David T. Howard High School Class of 1966

About The Class of 1966

On August 28, 1961, nine hundred and thirty-three students from nine elementary schools reported to David T. Howard High School. Apprehension characterized us all, as we made our way toward the school. The only thing we knew was that we had received postal cards assigning us to a homeroom and a teacher. Some of us brought our parents; some of us were accompanied by our older brothers or sisters, and then some of us braved the way alone. We heard about campus fees, and hazing by upper classmen, and some of that actually took place. Fortunately, we were protected by faculty members, and returned each day for the new beginnings of our lives.

In 1962, 855 of us reported back for another year. Many new faces were added to our classes, and new friend were made also. We started to branch out into different directions with some of us taking – foreign languages, algebra, sports, social clubs, and yes, some of us were just hanging out. This was also around the time we started hearing the rumbling of discontent, and the brave souls in our communities putting their lives on the line for our civil rights, and to make America live up to the ideals it professed to hold true. Many of us mourned the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22 of 1963 as we made our way to school.

1963 - 1964 continued to bring great change in and around us with new construction in the school and around the school’s neighborhoods. Many of us forcefully and voluntarily started on the path of social justice by integrating white high schools in the city. By July 2, 1964, the first civil rights bill was signed into law giving people of color a law that prevented discrimination in virtually all areas of American life. So, we are the last generation that witnessed segregation, and we participated through our small efforts in bringing change forever in this country.

By August, 1965 we were down to three hundred and fifty-three determined souls. Life threw many curves our way, but we ducked, dodged, and got back up to complete the journey. The school was completely renovated by now with new buildings, athletic field, lockers, and a new attitude! Unfortunately, the food in the cafeteria remained the same (ugg!).

Our last year in school (1965-1966) was for some - a year of uncertainty, joy, more studying, preparations for college and technical schools, and well, just more school. Then finally, we graduated in May, of 1966! We partied one more time together and we scattered to the corners of the world, literally. Vietnam was raging which took many of us, and our friends, across the world to fight a war. Some of us survived that war, and some of us did not, still some of us returned never to be the same again.

But here we are, with the blessings of GOD, still traveling a journey together as classmates and graduates of David T. Howard High School! There’s so much to look forward to and so much to be thankful for. Let’s forget the small insignificant slights that occurred in school and move forward looking for greater good and greater joy.

Peace and blessings,
The Class of 1966

Signs Of The Time

The 1960’s was one of the most dynamic, cultural shifting, and exciting decades of the last 100 years. The election of JFK, the civil rights movement, new musical styles, and the promise of a new way of things in America, brought hope and a way forward for our young lives. Then, everything changed on a dime – Vietnam raging, where we saw so many of us changed forever, the assassinations of JFK, MLK, and RFK, along with the untimely deaths of Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin left many of us disillusioned, wondering what’s next. Here’s a snapshot of a sign of the times.