West High Graduate Returns to Speak About Racial Discrimination Faced 50 Years Ago

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Kristin Farley
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West High Graduate Returns to Speak About Racial Discrimination Faced 50 Years Ago

Posted: 01/12/2018
A West High School graduate who recently shared his story of racial discrimination as a student on StoryCorps, a series of audio interviews broadcast on National Public Radio and archived at the Library of Congress, will make his first visit to the school since graduating more than 50 years ago.

Dr. William Lynn Weaver with his younger brother, Wayne, in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1963.Dr. William Lynn Weaver, one of 14 African American students who integrated to the all-white West High School in 1964, will speak to students and faculty about his experiences on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero will recognize Dr. Weaver at 11 a.m. during one of his speaking sessions.

In his broadcast on StoryCorps, which aired on NPR’s Morning Edition in August 2017, Dr. Weaver recalled his days at West High as fearful and frustrating.

After hearing his story, West High Principal Ashley Jessie invited Dr. Weaver to visit the school and see how it has evolved into one of the most diverse schools in the district. Under her leadership, the school motto has become OneWest.

Dr. Weaver, a graduate of Howard University and Meharry Medical College, is chief of surgery at Fayetteville VA Medical Center in North Carolina. He is expected to arrive at West High School, 3300 Sutherland Ave., at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday.




William Lynn WeaverTo listen to Dr. Weaver on StoryCorps, visit: https://www.npr.org/2017/08/25/545848025/-people-helped-you-whether-you-knew-it-or-not