School Desegregation – Object #1

Veazy, Greene County, Georgia. The one-teacher Negro school in Veazy, south of Greensboro

Download Photograph

<p>In this photo, a room full of young African American students are pictured sitting on benches, holding books and learning from a teacher. It appears that the “school” is an older structure with very basic furniture included. The students are of various ages.</p>

In October 1941, Jack Delano photographed a number of schools in Greene County, Georgia. These photos included this image of African American students in a school house prior to the Brown v Board of Education decision.

Questions:

What is the first thing you notice in the photograph?

What time period does this photo appear to be from?

What is the physical setting? Does this setting seem desirable to you? Does the setting seem familiar to you?

What do you notice about the children in the photograph?

What is the climate in the photograph? Is this a comfortable setting?

 

Comparison questions between Object 1 and 2

Why might the photographer be interested in comparing the two schools? Which school looks more desirable to you?What evidence do you see that indicates that one school may be better equipped than the other? Do you see similarities between the two schools during that time and the various public schools that exist in today? What role might policy play in this situation? Looking at today’s current educational climate, were the policy changes effective?

Why might the photographer take this photo?  

Citations

Delano, Jack, photographer. Veazy, Greene County, Georgia. The one-teacher Negro school in Veazy, south of Greensboro. October 1941. Farm Security Administration- Office of War Information Collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division