where we are coming from. Yes, it is upsetting that racism still exists in the world and even more upsetting that it’s still in our country, but the important thing to focus on is our progression and where we are going.” For those attending school on the multicultural BYUH campus, segregation can be an upsetting subject. Students shared their opinion of the segregation that still takes place today. Grace Alspaugh, a senior in ICS from Washington, said, “It’s upsetting to know that the past is very much still with us and that people let notions of “tradition” keep them in hateful ideologies.” A group of students at Wilcox County High participated in breaking the tradition of segregated proms. “Organizers both black and white, said they lost friends in the process; a grim experience in the waning weeks of the school year,” wrote Gumbrecht. The story of Wilcox County High School’s first integrated prom caught the media attention. According to Gumbrecht, this media attention was ‘hard’ for the county. “Some in Wilcox County say it’s just an old habit that’s hard to break. A few argue the proms are private because of cost and liability or because parents won’t cede control,” wrote Gumbrecht. Diana Ruiz, a senior English-ICS major from Mexico, shared her viewpoint on the matter and said, “I am glad the youth are making a change in the town’s perspective.” Organizers of the prom look forward to breaking the tradition of the county even more. “By this time next year, prom in Wilcox County could be entirely different. The high school’s leadership will consider hosting a prom in 2014.” Superintendent Steve Smith said. “It might not eliminate segregated prom, but if it happens, it could promise a dance open to everybody,” wrote Gumbrecht. Just like Mills said, “the most important thing to focus on is our progression and where we are going.”
Writer: Tucker Grimshaw~Multimedia Journalist
