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EQUAL BUT SEPARATED

HISTORY OF THE DESEGREGATION OF TEXARKANA SCHOOLS

Students Steve Poster and Jessalyn Gray talking at side of taxi while white crowd prevents them from entering Texarkana College. Photo by Joe Scherschel for Life Magazine, 1956.

Born from the railroad boom in a region settled with slavery, Texarkana’s location in both Texas and Arkansas has produced a unique history desegregating two races in two states over two decades.

SEE THE SCHOOLS

See historical photos of Black and white schools on both sides of the state line as well as the 1955 Texarkana College riot.

HEAR THE STORIES

Read full transcripts of interviews with Texarkana citizens who were students and teachers during integration.

READ THE THESIS

EQUAL BUT SEPARATED

To contribute your story or photos to this project or to ask any related questions, please contact Katherine Anne Doan at katherinedoan@utexas.edu.

Read the formal thesis submission here.