Race And My Community

Race and my Community

The issue of race has played a major factor in the development of the community where I live. The city I live in is full of history, culture and diversity. There are many different nationalities and races within my city. Racial equality is displayed but this was not always the case. Racial segregation was prominent here in the South and fine lines were drawn to keep the races separate. This paper will discuss the following: Sanford’s history, past segregation issues, the history of the schools, the leaders and our community and what this city is today.

The City’s History

Sanford, Florida is located north of Orlando in Seminole county. Sanford is located on the shore of Lake Monroe, off the St. Johns River. In the 1830’s, during the Seminole Wars, the U.S. Army set a post naming it Fort Mellon. By 1866, the Army’s forts were abandoned. As people moved to the area, the town of Mellonville was established and became the gateway for immigrants and settlers seeking a new life. The town grew and became a distribution point for goods brought by commercial steamboats. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased land located west of Mellonville. He believed the land he purchased would be the transportation hub for all southern Florida. In 1877, the city of Sanford was established and Mellonville was later annexed in. Within the same year, construction was started on the South Florida Railroad with a terminal in Sanford. By 1884, Sanford was a thriving town with a railroad, wharves, and a hotel. Mr. Sanford later established citrus groves. During the winter of 1895, a freeze destroyed all the citrus and it devastated the citrus industry. Many citizens face economic ruin and left the area. For those who stayed, the development of the sub irrigation system that supported commercial agriculture saved the city’s economy. Sanford became the largest vegetable-shipping center in the United States. It was nicknamed the “Celery Capitol of the World” because of its thriving crops (Sanford Historic Preservation Board, n.d.).

Segregation in Sanford

As Mr. Sanford’s business grew, his need for quality workers increased. He contracted with Swedes to migrate to the area. Soon after, he hired other immigrants from England, Poland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia and Greece. Florida was recognized as a slave state and because his community was built during the era of Reconstruction, he attempted to hire members of the black community to work. Some of the local white residents responded with violence, others strongly discouraged him. Blacks had already lived in the area since the fort period. African Americans provided were hired for the majority of the state’s timber and turpentine commerce. Blacks were also employed by the nearby railroad where thousands of carloads of celery and other produce were loaded for markets located in the North. Blacks worked in agriculture and other businesses as unskilled laborers. In response to the racial divisions, the town of Georgetown was created. It consisted of several property lots sold to prominent African Americans. The objective was to encourage the rise of black middle class in the community. This neighborhood was within its own commercial district. There were many businesses within the area. Some of the businesses established were barbershops, blacksmiths, farmers, butcher shops, dentists, doctors, pharmacists, restaurants and jewelers. Soon after a second town of Goldsboro was incorporated. It to had many businesses, elected officials and residences within the town. In 1911, the City of Sanford passes a resolution of its intent to absorb Goldsboro. Despite the pleas from Goldsboro officials in the local paper, the state legislature voted to revoke the incorporation and Goldsboro became part of Sanford. Many blacks left the area in search of a better life and many whites came from the North to escape the cold. As the city grew, so did racism. These former Northerners came from areas with few African Americans and their racial attitudes were not firmly molded like others southern whites. Laws and customs enforced segregation. As civil rights became a national concern in the 1950’s, change would soon come to Sanford and Florida as a whole. Florida laws, like those of most southern states, required complete segregation. Not until Federal intervention in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s did blacks in Florida pursue integration.

Schools in Sanford

Opposition to segregation in schools was ongoing until laws were passed in 1962 to allow blacks and whites to integrate for the first time. Sanford’s school history reflects how blacks and whites were kept separate. The first recorded school for whites in Sanford was in 1883. Two property lots were purchased and a two-room school was erected where all grades were taught. The first teachers were Professor Coiner and Angie Tucker. In 1902 Sanford high school opened for white students. The black community founded a school for blacks with one hundred dollars from the school board in Georgetown in 1885. The first recorded principal was Mr. McLester. Mr. Crooms followed in his place and in 1926 founded Crooms Academy. Racial integration began in Seminole County in 1966. This allowed blacks for the first time to go to white schools. In 1970 Sanford was desegregated and Crooms lost its identity as a community high school. Crooms’ role has changed several times over the years. The school burned in a fire in 1973 and was rebuilt again. The facility was used as an administrative center, school for troubled students, a ninth grade center and a school for pregnant teens. In 2000 the Seminole county school board decided to turn Crooms Academy into an information technology magnet school. In 2001 the old building was demolished and the new building was built. The school was renamed Crooms Academy of Information Technology. It is now an “A” rated public magnet high school known for its high tech information technology program (Crooms Academy of Information Technology [CAIT], n.d.). Crooms is still located in the Goldsboro area on the land where it was originated. Seminole County Public Schools employs people of different nationalities and backgrounds. Their rules and procedures are there to help all people.

Seminole high school has moved several times over the years due to expansion, it has settled in its current location in 1961. Seminole high school is still the public high school in Sanford. It is a tradition high school