Blog: “Tigers Speak Up”

They say “the shortest distance between two people is a story.” I believe understanding and harmony can be achieved if we take the time to tell our stories and to listen to those of others. And I believe that our LRCH Class of 1978 has a story to tell that could contribute to healing the current divisiveness in our nation. Won’t you join in? Give some thought to the following questions, and start thinking about how being a Tiger has affected you and your life story in the last forty years. Then put pen to paper, fingers on keyboards, record voice memos, or take selfie videos to tell the bits and pieces of your story. I think a composite of our stories can paint a positive picture of understanding and all inclusiveness that our country desperately needs.

Between now and the reunion, send me your stories, both written as blog posts or separate submissions, dictated as a voice memo, and/or filmed. Just a few minutes recorded on your phone is just fine. We will also be shooting more professional footage and filming interviews at the reunion itself! If we can raise enough funds to go into production, we hope to produce a follow-up documentary highlighting the understanding, tolerance, and friendship our classmates still enjoy. Our goal would be to complete the documentary sometime in 2019-20, the sooner the better, of course. If you are interested in getting involved with this effort, please email Ginny Martin Fleming at gmfleming1124@gmail.com.

Given the division in our country along racial lines, and given the fact that our LRCH Class of 1978 enjoys what seems to be exceedingly positive relationships, we want to explore the stories behind the faces of our classmates. We were the generation who began elementary school segregated, and experienced firsthand federally mandated “integration.” What was your experience as you grew up, prior to, during, and after your time at LRCH? Consider the following questions:

1. How did your high school experience at LRCH shape you/affect you as a person?

2. How would you describe “your story” around desegregation and race relations, from birth through high school? (Note: This could include your memories of when laws changed and desegregation came to your neighborhood — what that meant to you; how that affected you or your family; concerns and/or feelings you remember;  pertinent or life-changing incidents you remember from elementary, middle, junior and senior high school, noting where in the US you were living at the time. It could also include examples of how your parents raised you, your interaction with your local society in a changing social climate, things you remember your parents or grandparents telling you, incidents where you were afraid or nervous, reassured, beaten down or empowered, felt discriminated against, felt supported, felt isolated, felt included, felt bold, felt ashamed, felt proud, felt angry, etc.)

3. How did your LRCH experience affect your own life choices after graduation –decisions you made about your future, the path(s) you took in life, or your experiences along your path? How did your years at Central contribute to your understanding of subsequent and current social issues? Can you give us a few “stories” or examples of how you have experienced divisiveness or inclusiveness regarding race relations since 1978 —  in the workplace, your community, college or other further education, your church, the raising of your family? Do you consider yourself to be a person who promotes positive race relations? How have you done so during your lifetime and/or how do you do so today?

We want to encourage you as you consider this element in your own life and seek to share your stories with one another. If/When you would like to submit a blog post to be considered for publication on this website, please email as an attachment to: Ginny Martin Fleming at gmfleming1124@gmail.com. We also hope to use some of these blog posts for “stories” that might be used in a possible new documentary!  Check back often to read posts from our classmates, as we explore what it means to be an LRCH Tiger.