In Their Own Words

The quotations collected here are reflections from those courageous individuals who forever transformed this institution and helped continue to shape the School into a community that openly discusses the progress made and the challenges that we will work to overcome in order to build true community today and in the future. These current thoughts are generously collected and shared in order to spur others to share their experiences from their time at Episcopal.

Tony Chase '73

First African American

Chair of Honor Committee

In his own words >

I think we all felt like we were there for something ... there with a purpose ... we all felt like we were doing something larger than just coming to get an education.

Clarence Gaines '76

Integrated 9th Grade at Summit School Before Attending Episcopal

In his own words >

If you could handle yourself from an intellectual standpoint, you earned a certain amount of respect because your classmates knew that you weren’t just there as a number, but that you could hold your own.

Raymond Brown

First African American Faculty Member

1985 - 1987

In his own words >

I fully understood the importance of being the first. . . . Plus, there was a tone in the air that was building the inclusiveness that they were looking to achieve.

Allegra Burton

First African American Female Faculty

1987 - 1989

In her own words >

Even when classroom conversations defied the students’ expectations about what it meant to be an African American woman, they never crossed the line.

David Hatcher '84

First Integrated Roommate Pairing

1983 - 1984

In his own words >

There was a lack of understanding. They thought we would feel more comfortable just by being with our own, which just wasn't true. We’re just like everyone else when it comes to that.

Rodney Robinson '86

Founder of Spectrum in 1986

Monitor

In his own words >

I spent a lot of time forming Spectrum to make changes and push. People called it a personal crusade, but they needed to learn why all the black kids felt like sitting together in the dining hall.

Patrice Scott Williams '95

One of Four African American Members

of "The First 48"

In her own words >

I’ll be honest, being one of only four black girls was really hard. I had to be the black woman’s voice, and I was only fourteen. Sometimes I would think "this is 1995, but I feel like I’m dealing with the 1960s."

Danielle O'Banion '97

First African American Female Head Monitor

1996 - 1997

In her own words >

I arrived without fully understanding what I signed up for. All the challenges it presented me as an African-American female were early looks at the world ahead. Thanks to an amazingly supportive faculty and school community, I found my voice despite at times feeling like the least likely candidate.