A.L. Miller Sr. High School in Macon, Georgia as I knew it as a teenager years ago. It is a place whose halls have many stories to tell. Some stories elicit beautiful memories of friendship, pranks, detention, study halls and, yes, education. While others evoke not so pleasant memories of our quest to bridge the racial divide and appreciate each other's diversity. You see, the years were during the late 60's and early 70's when we were told, "Miller girls don't act that way". The teachers and staff were referring to how we were to carry ourselves as young ladies. Even though we were of different races, the standard for our behavior was the same. We were to carry ourselves with dignity, a quest for knowledge and goal-directed living. Yet, in the halls, racial differences peeked their ugly head as we were reminded that we were black because of names that we were sometimes called. And they remembered that they were white because of names that they were called. But it is amazing how these experiences have created a bond and connection that still connects us today. I chose to begin my Junior High School years at A.L. Miller Jr. High during "Freedom of Choice", prior to mandatory integration. I was reminded of these times recently when I say some of my fellow classmates who were white. Our conversation ended with lessons learned from that period in our lives and how we need to meet up again with others from that period and stay in touch with each other. We reminisced and realized that those times helped to build character in many of us. The lesson that I carry is that, yes, ultimately I was a Miller girl and the good and the bad helped to mold me into who I am today. The powers to be may have decided to get rid of the building as a school, but they can never erase from the blackboard of our memories the lessons that were learned there.
I was making black history in high school without even thinking about it.
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