More than a school: Langston High was an anchor institution for Black community

Enter to learn, depart to serve. Those are the words read by students as they walked through the doors of Langston High School each day. From 1925 to 1965, Langston High School served as an anchor institution for the Black community in Washington County during segregation. It was a place where they could feel seen, heard and do the same for their peers. Before Langston High School was turned into a high school, it had been used as a "normal" school from 1893 to 1925. A "normal" school served as an institution for people to become teachers — many of those teachers would go on to teach students at Langston High School. This institution was founded by Hezekiah B. Hankal in 1873. Hankal is considered one of the founding fathers of Johnson City. He was a preacher, teacher and skilled physician, according to the Johnson City Schools website. Before Langston, the Thankful Baptist Church served as the main education spot for the Black community in Washington County. Adam Dickson, the Multicultural Engagement Manager at Johnson City's Parks and Recreations Department, said when Langston High School opened, students could be seen walking from the church to the school, eager to learn. History shows that even before the Thankful Baptist Church, Hankal opened the very first African American School in Johnson City in the late 1860s at a log cabin which sat at the top of Roan Hill. The log cabin functioned as a designated meeting house for the community. "They would meet there for worship (and) they would also use the meeting house for school," Dickson said. "It was a place for the Black folks to gather there in Johnson City." It is still unclear what ages were being taught at the Roan Hill meeting house. Dickson said that students never dreaded coming to school — they looked forward to it every day. "We wouldn't dare say we had fun going to school, but a lot of Langston alumni, they seem to have (had) a lot of fun coming to school," Dickson said. Langston High School was a place for opportunities, growth and character development that most may have never experienced otherwise. "Langston school was very, very significant in the development of the youth in the community," Dickson said. "There were people that just really saw … education as a way to kind of level the playing field in society so there was a heavy respect for the school and a heavy respect for the church." Despite daily obstacles during segregation, students at Langston High School thrived in their environment. When they walked through the doors of the auditorium each morning, they were treated as equals. "When you think about the period of 1893 to 1965 … society would say a lot about people and there were these spaces where people would be encouraged and challenged and really molded to be their best and to really persevere despite (society)," Dickson said. Langton High School became known for its domination in sports and its prideful band. Dickson said despite segregation, all races could be seen watching the Langston High School band walk from the school to the stadium on Thursday night games. Desegregation in Johnson City began in 1965, 11 years after Brown v Board of Education. A federal court order mandated by the federal court in Greeneville called for schools to integrate. Dickson said students were crushed when the court order came out. "Judge says integrate schools, and Langston is shut down and the Black students move to Science Hill," Dickson said. "A group of African American students at that time … were juniors at Langston and they are called the 'Lost Class' because … they were eager to celebrate their senior year at Langston, but they actually spent their senior year at Science Hill." Dickson said he has seen alumni in tears talking about the pain of leaving Langston, a place where they were supported, and having to integrate into Science Hill High School. "With segregation the notion was separate but equal but, in many cases, it was separate and unequal," Dickson said. "The books were written in and pages are pulled out of books, but you had to make do with what you had." Dickson said while some students said that they wanted that Langston experience, there were others who said the transition to Science Hill was seamless. Dickson and his team at the Langston Centre have been working to preserve the history of Langston High School for six years. From 1965 to 2015 the building was used as a maintenance center for Johnson City Schools. By 2015 due to lack of preservation, the building was filled with asbestos, and demolition quickly became an option. Dickson knew he couldn't let this piece of history be destroyed. What stands today at the Langston Centre is what is left of Langston High School — the arch of the auditorium, the basement and the gym. These spaces hold sacred memories of the alumni, teachers and community during that time. Dickson said the Langston Centre creates a third space for the community. He said third spaces are a safe place apart from your home and work. They allow the community to grow and come together. The Langston Centre is still working to put pieces of history together with the help of the community. The memorabilia seen on the walls and in showcases were donated by alumni and those who collected items from Langston High School. "When we opened people said, 'Well, we've got this. Would you like to have it?'" Dickson said. "People just started coming and to be very honest … there is still a lot more out there." Dickson said the community has the responsibility of preserving history with intentionality. "You need to have spaces where you can find people, and those people may not look like you (or) may not agree with everything you agree with, but yet still, there is a commonality and that's what real community is about," Dickson said. "There's something that binds us and so I think it's the responsibility of the community to be intentional (and) to want to interact and engage." The Langston Centre continues to share the mission of Langston High School of entering to learn and departing to serve. "For the school that (mantra) was very important … you learn and then you go back out and you need to make the world a better place," Dickson said. "We embrace that notion today."