Predominantly white high school in California is named for Dr. King despite parents' protests

Jet, Jan 26, 1998

After protest by some White parents, a high school in Riverside, CA, was recently named after Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Some White parents tried to stop the school from being named after the civil rights leader, claiming it would be branded as a Black school and would hurt graduates' chances of getting accepted into college.

Other White parents said they opposed the school's naming because King had nothing to do with the city of Riverside.

"Martin Luther King was a great man," Dale Dunn, who is White, was quoted as saying in The New York Times. "But naming this school for him would be a mistake. Everybody will think we have a Black school out there."

After two hours of heated community debate, the five-member school board voted unanimously to name the school after King.

The board has three Whites, one Black and one Hispanic member.

Black, Hispanic and Asian-Americans said they were hurt and shocked that so many Whites opposed naming the school after an American hero like King.

"This is my son, Kyle," Victor Patton, who is Black, was quoted as saying in the Times as he lifted up his baby. "He's only 8 months old, but I brought him here tonight because it's important for him to learn, even at this age, that racism is not dead."

The school, located in Riverside, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, is scheduled to open in September, 1999. It will be about two-thirds White.