LA> historical note: White flight/Compton

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

white students dropping out of school is very negative and needs attention.

This would be correct it it they were dropping out. Is there anything that implies the reduction in white students was due to drop out versus relocation or redistricting or something else?

I still think something is odd with the tally of students. Two hundred less white students in two years? There's got to be more to this.

[NJ Chutzpah]

Year book typically show who was in the class, not who graduated

Dont they take their pictures early in the year, or even the year before

That is how my school did it, and some kids who were left behind were in the pictures

But that is fairly recent, maybe it was different back then

[laquests]

M y post was about History and that is why I "care about Compton" Sorcerer68. Also Huckleberry what are you "differring" about. My figures had nothing to do about the change being good or bad; it was merely historic dasta about the vast demographic shift in Compton during the later 50"s early 60"s. The white kids did not drop out, their parents moved out and those two comparrisons 61/63 , show it was either a rush to the exits- or a new school was built or the district realighned, I don"t have any facts on this, merely my three yearbooks and Josh Sides great history of Black settlement in LA: "LA City Limits". From what I can gather Blacks, once confined to the narrow Central Av. corridor, flush with money after WW2 wanted a better life and began moving into Willowbrook and then West Compton. Most went to Centennial High- I have a 60 "Warcry" from Centennial and I count 265 Black, 30 Latino. 2 White and 1 Asian. Now as I look at the pictures in the book, at the pretty well dressed girls and handsome boys it seems nice, not at all the "ghetto" like image that the city has today. From what I can see of the school it looks like it was built in the 50"s low "modern" buildings, whereas Compton High (was then) one of those old grand style monumental 2 story buildings. By the way, in 1959 Compton High"s senior class was: Black 85 , White 285 , Latino 76 and Asian 3. And a Black girl- Naddie Smith was chosen home coming queen. As I look at the pictures of the kids in their clubs and activities I wonder how well they all got along. In 59 the White kids seem to have run the show, occupying most of the offices and dominating all activities save sports. So much for yearbook data, I really wish I could correspond with some one who was there back in the day. I think I shall try Classmates and e mail former students, I"Ve tried that before but no one responded from Excellsior in Norwalk- now closed. Thank you for the post St.Croix- a white Afro American, I thought it was a misprint till I read on. Reality has as way of blowing up one"s preconceptions. Laquest.

[laquests]

Charles : there is something odd about my tally. I went back to the 61 yearbook and counted sophomores- who would be seniors in 63. Here are the results White 90, Black 310, Latino 125 and 4 or 5 Asian. Now in 63 as before: White 40, Black 210, Latino 75 and 4-5 Asian. That means that of 530 sophmores in 61, who should have been seniors in63 we lost around 200: 50 white, 100 black and50 Latino. Remember in 61 there were around 507 graduates 245 white,190 black 60-70 Latino 5-7 Asian. Those grads would have entered as Sophomores in 59. I can"t explain losses like this unless the district opened another school or redrew the lines. Whatever the explanation we have a steady decrease in white students from 59-when they numbered 285 with 85 blacks and 70-80 Latinos to those low figures in 63. I've recounted a couple of times and come up with numbers plus or minus 3-5 students each time but on the whole I stand by my count. Laquest.

[lovethecarolinas]

Originally Posted by laquests

M y post was about History and that is why I "care about Compton" Sorcerer68. Also Huckleberry what are you "differring" about. My figures had nothing to do about the change being good or bad; it was merely historic dasta about the vast demographic shift in Compton during the later 50"s early 60"s. The white kids did not drop out, their parents moved out and those two comparrisons 61/63 , show it was either a rush to the exits- or a new school was built or the district realighned, I don"t have any facts on this, merely my three yearbooks and Josh Sides great history of Black settlement in LA: "LA City Limits". From what I can gather Blacks, once confined to the narrow Central Av. corridor, flush with money after WW2 wanted a better life and began moving into Willowbrook and then West Compton. Most went to Centennial High- I have a 60 "Warcry" from Centennial and I count 265 Black, 30 Latino. 2 White and 1 Asian. Now as I look at the pictures in the book, at the pretty well dressed girls and handsome boys it seems nice, not at all the "ghetto" like image that the city has today. From what I can see of the school it looks like it was built in the 50"s low "modern" buildings, whereas Compton High (was then) one of those old grand style monumental 2 story buildings. By the way, in 1959 Compton High"s senior class was: Black 85 , White 285 , Latino 76 and Asian 3. And a Black girl- Naddie Smith was chosen home coming queen. As I look at the pictures of the kids in their clubs and activities I wonder how well they all got along. In 59 the White kids seem to have run the show, occupying most of the offices and dominating all activities save sports. So much for yearbook data, I really wish I could correspond with some one who was there back in the day. I think I shall try Classmates and e mail former students, I"Ve tried that before but no one responded from Excellsior in Norwalk- now closed. Thank you for the post St.Croix- a white Afro American, I thought it was a misprint till I read on. Reality has as way of blowing up one"s preconceptions. Laquest.

I have sent you a DM.

Also are you looking for someone, or something in particular at Excelsior?...as I have a family member that attended the H.S. back in the early 50's.