History Center Wants to Tell Story of Integration in Diboll

The integration of white and black schools and the repercussions from that event shaped an entire generation, including the small community of Diboll.

Stories have been told for decades about how integration affected students, staff and the community. Some tell tales of a volatile atmosphere within school hallways and others of newfound friendships and relationships with people from different ethnic backgrounds.

In line with the Diboll History Center’s mission to collect, preserve and provide access to the community’s history, archivists began contacting those involved with the integration of Diboll schools and conducting oral interviews to get a clearer picture about what really happened back then.

Looking back to integration, approximately 50 years ago, History Center Director Jonathan Gerland said now is the time to capitalize on the memories of those who experienced Diboll’s transition of mixing whites and blacks in the school system.

via History Center tries to capture picture of Diboll integration - The Lufkin Daily News: Local & State.

Gerland says they're not out to write a book or condemn what happened in the past.  He says they want to provide a voice for those who will no longer be here to tell their story in the future.