Desegregation

Gustevas Roberts, Pioneer

Less was publicized about Gus Roberts’ experience at Central High even though he was the first African American in Charlotte to graduate from an all-white high school. Journalist Frye Gaillard interviewed Central High's then-principal Ed Sanders about it years later for his book The Dream Long Deferred. Dr. Garinger told Sanders in July 1957 that "one or more black children, handpicked for their ability and character" would be attending Central in the fall. Garinger met with the principals of the four schools, police chief Frank Littlejohn, and two newspaper editors and was assured that the process would run smoothly and news coverage would be “thorough, but low-key.”

Though public focus was on Harding High that September, jeering crowds gathered in front of Central the first few days, and on the second day, angry teenagers locked arms and blocked the doorway to the school. Sanders diffused the situation and handled occasional harassment against Roberts during his time at Central. Threats to Roberts’ safety escalated during prom season, however, prompting Sanders to cancel the event. He later agreed to a private, all-white prom held off-campus. Gus Roberts graduated in the spring of 1959 never reaching full equality with his peers.

In the fall of 1959, the only integrated high school in Charlotte was the new Garinger High, with one African American student. Though Dr. Garinger had initiated the process under school board direction and public pressure, and believed it was the right thing to do, school desegregation moved slowly in Charlotte until the landmark Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education decision mandated racial integration and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools successfully implemented busing in the 1970s.