At La. School Reunion, a Party for 'White Grads Only'

But organizers say invitation wording is a mistake
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 4, 2012 10:20 AM CDT

The St. Martinville Senior High School Class of 1973 has somehow been holding segregated reunions for almost 40 years now, with black alums attending one event and white alums another. This year was originally to be the same way, until organizers ultimately decided to integrate. But the invite for the Louisiana school's 2012 event still listed "White Graduates Only" for one of the events, KATC reports.

The invitation notes that a Sept. 21 reception at the school and the homecoming football game that follows are open to all graduates, but an after-party at a classmate's home is for white graduates only, ABC News reports. "I don't understand why this went the way it did," says one of the organizers, who calls this year's integration "a beginning" and adds that "it needs to go forward." The St. Martinville principal was quick to add that the school "has nothing to do" with the reunion plans. (More segregation stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X