The Struggle for Integration: Clinton, TN

The Struggle for Integration: Clinton, Tennessee Ask most people where the first southern public school was integrated and they will probably say, 'Little Rock, Arkansas--yeah 'The Little Rock Nine''. Seventeen year-old Media High student,Madeline Brown would gently correct this mistake, explaining that the first integrated school in the south was in Clinton, Tennessee and the twelve brave African-Americans who attended Clinton High School in 1956 are 'The Clinton Twelve'. Madeline, or Maddie as her friends call her, discovered this truth in the process of creating a short documentary called 'The Struggle for Integration: Clinton, Tennessee'. With minimal assistance from me and my assistant, Maddie, a second year Media High student and recent South Doyle graduate, assembled a poignant and inspiring story that pays tribute to several progressive participants in the Clinton struggle, people who were pivotal players in this crucial piece of history. In the short span of nine days, Ms. Brown researched and located several key interview subjects. The quality of these interviews reflect her diligent but kind approach. Maddie is interested in studying journalism in college. View her documentary at ListenUp.org and see her outstanding piece of history, journalism, and digital video. This is the first of five student documentaries that we will be releasing onto our page at ListenUp.org over the next six weeks. David Neil Drews Media High Director