Resisting School Integration in Savannah

Facing budget woes, Georgia mulls merging its white and black colleges. This time, many African Americans are saying no. Fighting to keep separate schools separate

Kendrick Brinson for TIME

A Savannah State student practices dance moves on the campus green.

As America's first black president settles into the Oval Office, it seems an odd time for Georgia to be up in arms over school integration again. In 1961, when a federal court ordered the University of Georgia to admit two black students, 1,000 white rioters hurled firecrackers, bricks and racial epithets through dorm windows. But 1961 this is not: today a white Republican is leading the charge, and black students and lawmakers are fighting for the status quo.

With Georgia facing a $2 billion budget shortfall, Seth Harp, chairman of the state senate's higher-education committee, has proposed merging historically black public...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!