Welcome to the 1960's

[Shakey]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/turner.prom/index.html

ASHBURN, Georgia (CNN) -- Students of Turner County High School started what they hope will become a new tradition: Black and white students attended the prom together for the first time on Saturday.

In previous years, parents had organized private, segregated dances for students of the school in rural Ashburn, Georgia, 160 miles south of Atlanta.

"Whites always come to this one and blacks always go to this one," said Lacey Adkinson, a 14-year-old freshman at the school of 455 students -- 55 percent black, 43 percent white.

"It's always been a tradition since my daddy was in school to have the segregated ones, and this year we're finally getting to try something new," she said. (Audio slide show: A town breaks with tradition)

Adkinson's sister, Mindy Bryan, attended a segregated prom in 2001.

"There was not anybody that I can remember that was black," she said. "The white people have theirs, and the black people have theirs. It's nothing racial at all."

Breaking away from traditions
But this year's upperclassmen -- 213 students total --voted to have just one official prom.

"It's been a dream of all of ours," Senior Class President James Hall said.

"We didn't want to put emphasis on integrated blacks and whites coming together. We just wanted to put emphasis on this was our first school prom," Principal Chad Stone said.

The theme of the first official prom: Breakaway.

"It was fitting already because we are breaking away from the past traditions here in Turner County School," Hall said.

Another tradition that ended this year -- having two separate homecoming queens.

"You pick the homecoming queen for their personalities and being a role model," explained Roshunda Pierce, 16, as she waited to get her nails done for prom.

In the past, two queens were chosen -- one white, one black.

But not everyone in the town of 4,400, famous for its peanuts and Fire Ant Festival, was breaking with the past.

The "white prom" still went on last week.

"We did everything like a regular prom just because we had already booked it," said, Cheryl Nichols, 18, who attended the dance.

Nichole Royal, 18, said black students could have gone to the prom, but didn't.

"I guess they feel like they're not welcome," she said.

Nichols said while her parents were in support of the integrated prom, some of her friends weren't allowed to go.

"If they're not coming tonight it's because either they had to work and they couldn't get out of it or because their parents are still having an issue because they grew up in south Georgia," she said.

"I've asked, 'Why can't you come?' and they're like, 'My mommy and daddy -- they don't agree with being with the colored people,' which I think is crazy," she said.

Stone said he doesn't plan to stop the private proms.

"That's going to be up to the parents. That's part of being in America. If they want to do that for the kids, then that's fine," he said.

Looking toward the future
Outside the prom on Saturday, parents and relatives of students talked as the students filed into the Turner Civic Center.

"If they are picking so much for it to be united, why was there a prom last week for the white, when they are supposed to be united for tonight?" asked Lisa Hall.

Valerie McKellar echoed that sentiment as she watched white and black students pose together.

"That is so fake. There is nothing real about that," she said.

"That's just like you're cooking a half-baked cake, putting the icing on it, and when you cut the cake, the cake ain't no good. That's how this prom is," she said.

McKellar said the prom was a good step, but more needs to be done.

"There is a time and season for all things, and right now it's time for Turner County to make a change."

A success in the students' eyes
Inside the auditorium, students put the controversy aside and danced for hours. Stone said he was pleased with the outcome. About 150 students, including some dates from other schools, attended.

Students leaving the prom praised the evening.

"We been separated for a while. I sure appreciate how the school got all of us together, and we had a blast" said John Holmes, 16.

Aneisha Gipson, who was crowned prom queen, said the night could not have been better.

"Amazing. It was absolutely amazing. It was perfect."

Superintendent Ray Jordan said he couldn't be more proud of Stone and his students.

"If I could write this story it would be a story of celebration of students making a difference for themselves and for future students. I believe they wanted to leave their mark, and I certainly believe they've done that."

[PocketThunder]

Well good for them.    My friend just moved back from Georgia and she said that some people down there are still bitter about the civil war.. 

[Ponch ®]

some people down there are still bitter about the civil war.. 

or as Vainglory calls it, the "War of Northern Aggression". 

[Brock Samson]

    there's some pretty "Interesting" quotes in that article...

that's one the thing we got here in the city of Saint Francis... a real melting pot.

[Arthu®]

    there's some pretty "Interesting" quotes in that article...

that's one the thing we got here in the city of Saint Francis... a real melting pot.

yeah really interesting quotes... 

Arthur

[dkn1997]

  don't they know how hot black chicks are?  surprised it took them this long...

[bull]

Wow. What a big step.

[70charger_boy]

Wait.......do you guys hear that?.....It's the earth pounding patter of fat al sharpton running to the rescue.........yet again

[Orange_Crush]

Sometimes change comes slowly.

This is one of those things that just never changed...not because of ill intent of anyone involved...but just because it was always done that way.  Who says today's youth are headed down a bad road?  Nice to see it change. 

I will say one thing.  I have lived in the north (Albany, NY) and in the south (Charlotte, NC).  I saw just as much racism up north than I ever saw in the south.

[Old Moparz]

Proms are a great way to teach America's youth an important lesson. A lot can be learned that will be forever instilled in their impressionable minds. There's nothing like having an enlightening experience as your teacher, compared to reading or hearing it from another person. Sometimes you just have to live through a moment to get the full effect, or be able to understand what it's all about. A prom will teach you how to spend weeks of valuable time planning for an event so you can have a lifetime of memories on a few photos. Memories of an event that's over in a matter of hours, while wasting a shitload of money doing it in order to impress a few people that you won't ever see again. It's truly a bargain though, almost like having a wedding at a fraction of the cost.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

some people down there are still bitter about the civil war.. 

or as Vainglory calls it, the "War of Northern Aggression". 

