During a time when white flight and charter schools created issues with many all-black high schools, Emanuel Washington saw value in being enrolled at a powerful school in the black community. Washington has decided to tell the story of Williams Raines High in the film We Remember Raines.
Washington recently spoke with rolling out about the project and the importance of schools in the black community.
At what point did you decide to create a film about this historic place of education?
It was important considering that in the time that Raines came to be as an all-black high school, it was given the same economic resources that a white school received which was unheard of in Jacksonville, FL or any other school in the south. And then there was Dr. Andrew A. Robinson, a educator in the tradition of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. Dr. Robinson was given the concession to hand pick his staff from top to bottom. Again, the was unheard of at the time.
Why was Williams Raines High such an important institution to the Jacksonville community?
After having numerous conversations throughout the year’s with people from different classes, I began to hear the same stories and realized that the missing parts of the school’s history where coming together. And in doing so, it made me respect what had been done and what needed to be shared with the students, teachers, parents and larger community. I wanted to connect our school and city to what I call the American high school story.
What do you want this film to say to future generations who will see it?
I want the film to inspire student’s to use it as a road map for success. I want our community to always have a model of what great educational experiences should look like for our children. We have to maintain our institutions. One sister that I interviewed said that if there was a William M. Raines University to attend, She would’ve gone. That’s what you say when you’ve been in a place of love.
What difficulties did you run into when making the film?
The difficulties were common. Getting high profile people to interviewed, promoting the film to an entire alumni community and the funding. However, a classmate of mine stepped up after hearing about the project. And now we have We Remember Raines, An American High School Story. His Mother, RIP, also went to the Raines.
