‘Recognize the excellence’: Second Ward High School hosts 100th anniversary celebration
Graduates from Second Ward High School in Charlotte met on Saturday for a celebration a century in the making.
While their faces may have a few more wrinkles and their hair a little more gray, their school spirit remains strong.
Located on East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Uptown, the only part of the original school that remains is the gymnasium. But for former students like Arthur Griffin, who graduated in 1966, this milestone is something to commemorate.
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Griffin is not only a graduate but a former school board chair who went to Second Ward during segregation.
“Second Ward fought at a higher weight class than it was,” Griffin said. “We were able to produce politicians, professional ball players, academicians, educators, lawyers, and doctors, and we want to recognize the excellence that came out of this school.”
The reunion took place in the gymnasium, there were promises to rebuild another school, but they were not kept. Ted Kennedy, who graduated in 1969, said the reason for the meeting was to share the rich history of the school with others, especially the younger generations.
“Well, there are a lot of people that have no clue about Second Ward High School, the younger folks,” Kenndey said.
Sarah Sanders, who graduated in 1966, says she likes to keep in touch with her former classmates and fellow alums. At Saturday’s event, however, she saw faces she hadn’t seen in decades.
“But I’m always attending the activities that Second Ward has, so there are some in there I see all the time, but there are a few in there I haven’t seen in about 50 years,” Sanders said.
A better-known graduate of the century-old school is State Senator Joyce Waddell, who said it’s important to remember the past to shape our future.
“If we don’t know our past, it confuses us when we think about our future; we have got to know where we come from; we have got to know the struggle,” Waddell said.
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