THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 25, 1995 TAG: 9502250225
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
For Denise Herbert-Harris, it wasn't until the 1968 assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. that she began to appreciate the importance of her African-American heritage.
Herbert-Harris, who graduated from Booker T. Washington High in 1969 with the first white students to attend the former all-black school, has made a point of instilling racial pride in her three children.
On Friday, she returned to Booker T. and watched as her son helped the school win a citywide high school competition focusing on the achievements of black Americans.
``To me, it's important because they're in a world now where they can go anywhere and do anything,'' Herbert-Harris, a city social worker, said. ``The freedom to do the things that they do, and maybe take for granted, were paid for with a price.''
Her son, Lael Herbert, a 17-year-old senior, hopes to study medicine. He competed on a panel Friday that was quizzed about black scientists and inventors, men and women who made significant contributions but rarely are mentioned in school history books.
Among the black inventors was Elijah J. McCoy, the man behind the phrase ``the real McCoy,'' who developed a device to oil machinery continuously. Lewis Latimer, a self-taught man who improved the incandescent light bulb, was another. In medicine, Samuel L. Kountz created the nation's largest kidney transplant and training program.
Lael and his teammates spent weeks poring over library books and compiling hundreds of index cards to prepare for the Black History Challenge, a highlight of the school system's celebration of Black History Month.
``I woke up this morning dreaming about questions,'' said Kristy Isler, 17, a Booker T. senior and panelist.
The contest also included separate categories about black writers, artists, leaders, educators and entertainers.
``It's made me appreciate some of the contributions African Americans have given to us,'' Lael said. ``It was interesting to me that they worked hard enough to break the color barrier.''
The competition has become a source of pride for Booker T., which has won it seven out of nine years.
``We comb through every book we have in our library and outside libraries, too,'' said Booker T. senior Roberto Lorick, 17. ``We find every little fact we can.''
With only five seconds to beat opponents to the buzzer, the competition got intense. Booker T. panelist James Richardson grimaced when he buzzed to give an answer before questioner Don Roberts, a WAVY-TV anchorman, finished the question. He got it wrong - a two-point deduction.
Richardson,an 18-year-old senior, quickly came back with three correct responses. ``Our coach always told us it's just like a basketball game - whenever you miss a shot, you rebound.''
Rachel Gaines, 17, a Granby High senior and competitor, said her interest in black history is not limited to one month in the year.
``I think it's important to study your own heritage regardless of what race you are,'' Gaines said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JIM WALKER, Staff
Moderator Don Roberts, right, greets students, from left, Shandisha
Wilson of Granby, Andre Perry of Lake Taylor, and Ramel Wilson of
Maury Friday at Booker T. Washington.
by CNB