Williston’s Legacy Graduation: Righting a wrong from 1968

1on1 with Jon Evans

Williston’s Legacy Graduation: Righting a wrong from 1968

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Published on Jun 16, 2023, 5:15:00 AM
Total time: 00:23:44

Episode Description

At the height of America’s civil rights movement, a school board vote closed the only all-Black high school in Wilmington, North Carolina. Generations of families had graduated from Williston Senior High School since its’ inception in 1866. But, in June 1968, facing the possibility of losing federal funding over the school system’s delayed desegregation plan, the New Hanover County Board of Education abruptly closed Williston Senior High, forcing around 900 students to attend mostly-White high schools to complete their education. Now, 55 years later, the community is working to heal the wound caused by that decision.

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Jon Evans of WECT/Fox Wilmington is in his 43rd year of television news. He's asked a lot of questions, and you've seen or heard the answers on his newscasts. Jon is now asking different questions, going in-depth with interviews and learning things that only a few people know. Politicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers - you'll know them better after hearing them go "1 on 1 with Jon Evans."