The History of Black Education in Athens

This year marks the 60th anniversary of desegregation at Athens-Clarke County schools. Since then, the city has been filled with activism, protests and a variety of equal rights movements. But the start of Black education in Athens wasn’t until 1868, with the opening of the Knox Institute. Named after Major John J. Knox, head of Reconstruction programs in Athens, the institute earned its distinction as the first high school for Black students to be accredited by the University of Georgia. This marked the beginning of a long journey in Black education and the first steps toward desegregation in Athens-Clarke County.

The first Athens public schools opened in 1886, with one school on Baxter Street originally intended for Black students, and one for white students on Washington Street. As the Baxter Street School was remodeled for use by white students, Black students in the area were then moved to the West Broad Public School for Negroes, which originally only offered seven grades taught by five teachers.

Many schools for Black students lacked courses that went beyond reading and writing. During the 1920s and 30s, the Judia C. Jackson Harris School was the only African American school that offered courses such as math, art, music and drama. The school also hosted musical pageants and an annual agricultural fair that drew crowds from all over Athens and neighboring counties.

In 1961, Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes were the first Black students to enroll at the University of Georgia, the greatest revival of the conversation about equality in education in the state since Brown v. Board of Education seven years earlier, putting Athens on the map of the Civil Rights Movement. Clarke Central High

School, then Athens High School, opened to Black students in 1963, but Athens schools were not fully desegregated until 1970, when Athens High School and the all-Black Burney-Harris High School merged to become Clarke Central High School.

Johnnie Lay Burks and Bettye Henderson Holston became the first Black teachers to become faculty at Chase Street Elementary and Alps Road Elementary, respectively. This year, the Clarke County Board of Education voted to officially change the names of these elementary schools in honor of the two women.

Today, visit the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building on North Campus, a stuccoed Beaux-Arts building near the Arch currently undergoing a major renovation and restoration. Clarke Central High School remains a landmark, and the West Broad Street School recently housed the West Broad Farmers Market. The Knox Institute, later Athens High & Industrial School, remains an anchor of the Reese Street Historic District and preservation efforts are underway.

Vinegar Company, is a network of rural and urban growers in the Southeastern US whose mission is to rebuild local food systems focused on vibrant and abundant food and medicine.

Chalises Heavenly Inspired

225 Cherokee Rd. Ste. 7

Chalises sells wellness products including men’s grooming goods, homemade soaps, bath bars, sugar scrubs and more. Founded by Adrienne Chappell, the company has locations at West Broad Farmers Market and the Georgia Square Mall.

MEplusTea meplustea.com

MEplusTea offers a wide range of loose-leaf teas served by businesses such as Seabear, Choco Pronto and

Bear Hug Honey. MEplusTea also vends at the Athens Farmers Market every Saturday. Gift sets are offered with names such as “Love Potion,” “Sacred Womb,” “Flu Fighter” and “Nausea Relief” The company also sells iced teas, tea brewing tools and their signature apothecary line, “Teapothercary.”

Shalom Silkies shalomsilkies.com

Owned and founded by Gabby Shalom, a sophomore at the University of Georgia majoring in marketing, the business was founded to bring Black men and women an opportunity to buy affordable yet durable bonnets and other headwear aimed at protecting their hair.

Charles Pickney is a predominantly selftaught artist who specializes in blacksmith work by making jewelry and small sculptures. He’s been in the art industry for nearly 50 years as a metalsmith. Find him regularly at local festivals and markets.