Once-segregated Blackwell School in Marfa school gets historic designation
Betty Nunez, an alumnus of Blackwell School, walks up the steps of the school on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020.WASHINGTON — A once-segregated school in Marfa will soon have a historic designation after the House passed a bill to make it a National Historic Site.
The legislation, which is headed to the White House for President Joe Biden's signature, caps a years-long effort to put the Blackwell School — a tiny schoolhouse in the far West Texas town where Mexican and Mexican-American children were taught for nearly 60 years — under the supervision of the National Park Service.
The bill was pushed by U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican. It passed the House on a 414-12 vote on Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Austin was the lone Texan to oppose the legislation.“We must work together in Congress to paint a more accurate picture of how this country came to be. And that picture is not complete without including the history of Mexican Americans,” Gonzales said in a statement.
While there was no state law that mandated separate schools for Hispanic students, many Texas school districts, including in Marfa, segregated students, according to the Texas Historical Commission. Blackwell, named for its longtime principal Jesse Blackwell, served as an elementary and middle school until 1965, when Marfa’s schools were integrated and most of the Blackwell campus buildings were razed.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Elton John to Perform at White House for Special Concert EventPresident Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden are also scheduled to make comments during the event.
Read more »
Is the Pandemic Finally Ending? Biden Says It's 'Over,' but Others Aren't So SurePresident Joe Biden said the pandemic is over, which has left many confused.
Read more »
President Joe Biden: The 2022 60 Minutes InterviewICYMI: In a wide-ranging conversation with Scott Pelley, President Biden answers questions on Taiwan, inflation, the classified documents found in former President Trump's home and more.
Read more »
President Joe Biden nominates Barberton native Lynne Tracy to be the next U.S. Ambassador to RussiaLynne M. Tracy currently serves as U.S. ambassador to Armenia. Before that, she was a senior advisor on Russian issues in the State Department’s bureau of European and Eurasian affairs.
Read more »