Booker T. Washington High School, the oldest historically Black high school in Georgia, began celebrating its 100th anniversary by continuing the tradition of welcoming the graduating class of 2025 into their senior year.
The high school has upheld this tradition since 1927, and both the alumni and students understand the legacy that comes with being a graduate of the school that has been home to changemakers in civil rights, business, entertainment, and many other industries.
“Booker T. Washington High School has created so many scholars. This is where scholars came because they didn’t have anywhere else to go,” school principal William Wade said. “This is the school that was built for us, and we’re very proud of it.”
The Senior Recognition program featured performances from the school’s concert band, dance troupe, and chorus. The program also highlighted the accomplishments of the many notable Washington High School alumni who walked the halls before them.
“We know what we want a Booker T. Washington graduate to look like. We want them to be committed community leaders, committed scholars,” Wade said. “I want everyone to know that we are a great choice in the city of Atlanta. We have a great team of educators and administrators, and we’re here to make sure that this legacy does not go away.”
As a part of the school’s year-long celebration of its 100th anniversary, the Booker T. Washington Social Studies Department invited the National Center for Civil and Human Rights to present their documentary “(re)Defining History: Uncovering the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre” to a group of students on the anniversary of the massacre. The documentary unveiled the impact the tragic event had on the Black Atlanta community and how it shaped the future of the city.
“I wanted the students to know that they descend from a strong local history that is resilient, but is also unknown,” Darrin Sims, director of Truth & Transformation at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, said.
Booker T. Washington High School sophomore Belle Williams was surprised to realize that they were learning about the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre on the anniversary of the event.
“I loved the documentary. Ms. Wynn, our school historian, told us that September 25 marks 118 years after the events transpired, and I did not know that,” she said. “It all connects. To see the horrors that our community went through, and now we are constantly celebrating accomplishments from students and accomplishments that Black people have made. To see the dedication that we had to get to where we are is incredible.”
Booker T. Washington High School was founded just 18 years after the Atlanta Race Massacre. As the Black community recovered, they fought for the creation of their own secondary school. The school has survived 100 years and has produced legendary scholars who have left their marks on the world.
Notable alumni include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Georgia Senator Leroy Johnson, Dr. Asa G. Yancey Sr., and many more.
“This senior class is very excited because we’ve been telling them this day was coming ever since I met them when they were tenth graders, and they get it now,” Wade said. “They know that if those young people can turn into the great people that they became, then they can do the same.”
Booker T. Washington High School’s Centennial Celebration will continue throughout the school year. For information on upcoming events, visit the school’s website.
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