Integration Retrospect: Prominent Alumni Speak Candidly About Race and Jesuit High School
The Storytelling Panel Discussion on Thursday evening, February 28, featured five prominent alumni, from left: Dooky Chase ’67, Marc Morial ’76, Moon Landrieu ’48, moderator Bruce Nolan ’65, and Stephen McKenna ’74.
More than 100 parents, alumni, faculty, and staff turned out for an evening of Integration Retrospect, an event which was held in the Auditorium on Thursday evening, February 28, and featured five well-known alumni from Jesuit High School.
Dooky Chase is a business and civic leader who is Jesuit’s 2012 Alumnus of the Year. Marc Morial served two terms as New Orleans’ mayor from 1994-2002 and is now the chief executive officer and president of the Urban League. Moon Landrieu oversaw the desegregation of City Hall during his two terms as mayor of New Orleans from 1970-78. Stephen McKenna is a physician who was the first African-American to graduate from Jesuit having lettered in football.Bruce Nolan was a news reporter for 40 years with the Times-Picayune.
The panel discussion was preceded by a history lecture given by alumni disrector Mat Grau ’68 on how Jesuit came to be desegregated in 1962. Following the panel discussion, New Orleans jazz vocalist Charmaine Neville entertained the audience with a mini solo performance. Tom Bagwill, who is Jesuit’s advancement director, served as host and introduced the alumni panel.
The special events during Integration Week are designed to educate the Blue Jay Community and honor the legacy of the individuals who paved the way for the rich culture, diversity, and opportunity that exist today at Jesuit High School.
Fr. Fitzgerald and Dooky Chase Interviewed on WWL-TV
50-Year Anniversary of Jesuit’s Integration Celebrated with a Variety of Commemorative Events for Students
Mayoral Trio: Moon, Marc, & Mitch Discuss Race Before an Audience of Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores
Honorable Mayoral Trio: (from left) Moon Landrieu’48, Marc Morial ’76, and Mitch Landrieu ’78 discuss race. Bruce Nolan ’65 moderated the panel.
Seniors, juniors, and sophomores packed the auditorium on Thursday morning, February 28, to listen to three prominent Blue Jays relate some fascinating stories about race. Former New Orleans’ mayors Moon Landrieu ’48 and Marc Morial ’76 were joined on stage by current mayor Mitch Landrieu ’78. Moderating the panel discussion was Bruce Nolan ’65, who for 40 years was a reporter for the Times-Picayune.
Shades of Praise Choir Is All Heart and Soul, Stirring Jays with African-American Style Gospel Music
Following the Storytelling Panel about the Civil Rights era, Blue Jays were treated to a performance by the Shades of Praise, an interracial Gospel choir that sings contemporary gospel music in the African-American style. Performances by the choir introduces gospel to wider audiences across racial and denominational boundaries. In performing, the choir creates racial harmony while dispelling stereotypes.
Enthusiastic Blue Jays respond to the choir’s music.
Storytelling: Freshmen and Pre-freshmen Hear Experiences About the Civil Rights Movement
Storytelling panelists: (from left) Sybil Morial, Edgar “Dooky” Chase, Glenn Goodier ’65, and Dr. Stephen McKenna ’74.
Freshmen and pre-freshmen filed into the Chapel of the North American Martyrs Thursday morning, February 28, as a panel of three Jesuit alumni and a parent of a prominent alumni tell memories from their experiences living through the Civil Rights Movement. The panelists included: Sybil Morial, Edgar “Dooky” Chase, Glenn Goodier ’65, and Dr. Stephen McKenna ’74. Moderating the panel discussion was director of advancement Tom Bagwill.
On Monday, February 25, Blue Jays attended the first of a series of week-long commemorative events designed to educate the Blue Jay Community and honor the legacy of the individuals who paved the way for the rich culture, diversity, and opportunity that exist today at Jesuit.
Students attended a presentation on the history of the integration of Jesuit High School, given by alumni director Mat Grau ’68 and director of student activities Michael Prados ’83.
The 50th Anniversary of the integration of Jesuit High School will continue this week with a series of events, films, concerts, and panel discussions for students.
Jesuit art teacher Meg Jennings, juniors Chase Eckholdt, and Brett Spansel are pictured among some of Hunter’s works on display in the school library.
Beginning on Tuesday, February 26 through Thursday, February 28, Jesuit will present in the school’s library the artwork of African-American artist and Louisiana native Clementine Hunter.This exhibit is part of Jesuit’s celebration of 50 years of integration.
Paintings on display are from the collections of Jesuit art teacher Meg Jennings and her parents Toni and Eddie Feinman.
Students Learn About Another Form of Integration, to Be Humble Servants
Students attend monthly Mass on Wednesday, February 27 in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs.
Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J., in his homily, asked the students to consider what constitutes true and just value for individual persons and what makes for false and unjust distinctions. Do we see ourselves privileged and separate just as the disciples who asked to sit at Jesus’ right hand or left hand saw themselves? Or do we see ourselves truly integrated into the Body of Christ, using any human privilege we have to be humble servants?
“The ultimate privilege,” Father told the students, “is to serve in imitation of Christ.”
