First Class: The Legacy of Dunbar, America's First Black Public High School

First Class chronicles the 150-year history of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., the first public high school for Black students in America. The book traces Dunbar's trajectory from its 1870 founding through its peaks and valleys, including its rise as an academic powerhouse that produced multiple generations of Black leaders and professionals. Journalist Alison Stewart, whose parents both attended Dunbar, combines archival research with first-person interviews to reconstruct the school's story. The narrative follows key figures in Dunbar's history - from its early principals and teachers to its notable alumni - while examining how the institution operated within the broader context of American education and civil rights. Through Dunbar's history, Stewart explores themes of excellence, opportunity, segregation, and the complex role of education in the African American experience. The book raises questions about school reform, educational equity, and what can be learned from both Dunbar's achievements and its challenges.

Readers appreciate the detailed research and oral histories that bring Dunbar High School's story to life. Many note the book effectively balances institutional history with personal accounts from alumni and teachers. Readers liked: - Clear chronological structure - Focus on both achievements and challenges - Historical context of Black education in DC - Profiles of notable graduates Common criticisms: - Some sections feel repetitive - Later chapters lose momentum - Too much focus on early/peak years vs recent decades - Could better analyze reasons for school's decline Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (176 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (85 ratings) One reader noted: "The first half reads like a fascinating history book, but the second half becomes more like a policy paper." Another wrote: "Stewart shows how one institution shaped Black intellectual life while avoiding romanticizing the segregation era." Some readers wanted more examination of how Dunbar's experience could inform current education reform efforts.

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🎓 Founded in 1870, Dunbar High School produced many prominent graduates including the first Black general in the U.S. Army, the first Black federal judge, and the first Black Cabinet member. 📚 Author Alison Stewart's parents both graduated from Dunbar High School, giving her a personal connection to the institution's rich history and inspiring her to write this comprehensive account. 🏫 During segregation, Dunbar attracted highly qualified Black teachers with advanced degrees who were unable to teach at white colleges, resulting in an exceptionally strong faculty. ✨ The school's early curriculum was rigorously classical, requiring all students to take Latin and Greek, which was unusual even for white high schools of that era. 📝 By 1955, Dunbar graduates accounted for a remarkable 80% of Washington D.C.'s Black physicians and 75% of the city's Black lawyers.