Spartan Village in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Booker T. Washington High School
Photographed By Brandon D Cross
1. Booker T. Washington High School Marker
Inscription.
Booker T. Washington High School. . James T. West High School, one of Virginia’s first accredited public high schools for African-Americans, was renamed in 1917 for Booker T. Washington, educator, author and orator. The school moved to a newly constructed building in 1924 and for decades was Norfolk’s only public high school for black students. Its programs were central to the community. In 1939-1940, faculty members Aline Black and Melvin Alston pursued legal action that led to a federal court decision requiring salary equalization for black and white teachers. In Sept. 1963, students marched to protest poor facilities. Norfolk implemented a desegregation plan in 1970, and the school moved into a new building here in 1974.
James T. West High School, one of Virginia’s first accredited public high schools for African-Americans, was renamed in 1917 for Booker T. Washington, educator, author and orator. The school moved to a newly constructed building in 1924 and for decades was Norfolk’s only public high school for black students. Its programs were central to the community. In 1939-1940, faculty members Aline Black and Melvin Alston pursued legal action that led to a federal court decision requiring salary equalization for black and white teachers. In Sept. 1963, students marched to protest poor facilities. Norfolk implemented a desegregation plan in 1970, and the school moved into a new building here in 1974.
Erected 2018 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KV 30.)
Location. 36° 51.123′ N, 76° 15.953′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Spartan Village. Marker is at the intersection of East Virginia Beach Boulevard (U.S. 58) and Park Avenue (James A Clark Avenue)
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(Virginia Route 166), on the right when traveling west on East Virginia Beach Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1111 Park Avenue, Norfolk VA 23504, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Recognized as one of the first African-American High Schools in the South.
4. Old Booker T. Washington High School 1923-1976
Photographed By Brandon D Cross
5. Current Booker T. Washington High School
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 699 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 26, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.