THREAD: In the 1990s, Britney Spears' family sent her to a historic segregation academy in McComb, Mississippi.
The school had no Black students enrolled then—despite being in a then-58% Black city.
Today, Britney called out her "white 'classy' family." 1/
The school had no Black students enrolled then—despite being in a then-58% Black city.
Today, Britney called out her "white 'classy' family." 1/
https://twitter.com/sociallysani/status/1473773191155884036
Parklane Academy, where Britney Spears' family sent her, opened as a white-only "Christian" segregation academy in 1970 (in reaction to the Supreme Court ordering Mississippi public schools fully desegregated in 1969).
Hundreds like it opened that year. 2/jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/nov/…
Hundreds like it opened that year. 2/jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/nov/…
The Supreme Court ruled segregated private schools were illegal in 1976.
Yet in 1994 when Britney Spears was at Parklane Academy, a school admin addressed its lack of Black students this way:
"We have a couple black students. Well, we have a couple of students named Black." 3/
Yet in 1994 when Britney Spears was at Parklane Academy, a school admin addressed its lack of Black students this way:
"We have a couple black students. Well, we have a couple of students named Black." 3/
Today, Parklane Academy, has a student body of ~850.
About 2% are Black, 2% Asian, 1% biracial & 95% white.
The city it's in, McComb, is now 77.5% Black, 22.3% white & 0.2% Asian.
Going there wasn't young Britney Spears' choice, but her "white 'classy'" family's choice. 4/
About 2% are Black, 2% Asian, 1% biracial & 95% white.
The city it's in, McComb, is now 77.5% Black, 22.3% white & 0.2% Asian.
Going there wasn't young Britney Spears' choice, but her "white 'classy'" family's choice. 4/
In many majority Black towns & cities in Mississippi, historic segregation academies that are no longer officially all-white still act as de facto segregation academies despite admitting a handful of students of color who can afford to & want to attend. 5/
mississippifreepress.org/16642/white-fl…
mississippifreepress.org/16642/white-fl…
In Noxubee County, Miss., for example, school integration has still never really happened.
Private segregation academies had a lot to do with why. @DonnerKay has an excellent story detailing that story. 6/
mississippifreepress.org/16642/white-fl…
Private segregation academies had a lot to do with why. @DonnerKay has an excellent story detailing that story. 6/
mississippifreepress.org/16642/white-fl…
One of Mississippi's current US senators, Cindy Hyde-Smith, attended public school until 1969, when the Supreme Court ordered public school integration.
Her parents moved her to Lawrence County Academy—an all-white segregation academy—in 1970. 7/jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/nov/…
Her parents moved her to Lawrence County Academy—an all-white segregation academy—in 1970. 7/jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/nov/…
Here's how Parklane describes itself today: "Parklane Academy must, by both precept and practice, prepare our youth to become well-adjusted citizens who can make a positive contribution toward effective living in a democratic, Christian society." 8/
parklaneacademy.net/apps/pages/ind…
parklaneacademy.net/apps/pages/ind…
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