In Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 after the historic Children’s March, African American seniors in Birmingham City Public Schools were denied a senior prom. This order was declared by then Commissioner Eugene “Bull” Conner as he claimed it to be a “safety measure.” However, it was understood that this was a means of retaliating for students participating in “The Children’s March/Crusade.”
Moving Forward 50 Years Later, six ladies who were victims of such action, united and decided to host “The Prom We Never Had.” The ladies garnered strong support from the City of Birmingham, as it celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement and The Children’s March in Birmingham. A special feature of the night was the awarding of two scholarships to 2013 graduating seniors, based on essays submitted about the impact of a prom for them. These young ladies each received $1,963 (representative of the year 1963).
With fond memories of the evening, and defying the friendly rivalry among high schools, a friendship was created. The six ladies recently reunited and decided to award funds to their local high schools for educational purposes.
The schools and the ladies represented were from Arthur Harold Parker High School –Earnestine Thomas (who initiated the “Prom 2013”), Shirley P. Sims, and Frances Faulks; P. D. Jackson Olin High School – Brenda P. Hong; George Washington Carver High School – Patricia Hendrix; and Samuel Ullman High School (Alumni Association) – Ethel Arms.
