A former school that was built in west Texas for Mexican and Mexican American students during the era of "separate but equal" education has become the newest addition to the U.S. National Park System.
Located in the desert town–turned–unlikely arts hub of Marfa (about 50 miles east of the Mexico border), the Blackwell School National Historic Site was formally established last week by the Biden administration, which has now designated a total of seven national park units since President Joe Biden took office.
The Blackwell School's History: Segregation and Resilience
The Blackwell School National Historic Site comprises two buildings, including an original adobe structure that was erected in 1909 as an elementary school for the region's Mexican American children at a time when Texas schools were segregated by race.
At so-called "Mexican schools" like this one, the Austin American-Statesman explains, teachers would forbid students of Mexican descent to speak their native language. In fact, first graders were instructed to "bury Mr. Spanish" in a mock funeral. Spanish speakers who slipped up could be punished with a wooden paddle, the newspaper reports.
The Blackwell School remained open until 1965, when the Marfa Independent School District was finally integrated, according to the Associated Press.
“Today’s designation of the Blackwell School as our nation’s newest national park ensures that the rich history and cultural heritage of this significant place is preserved for future generations,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in a statement. “This site is a powerful reminder of our nation’s diverse and often complex journey toward equality and justice. By honoring the legacy of Blackwell School, we recognize the resilience and contributions of the Latino community in our shared history.”
The effort to save and restore the school and to get it permanent federal protection was led by a group of former Blackwell students who formed a nonprofit known as the Blackwell School Alliance.
Visiting the Blackwell School National Historic Site Today
In addition to the original 1909 schoolhouse, the complex includes a small annex, called the Band Hall, that was built in 1927.
Inside both buildings, the school's history is recounted via photographs, memorabilia, and interpretive panels featuring quotes and stories from students as well as teachers, according to the National Park Service. The site is open to the public and free to visit, though at the moment opening hours are limited to weekends, with plans to expand services in the future.
For more information, go to NPS.gov/BLSC.
The historic site supplies a welcome opportunity to learn more about the longtime residents of Marfa and its surroundings for visitors who might otherwise think the place was characterized solely by gigantic art installations (as at Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation) or eerie ghost lights illuminating the night sky.
Related: Pres. Biden's first national historic site: a WWII Japanese internment camp in Colorado
