Narratives of Lincoln High School African American Graduates in Kansas City, Missouri: 1955 to 1985

Our purpose was to explore the voices of five African American graduates of Kansas City's Lincoln High School between 1955 and 1985. It has been suggested that an ethic of care supporting institutional caring was maintained within segregated schools and broader communities of the old South and existed in all-Black Northern schools as well. This finding led to an inquiry about race and schooling in Kansas City, Missouri. Using oral history, the following question guided the study: What were the schooling experiences like for African American graduates in this segregated setting? Findings suggested themes of exemplary teachers and principals as disciplinarians, interpersonal caring, institutional structures of teacher, parent and community supports, unequal resources, a curriculum of high academic standards, and legacy and tradition. The Lincoln graduates provided insight into what it takes to provide academic and social success for students in historically underserved communities.