House Resolution 17

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE HISTORICAL SIGGERS HIGH SCHOOL, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL IN SHANNON, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, the month of February is officially designated as Black History Month, a time to annually celebrate the many achievements of African Americans and to recognize their central role today and throughout the history of the United States; and

WHEREAS, in the small town of Shannon, in Lee County, Mississippi, Siggers High School was built during the mid-20^th century as the first high school in the community dedicated exclusively to the secondary education of African-American students; and

WHEREAS, at a time in our nation's history when public schools were racially segregated under the doctrine of separate but equal, Siggers High School provided the best educational opportunities possible to the many African-American students enrolled in the school; and

WHEREAS, former students of Siggers High School fondly remember it as a "good school" where the faculty and staff, were genuinely interested in their students' well-being both in school and beyond, imparted essential knowledge in living skills as well as ensured that Siggers' students were equipped to compete with the best and the brightest through lessons learned from textbooks and homework assignments; and

WHEREAS, the academic foundation provided by Siggers High School prepared many of its students for further educational pursuits that ultimately yielded many African-American professionals among the school's alumni, including school principals, doctors and lawyers, to name but a few; and

WHEREAS, with some 50 years having passed since the school's closure during integration and only four Siggers' teachers known to be surviving today, many folks are not even aware that the structure, which now houses Shannon Elementary School, was once dedicated solely to the education of African-American students as Siggers High School; and

WHEREAS, it is the custom of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor the exceptional achievements of Mississippi's citizens and institutions that, through hard work, commitment to excellence and tireless service, have bettered the lives of their fellow Mississippians:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commemorate the historical Siggers High School, the first African-American high school in Shannon, Mississippi, and honor the school's countless contributions to the many individual Mississippians whose lives were influenced by Siggers High School as well as the entire State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the superintendent and school board of Lee County Schools and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.