The history for the W.O. Boston High School Panthers has been added to the website. Previously, we only had pictures from McNeese University. William Oscar Boston founded what was called the “First Ward Colored School” in 1907. In 1983, it merged with the Lake Charles High School and became the Lake Charles-Boston High School.
In the Significant Notes Section: “The Black Side of Desegregation: The History of Paul Breaux High School”
On February 4th, 1982, Louisiana Public Broadcasting presented an episode of “Folks” featuring Sharon Elizabeth’s Sexton’s documentary about the history of Paul Breaux High School in Lafayette Parish. “The Black Side of Desegregation: The History of Paul Breaux High School” Part I details everything from the opening of the school by Paul Breaux in 1989 until desegregation in 1970. Part II details the immediate effects of desegregation on the African American Community in Lafayette as the county enforced integration. The documentary reminds the viewer various controversies construction of the second school. It also tells the viewer that desegregation was not merely as simple as placing African American people together with Caucasian people.
African American High Schools in Louisiana Before 1970 