I actually prefer the War Between the States.

[hemihead]

some people down there are still bitter about the civil war.. 

or as Vainglory calls it, the "War of Northern Aggression". 

I actually prefer the War Between the States.

For those of you that don't know your history or have been brainwashed by hippy teachers, the Civil War was not ALL about the slavery issue as most push that idea.It was about States Rights and the number of Representatives the northern states had in Congress compared to the south.

[Ponch ®]

some people down there are still bitter about the civil war.. 

or as Vainglory calls it, the "War of Northern Aggression". 

I actually prefer the War Between the States.

For those of you that don't know your history or have been brainwashed by hippy teachers, the Civil War was not ALL about the slavery issue as most push that idea.It was about States Rights and the number of Representatives the northern states had in Congress compared to the south.

yes, we all know it wasn't all about slavery - mostly economics and states' rights. But slavery was a huge issue - southern politicians/leaders used it as a tool for fear mongering ("they're gonna rape all our white women if theyre freed") in order to cajole the mostly poor, uneducated masses into war - all as a cover to push their own agendas.

[Orange_Crush]

yes, we all know it wasn't all about slavery - mostly economics and states' rights. But slavery was a huge issue - southern politicians/leaders used it as a tool for fear mongering ("they're gonna rape all our white women if theyre freed") in order to cajole the mostly poor, uneducated masses into war - all as a cover to push their own agendas.

Buy that's funny...change "slavery" to "Terrorism" and it sounds damn near current!

[Ponch ®]

yes, we all know it wasn't all about slavery - mostly economics and states' rights. But slavery was a huge issue - southern politicians/leaders used it as a tool for fear mongering ("they're gonna rape all our white women if theyre freed") in order to cajole the mostly poor, uneducated masses into war - all as a cover to push their own agendas.

Buy that's funny...change "slavery" to "Terrorism" and it sounds damn near current!

I almost said in that post that slavery was the "war on terror/WMD's" of its time...but I dont want the thread to get locked.

[Charger_Fan]

yes, we all know it wasn't all about slavery - mostly economics and states' rights. But slavery was a huge issue - southern politicians/leaders used it as a tool for fear mongering ("they're gonna rape all our white women if theyre freed") in order to cajole the mostly poor, uneducated masses into war - all as a cover to push their own agendas.

Buy that's funny...change "slavery" to "Terrorism" and it sounds damn near current!

I almost said in that post that slavery was the "war on terror/WMD's" of its time...but I dont want the thread to get locked.

Too late, you said it.

IN BEFO' DA LOCK!   hehe

[Shakey]

yes, we all know it wasn't all about slavery - mostly economics and states' rights. But slavery was a huge issue - southern politicians/leaders used it as a tool for fear mongering ("they're gonna rape all our white women if theyre freed") in order to cajole the mostly poor, uneducated masses into war - all as a cover to push their own agendas.

Buy that's funny...change "slavery" to "Terrorism" and it sounds damn near current!

I almost said in that post that slavery was the "war on terror/WMD's" of its time...but I dont want the thread to get locked.

Don't worry about the thread starters feelings.  I don't care if it gets locked.  It's just a conversation piece.  I'm sure we can find more.   

A funny thing happened on the way over to Moparts this morning:

Someone started a thread about how Toyota had surpassed GM in sales for the first time and after the usual bashing (it only took about 10 replies) it was not only locked but deleted.   

I might have had something to do with it, but I never got a chance to see any replies after my post as one of my damned customers wanted to speak with me and I had to leave.   

[CharlieCharger]

It's actually odd reading something like that in todays society.

[Brock Samson]

Yo, Hemihead:

"For those of you that don't know your history or have been brainwashed by hippy teachers, the Civil War was not ALL about the slavery issue as most push that idea.It was about States Rights and the number of Representatives the northern states had in Congress compared to the south."

So rather then "hippy teachers" exactly what kind of teachers would you prefer?...
Generals and Majors?..


  http://youtube.com/watch?v=aF2uq1A8O7Y

  Generals and Majors ah ah
they're never too far
from battlefields so glorious
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
till once again victorious

Generals and Majors always
seem so unhappy 'less they got a war

Generals and Majors ah ah
like never before are tired of being actionless.

Calling Generals and Majors
Generals and Majors everywhere
Calling Generals and Majors
your World War III is drawing near

Generals and Majors ah ah
They're never too far
away from men who made the grade
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
until the battle's lost or made

Generals and Majors ah ah
like never before, are tired of being in the shade.

[Ponch ®]

So rather then "hippy teachers" exactly what kind of teachers would you prefer?...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfi4s8cjLFI

[Brock Samson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nQ4XP9Ep5Y

  i thought i was all alone...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKVd1wwnHDE&mode=related&search=

[Rocky]

So rather then "hippy teachers" exactly what kind of teachers would you prefer?...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfi4s8cjLFI

Hey wasn't that kid in the beginning of the clip the same guy that played Ritchie in Christine?

[Ponch ®]

So rather then "hippy teachers" exactly what kind of teachers would you prefer?...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfi4s8cjLFI

Hey wasn't that kid in the beginning of the clip the same guy that played Ritchie in Christine?

You mean Arnie...yeah, that's him.

[Rocky]

Arnie......yup brainfart.

[Brock Samson]

   funny what folks decide to fixate on..