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Before Us Lies the Timber: The Segregated High School of Montgomery County, Maryland, 1927-1960 Hardcover – January 1, 2003

by Warrick S. Hill (Author)

4.8 15 ratings

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In 1927, forty students about to enter the eighth grade, along with their teacher, arrived in the morning to open the doors to their small, two-room schoolhouse for the first time.

There were already ten public high schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. But these forty students werent allowed to attend any of them because of the color of their skin.

Before its opening, young African-Americans in Montgomery County were faced with a choice between leaving their families behind to seek a high school education in Baltimore City or Washington, D.C., or staying at home to eke out a living as a domestic or labor on their parents farms.

Now, Rockville Colored High School, the result of aggressive determination and tireless persistence by Montgomery County School Board pioneers, became the first high school in the county for African-American boys and girls eager to continue their education.

As the doors opened to a school of their own, these students could finally see the hope and opportunity that a secondary education offered.

Struggling through economic, social, and transportation challenges, they journeyed towards their diplomas. The first graduating class of Rockville Colored High chose as their motto "Before Us Lies the TimberLet Us Build," reflecting their dreams for the future.

The first class graduated in 1931. Due to economic circumstances, only nine of the original forty students received their diplomas. Yet, over the next 29 years, the population of black residents able to earn a high school education within the county became so large that, twice, new schools had to be built to accommodate themfirst, Lincoln High School replaced Rockville Colored High, and later Carver High School replaced Lincoln High.

The students in these years were given the chance to live their lives doing the things that all teenagers do. They founded a National Honor Society chapter, elected May Day Queens, and formed school baseball and basketball teams. They crammed for finals, wrote farewell poems for their beloved teachers, and marched to "Pomp and Circumstance" at commencement.

The author was himself a graduate of Lincoln High in 1945. Warrick S. Hill has assembled a wealth of not just historical information, but personal stories as well. Each graduating class is given its own commemorative chapter, recreating, year by year, the trials, challenges, and accomplishments of these unique students attending the high schools they loved.

The histories chronicled in this book will help you not only to learn what African-Americans in Montgomery County went through, but will keep their memories alive for future generations.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bartleby Pr; 0 edition (January 1, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 303 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0910155402
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0910155403
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.78 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,169,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #80,314 in Schools & Teaching (Books)

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Jokie X Wilson

Great Research Resource Book!

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2004

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This book serves several purposes. It begins with a long essay in the first 113 pages which covers the history of segregated schools overall (in the USA) and specific to the state of Maryland. The remainder of the book is a combination historical document and a sort of yearbook.
The long essay is informative and thoroughly yet consisely covers the major issues of segregation. The section on the classes themselves has got plenty of photo reproductions, lists of graduates of the various schools covered, copies of commencement speeches and poems, and other items. Not only does one walk away informed, but with a feeling of having almost met some of the people. The book is personal, but in the sense that it gives a persoanl view from the perspectives of many of the people involved with desegregation and education, not just the author.
I think that my favorite aspect of the book was how it conveyed an incredible sense of dignity and resolve on the part of both the instructors and the students to succeed. Beyond it's historical importance, I see the book as teaching a good lesson to contemporary students. Even though the issues have changed over time, life is still a struggle and anyone needing a little inspiration will certainly get it from seeing what all of these good people were able to accomplish when they put their minds to it.
PS-- I must confess that Mr. Hill taught me algebra in high school. So perhaps I am a bit biased ;-)

9 people found this helpful

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JMP

Very interesting

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is the community where I grew up, so the book was very interesting to me.

One person found this helpful

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T. Burket

valuable archive for Maryland schools

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2008

Mr. Hill's book is two parts. One is a history of segregated education in Montgomery County, Maryland, adjacent to the District, from its beginning until the schools were fully integrated after 1960. For completeness, Mr. Hill discusses regional, state and national integration to some degree, putting Montgomery in a broader context. It was helpful to know, for example, what other areas were doing with regard to "colored" high schools.

Mr. Hill's tone is always dignified, letting the information speak for itself. As one example, actual numbers show the difference in expenditures for the schools and salaries for the staff, which eventually resulted in successful lawsuits. The history section is loaded with names of the individuals who made things happen, both as pioneers and as regular dedicated people going about their business. Even though a reader may be familiar with the basics of segregation in America in the 1900s, Mr. Hill gives a good local flavor of a particular location at a particular time of transition.

The second purpose of the book is archival. Each class from the three segregated high schools appears, with student and faculty rosters, awards, events, and the occasional photo, commentary, or excerpt from writings at the time.

5 people found this helpful

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CB

A must read for anyone who grew up in the desegregated era

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2021

This book is a great history of not only the segregated High school of Montgomery County but also a historical account of the evolution of Black education. It is an account of how much the Black community did with few resources or support. It also details how mistreated the educators were even after or especially in the early years after desegregation.
Those who were taught by Mr. Hill will not be surprised that he refers to himself in the third person or how involved he was in his years at the school. I’d love to know the story of how this great man and teacher came to teach at a fledgling independent Catholic girls school. However it was, for our years there we were inspired and blessed. Maybe that’ll be in his next book. 😉

One person found this helpful

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P. Myers

Incredible teacher

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2010

I have to admit I have not read the book and actually just learned of it. HOWEVER, if it contains even a small portion of the treasures he deposited in the minds and hearts of his students, then it is worth its weight in gold...or perhaps platinum. I was one of the students priveledged enough to have Mr. Hill as a teacher, the lessons he taught went so much deeper than math, although, he excelled at that as well.

5 people found this helpful

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JOHN S. WAY

Important work of history

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2004

I may be biased, since the author is the teacher that most inspired me to become a teacher, but I find this book to be a treasure. It partly serves as a much-needed text to an aspect of my home county's history, and partly as yearbook for the extraordinary young people of the black high schools before integration.
I've developed a new appreciation and admiration for these citizens who have persevered and ultimately excelled. Personally, reading this history shines a light on the author, Mr. Warrick Hill, as to his ability to persevere and excel, and his ability to inspire those qualities in others.

7 people found this helpful

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